Page 209 of Moonlit Fate

My fingers trembled as they found the rugged line of his jaw, seeking the life force beneath his skin. It thumped steadily against my touch, strong but erratic.

“His heart’s racing,” I said. On the outside, Atticus looked untouched, the tattoos on his arms as vibrant as ever, but I knew better. Something inside him was wrong, terribly so. The pain he’d endured wasn’t visible, but it was there, lurking beneath the surface.

“Here, let me look.” Seren moved quickly, her eyes scanning over Atticus’s prone figure. “There’s nothing...no cuts, no blood.”

“Outside doesn’t matter,” I muttered. “It’s the inside that’s screaming.”

“Wait.” Seren’s pointed toward the counter where an array of bottles and jars stood like soldiers waiting for their orders. “I saw something earlier that might help with this.”

She darted to the counter, then returned with two small glass bottles. One held a liquid that shimmered like liquid emerald, the other clear as the mountain air.

“Nerve pain and restoration potion,” she read from the first label, her fingers tightening around the cool glass. “This one’s labeled ‘oxygenate.’”

Taking the potions from Seren’s outstretched hands, I turned back to Atticus. His breaths were shallow and ragged.

I held the potions in my hand, but doubt paralyzed me. What if I made things worse? Atticus’s chest rose and fell rapidly. I couldn’t just sit here doing nothing. Hesitantly, I leaned closer to him.

“Atticus?” I whispered uncertainly. “Can you hear me?”

His eyelids fluttered. He was still fighting, still with us. Then, a weak squeeze from his hand shot relief through my veins. He stirred and said, “I love you. I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry? For what?” Confusion laced my words even as I returned the pressure of his hand. “No, don’t be sorry. I’ve got you. I love you too.”

He struggled to open his eyes, the ice-blue of them dulled by pain. There was recognition there, a defiance I knew only too well.

“Can you tell me what hurts? I need to know how to help you.”

“Everything.” His voice cracked. “My father... he tortured me. Set my nerves on fire, stole my breath until I blacked out.”

The stark reality of his words hit me like a physical blow. Guilt washed over me. He was suffering because of me.

“It’s my fault,” I whispered, tears threatening to spill. The thought of confronting Caius myself surfaced, but I crushed it instantly. Caius would trap me, steal my magic. I shuddered at the thought. No, Atticus had protected me by striking that deal. Now he was paying the price for it.

I cradled his head and tried not to sob as I uncorked the vial for nerve pain. I held it to Atticus’s lips, tilting it gently. The liquid disappeared past his lips, a silver glint in the dim cabin light.

“Come on, come on...” I murmured.

His chest rose more evenly, and color returned to his face. The change was rapid, almost miraculous. I followed it with oxygenate potion, and his breaths deepened.

“Atticus?”

His eyes fluttered open, clearer now. He looked at me with awe. “Aria, how did you?—?”

“Shh, don’t talk yet.”

He persisted. “You did something more than just give me those potions. Did you take some of my pain?”

“Does it matter?” I avoided his face, focusing on the empty vials.

“Yes, it does,” he said firmly. “I don’t want you hurting because of me.”

“I’m fine, really.” I met his eyes, steeling myself against the worry I saw there. “I can handle it. And I won’t let you go through this alone.”

“Please promise me you won’t do that again.”

“I can’t promise that,” I said with a resolute shake of my head. “We share this burden now. You need to lean on me too.”

He took my hand and squeezed. “You’re incredible. But I’m supposed to protect you, not the other way around.”

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