Page 118 of Hidden Kingdoms

The loose hair that had escaped its confines and hung around my face, fluttered as a cool breeze flowed through them then down my spine. Its now familiar touch soothing against the torn skin. I breathed deep as my magik swelled under its presence.

“Where—” I turned my head to Alouette with a frown, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

“Close,” she whispered just for me.

“I’m going to need to cut your top off in order to clean these properly.”

Knowing I was running a high risk of infection with the amount of mud I was covered in, I gave a small nod. Except the moment he reached over to the unit next to me, and I heard the draw of metal against metal, I froze, failing to swallow down the panic that rose in me as I clutched my filthy top against my chest. Memories of hands pawing at me flooded my mind. The sound of fabric ripping, of sour breath washing over my skin, of being helpless in those crucial moments.

The rasp of a zipper was hazy through the memories of my mind, the pain weakening my defences. Two large bodies stepped towards me, positioning themselves in front and behindof where I sat. A hand held my chin, tipping my face upwards, and a pulse of magik I didn’t attempt to fight filtered into me.

“Stay with us, Goldie.” His voice cut through the past, and my eyes focused on the person now in front of me. Keeping his grip on my chin, Kaius gently pressed a bundle of fabric against me, and I draped it across my chest as I breathed in the woodsy scent of cedar, feeling the memories recede with every inhale. His free hand snaked down his side, pulling out an ornate dagger which he spun between his fingers before holding the hilt out. The blade the same silver as his eyes.

The figure crowded behind me reached over my shoulder, plucking the dagger from Kaius’ hand. Another sweep of magik rushed over my skin, ruffling the loose hair hanging around my face. The play of both energies was intoxicating, and I couldn’t help the disappointment as they faded away.

As my breathing started to regulate, Marcellus took hold of the ruined fabric of my top, and using Kaius’ dagger, sliced through it piece by piece. His fingers grazed lightly against my skin with every stroke of the blade—careful not to touch any of the places The Darkness had struck me—until my entire back was free. Despite my back being exposed, the heat of his body radiated through me, and with a few more cuts, he had completely removed the remains of fabric.

Kaius’ gaze stayed locked on mine, helping to give me the focus I needed to push away the panic. His hands were wrapped over my thighs as I zeroed in on the stinging wounds, finding it easier to embrace the pain of my injuries and flood my brain with the physical agony, than deal with the memories that threatened to overwhelm me. Magik shifted as it fought against the pain, bringing a stab of relief as I realised how fast it was replenishing.

“Elodie,” came the healer's voice from a few feet away, “can I clean them now?”

Kaius raised an eyebrow in question, waiting for my answer. Swallowing, I tightened my hold on his jumper before nodding my head a fraction, and his eyes finally left mine to look above my head at Marcellus. A low growl washed over me, and a shift in heat as Marcellus moved aside told me the healer had taken his place.

“Thank you. Now, this will hurt, but I don’t think pain is the issue right now, is it?”

“No,” I breathed, not willing to look away from Kaius for a second.

Cold water splashed over my back, and I flinched in surprise causing the muscles to pull on the wounds.

“We all good?” Kale called over my shoulder as he hesitated.

“Yeah, that’s just really fucking cold,” I replied through gritted teeth, earning a cackle from Alouette.

“You’ll live,” he said, as more cold liquid circled over my skin before a globe of muddied, red water floated past us, landing with a small splash in the sink.

“Well, that’s cool,” I noted, twisting to look at him and instantly regretting that decision as pain splintered through me.

“Of course it is, I’m incredibly impressive, but I suggest you stop moving around. This is where it’s going to get messy.” His power probed at my skin again and again. Small trickles of blood had begun to drip down my back, soaking into my already saturated waistband, but I didn’t push away his energy, sure he was only doing so to assess the state of my injuries.

Once he finished, he moved around the bed to stand in front of me, Kaius taking the smallest step to the side to give him a mere inch of space.

“Do you want the good news or the bad news?”

“No one wants bad news.”

“That’s where we will start, then,” he said, and I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me even if it jolted my torn body.

“I can’t heal the wounds—not fully, anyway. Whatever The Darkness did to you isn’t something I’ve come across before, and it doesn’t seem like it would respond to any healing method I can do.” My laughter died a quick death at his words.

“If you can’t do it, then who can?” I asked, clinging to the hope someone else could heal me.

“And that is where the good news comes in. I think that the only person who can fully heal them,is you.”

I really fucking doubt that.

“I have no training over my magik.” Annoyance rose inside me, and I was certain I could match the low rumble coming from behind.

“I don’t think you necessarily need todoanything. I can kick start the healing process, encourage the wounds to close over. But, in order for them to heal, I think that your magik needs to assist. Now, if it will take an hour, a day, I don’t know, but I can sense what you have flowing around in there.” He gestured at me vaguely. “And I reckon it's more than up to the task with a bit of a nudge.”

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