Page 109 of Poisoned Empire

“Emerald, get over here, now!” Selene barked.

Marduk cradled Iliana in his arms, his weapon forgotten.

“She needs a healer!”

“Sheisa healer!” Selene retorted.

Zoe picked up Iliana’s severed hand as her dark complexion turned bloodless. She stumbled over to them and held the hand to Iliana’s gushing wound, her own shaking.

“I-I’ve never done this before.”

“Do it now, or she’s going to die!”

“What did I miss? Good gods! Her hand!” Mina shouted as she returned and took in the situation.

“Not helping!” Selene screamed back. “Concentrate, Emerald. You’re the smartest person I know—you can do this. Marduk, hold the hand in place.”

Tears streamed down his blood-stained face, but he did as ordered, his hand steady. Zoe held her hands at the gory junction and breathed deeply, her green eyes haunted but focused. Selene’s panic receded as the bone knitted back together, the muscles following, before finally the skin sealed it. Once done, Zoe collapsed on the floor, her breathing ragged. Selene went limp with relief, a strange hysterical joy bubbling up. She took Zoe’s face in hers and kissed the healer on the lips.

“Thank you.”

“Get off,” Zoe groaned, exhausted, as she batted Selene away with a shaky hand.

Mina stood above Magister Diamond. Her form burst into flickering darkness once more.

“Still alive, I see. That’s good. Do you know why shadow mages have to stick to the path, light mage?” She leaned over him and gripped his blood-soaked tunic in her talons. “Because there are things in the void, and they hunger.”

The Magister made a wet, garbled sound before Mina dragged him into the dark.

“So intense…” Charis whispered as if in a dream.

Mina returned shortly.

“She needs to see a proper healer,” Zoe said.

“I’ll take her. Come.” Marduk spoke to Selene, cradling Iliana in his arms.

“What’s happened to Belisarius?” Selene pressed a hand on his blood-spattered tunic.

“He’ll be facing Mercurius in ritual combat for the throne. I must see you both safely out of the palace.”

“Iliana first.”

“I can take three of you through the void to my family’s healer. He should be waiting in our apartments,” Mina volunteered.

“Take them first.” Selene gestured at Zoe, Marduk and Iliana.

Mina nodded.

“Hold on tightly,” Mina said. She grabbed onto Marduk and Zoe before they vanished into the void.

“Alright, let’s go.” Selene grabbed Charis’ hand and tugged her to the stairs.

“Go where? Mina will be back soon.”

“We need to save Belisarius, and I’m going to need your help.”

Chapter 38

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