Page 126 of A Blightress of Wrath
“There!Isee two of them!”
Helifted me off his lap in a hurry, his arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me as close to him as we could while voices shouted above us and the view opened up to reveal faces even in the hazy dim of my light.Theycleared a path andIlet my shield fall, coughing in the dust left from the slide of stone.Ahand reached down for me, andItook it, heaving my way out of the hole withThevin’shelp pushing me through.Weexited coughing, wiping debris from our clothes,Thevin’shand sliding into mine.
“Thatwas good thinking,Miss.”Oneof our saviors nodded toward me.SheclappedThevinon the back and said, “Gladwe didn’t lose two of our highest ranks in one night.”
“Two?”Thevinasked.
“CommanderLanna,” she began, “she?—”
Thevindidn’t wait to hear, running toLanna’stent with me at his side.Heyanked the flap andIgasped at the blood.
“She’snot—”Istarted.
Awoman stopped me, bent overLanna’sbody on her cot. “No.Sheis not dead.Shehas been badly wounded by one of those beasts.Apparently, a few had crept out from under the gates before we heard your call.Oneof them came here.”
Thevindropped my hand, stepping closer and grimacing at the open gashes onLanna’sleg.Apool of rosy power spread over her body.
“Willshe be alright?” he whispered, watching the face of his friend.Hereyes were closed, blood splattered across her cheeks. “Willshe walk again?”
“Ibelieve so,” the medicusWieldwrynmuttered, continuing her movements.
Iswallowed my fear and stepped forward, my heart racing at the gaping torn flesh across her right thigh.Thewoman’s power slowly staunched the blood, mending her tendons and muscle.Iturned, ready to heave the contents of my stomach and cry all at once.
I’dbeen too late.
Icouldn’t go back and fix this, regardless of how muchIwanted to.Toomuch time had passed.
“HavetheFourbeen informed?”Thevinquestioned.
“Idon’t know.CommanderAshtoncame to look her over.Iassume he’ll inform them.”
ThevinsqueezedLanna’sshoulder once, then turned to me, the passion we’d just shared in my confession now changed to something else on his face.Hiseyes were a piercing lance, seeking answers to questionsIstill had the responsibility to tell him.
“I’llbe escortingSaelynback to the castle and return soon.Thankyou,Aeytah.”
Shewaved a hand to him in dismissal, focusing on her patient.Weleft,Thevingrabbing a pair ofLanna’sboots and handing them to me as we walked back to his tent.Westepped inside and he was silent for a moment, pulling his ashen feet into one of his boots and then the other.
Ifollowed his movement, wanting nothing more than to rip my gown off in frustration, knowing it was ridiculous attire for theBlightLine.Thegreen hue was nothing more than a dusty gray, andIpaled in realizingIwas a woman playing dress up in the midst of real war with real consequences for not thinking through my actions.
Ishould have noticedLannawas not with us.
Ishould have ran to her tent first.
Instead,I’dfallen into a hole withThevin, pouring my heart out and kissing him while she lay torn and bleeding from the undead muri which had crept into her tent.
Thevinrose from his cot, standing tall and stiff in front of me, forcing my head back to see his face.Hebrushed a thumb across my chin, no doubt wiping away a smear of ash, the same that lined his own skin.
“You’vebeen keeping more from me,Sae.Moresecrets than that you’ve loved me since we were fifteen.”
Igulped and nodded.
“Whywon’t you tell me?”
“Itcould change everything.”
“Itwill not change my feelings for you, if that’s what you fear.”Hepulled my hand from my side, pressing it to his heart. “Youcannot change those.Icould live my entire life loving you like this, only to beg for a thousand lives more.”
Iarched my feet, bringing myself up to his lips.Ikissed him softly, once, just one more time beforeIchanged both of our lives forever.
