Page 106 of Heart of the High King
Chapter 42
“I’m going to lose my mind,” Aleksander muttered.
“You’re also going to lose this game,” Worth snarked, knocking Aleksander’s game piece back home. “Sorry.”
“Be patient,” Brogan suggested for probably the millionth time that day. “Rafe’s going to be fine.”
Aleksander’s fingers flexed, and he desperately wanted to punch his best friend for his “helpful” advice. Eight hours had passed since Rafe was wheeled into the operating room, and he’d been told right from the beginning that in his weakened state he wasn’t going to tolerate anesthesia for long, so why was he still waiting to see him? As he opened his mouth to lay into Brogan, the door swung open, revealing a bevy of exhausted sorcerers. T’Eirick and Saura were already asleep in the arms of the Daemon Lords who protected the Arch Lich while the man himself was yawning as he held Alaric’s hand.
Brogan scooped up Dra’Kaedan and barked orders at the other men, who were each getting to their feet to grab someone as Dr. Suricata pushed her way to the front of the group. Her eyes were bright with excitement, and her smile was teeming with it as well.
“Rafe’s on his way to have a CT scan; then we’re going to get him to his copper-lined room,” Dr. Suricata said. “We want to double-check to make sure we left no stone unturned in our healing.”
“I want to see him,” Aleksander blurted out.
“As soon as we get him settled and awake, which should take an hour or so, we’ll get you right in there. I know you’re anxious to see him, but I can assure you, he’s doing very well. He’s swollen and we expect that to increase, but otherwise he’s fully healed.”
Aleksander went weak in the knees, and if Worth wasn’t standing right next to him, he probably would’ve fallen. “I’m sorry, what?”
Dr. Suricata reached out and patted Aleksander’s arm. “Unbelievable, right? Thanks to your blood and this incredible team of sorcerers, we were able to remove every scar, regrow every part of him that was missing or damaged. We’ll do some blood work over the coming days and weeks to keep an eye out on the aging and to stay on top of any issues, but at least we know we can heal anything we run into. Rafe’s as good as new.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Aleksander managed, his eyes welling with tears. Rafe was wonderfully his in any shape, but to know that he was healthy again was a profound relief.
“Killian, get these sorcerers home. They’ve earned their rest,” Dr. Suricata said. “I’ll come and get you when Rafe wakes. For now, just relax and start making plans for how to celebrate not only his new lease on life but your matebond.”
“Thank you so much, Dr. Suricata.”
She grinned and left the room to care for his other half, and Aleksander was helpless to find the words he owed Sorcery D’Vaire. His eyes met Dra’Kaedan’s, and the warlock smirked.
“Don’t you even start, Bigfoot. He’s ours too. Okay, maybe not in the same way he belongs to you, but it was our pleasure to fix him. But we can argue about it later. I gotta get my parents tucked in.”
“Yeah, Squirt, you do that,” Aleksander said, and he grabbed Renny from Dravyn, who scooped up Dre’Kariston’s familiar, Lucian. Then Killian teleported them back to the mansion.
“I’ve cried so much, I might need to drink eight gallons of water,” Renny mused quietly.
D’Vaires sprang into action, opening bedroom doors as Aleksander strode down the hall. Larissa pushed Renny’s ajar, and once Aleksander laid him on the bed, he got his shoes off and helped him under the blankets.
“I’ll get Noir to bring you something to eat and drink unless you want to go straight to sleep,” Aleksander told him.
“I could eat, thanks.”
“Thank you, Renny. I appreciate everything you and your team did today.”
The warlock familiar grinned. “It was so awesome. Wait until you see him.”
Because Aleksander wanted to get back to the hospital and not blubber over Renny, he hugged him. Then he and Larissa went around making sure everyone was settled. Noirin and Kendrick carried trays brimming with food for the warriors who’d saved Rafe.
Killian appeared with Dravyn. “You have your overnight bag?”
“Yeah, and Rafe’s too, but I want to go check on Mortis,” Aleksander replied, jogging to Rafe’s room. Mortis was curled in his giant doggy bed, still tranquilized, and Aleksander gave him a few pets. The wolf would likely wake soon and be thrilled to find out that Rafe was healed. There was something different about him, and it took Aleksander a moment to figure out that the gray streaks through his fur were now navy blue. Puzzled by the change, Aleksander would question Sorcery D’Vaire after they had a chance to sleep.
“Hey, Aleksander,” Somerly called out, running to Aleksander as he emerged from Rafe’s room.
“What’s up? Shouldn’t you be with Dre’Kariston?”
“He sent me. Dre’Kariston wants to know if you wish for him to line your bedroom with copper. Your matebond’s completed; it might be nice for you to move Rafe into your suite,” Somerly replied.
“If it’s not too taxing for him, yes.”
