Page 29 of The War of Wings
I swallowed back my own hurt, nodding as I straightened. Cal needed me to be his strength right now. I squeezed mybloodied palm but decided I should let myself bleed. I deserved it. The short-lived shouts of victory that had sounded when the castle fell…they were long gone. Now, a thousand screams of horror and pain sounded around me, screams of the injured and dying. So yeah, I deserved to bleed.
Footsteps over the rubble sounded from behind me, and Nell and Whit scaled the heap, their faces wan and sorrowful as they took in the scene that greeted them. Nobody spoke. Nobody needed to.
Whit’s hand found Cal’s shoulder and Nell let out a mournful breath before her head leaned against my arm. She remained silent, as if she knew that any attempt at consoling me was pointless.
“We have to…” I started, mentally grasping for the words I was looking for. I knew what I had to do. I had to free Katia and Rhedros. But I had no idea how. I’d found the Sanguilite, gotten my power back, and made it back to the Human Realm. That was the extent of my plan. I thought the battle in Eserene was going to be against Noros, Saint of Pain. My focus had been on defeating the wrong force. Everything had hinged on this battle against an enemy far more horrifying than I thought.
Nell had told me to pretend I knew what I was doing, and I had. I pretended I knew how to lead an army. When I lost my powers, I pretended I had them, and people had so much faith in those powers that they followed me into a losing battle against an ancient evil.
I ran my hands through my hair, focusing on keeping my breath as even as I could. “We have to find a way to free Katia and Rhedros and stop Malosym.” My eyes fell on Miles again, a sudden numbness taking over. “But Miles deserves a proper burial, first. All of the fallen do.”
“I can start the process of arranging those,” Nell said quietly with a somber nod. “I’ll see if I can locate Commander Summercut, set up camp and a command post outside the walls. I can try to–”
Whit went rigid, his mouth falling open as his eyes flew wide. I followed his pointed finger, to where Miles' body lay limp. “Something’s happening.”
“What are you–” But my words were cut short as I leaned closer. Somethingwashappening. Bone clicked against bone as pieces of his ribs seemed to snap back into place. The edges of his gaping wound had begun to knit themselves together at his shoulder, slowly joining in a jagged, silvery-pink scar that peeked out through the brutal slash in his armor as Malosym’s blue light fizzled out.
“What the hell?” Nell whispered, taking a cautious step back.
I knew better than to let hope bloom in my chest. My powers had probably taken effect too late, trying to mend a body that was now devoid of a soul. Saints, I hoped he’d found his way to Heaven and inside the protection of Soren’s walls. Please.
He’s seeing his Aunt Berna now, I told myself.And now he’s seeing his mother.They’re all hugging and crying and laughing, and Miles is whole and–
A choked gasp tore through my thoughts, and I shrieked as Miles’ mouth sprung open. One hand flew to his chest and the other to the empty sheath at his hip. He clambered backward, his eyes moving wildly between the faces that stared down at him, as if he were a wild animal that had been cornered by hunters. Lungs that moments ago were still now heaved within a mended ribcage. The Saint of Death had released his grip on Miles.
Holyfuckingshit.
I held my bloodied palm in front of my face. Grateful tears burned in my eyes and I didn’t bother to blink them away as I crouched down beside Miles. “Hi, Lieutenant Landgrave.”
He slowly caught his breath, his eyes blinking rapidly. But before long, a weak smile pulled up at one corner of his mouth. “Hi, Queen Petra.” His eyes turned to Cal. “King Belin.”
“You bastard,” Cal choked as he lowered himself and gently grabbed Miles by the shoulder before he pulled him into a hug.Miles winced but didn’t hold back, his eyes wide on his brother when Cal pulled away. “We thought you were dead. Scared the shit out of us. How do you feel?”
Miles shifted, stretching his neck gently. “A bit like I got struck in the chest by the power of a demon lord I thought didn’t exist, but I think I’ll be alright.”
Nell beamed, nodding to Miles. “Good to have you back, Lieutenant Sunshine.”
“The Penumbra is back together!” Whit yelled, a fist flying into the air triumphantly.
Miles rolled his eyes. “The Penumbra doesn’t exist.”
Cal’s hand found mine, his thumb gently running over the back of it before turning it over and staring down at the slice across my palm. “You’re a miracle.”
And though I didn’t feel much like a miracle, I did feel relief as Miles’ hand ran over his chest, slipping beneath the armor where it had burned away, skimming the marred skin. I couldn’t fucking believe it. He was alive.
But that warm relief that flooded me receded quickly as I rose to my feet and stared out over the city. Eserene was in ruin. It seemed the screams grew louder around me.
Suddenly, Petra seemed to fall away, replaced by the Daughter of Katia. I had shit to do. People to heal. A plan to make. “Nell,” I started, “you go ahead with your plan to find Summercut and arrange burials for the fallen, and make arrangements to have survivors fed and sheltered. Whit, you round up the uninjured and assure the injured I’m on my way. Help Miles out of the city and to camp.”
“No,” Miles answered, a bit too quickly. “I’m fine.” Slowly, he pushed himself up and rose to his feet, flexing his fingers at his side. With a steadying breath, he nodded. “I can manage.”
“It’s no trouble, Lieutenant," Whit said.
“I can manage,” Miles snapped, and Whit simply nodded, he and Nell retreating down the rubble. “Where will you be?”
“I have work to do.”
And then it was just me and Cal atop a burning city full of people bleeding and screaming and dying. I searched for the storm in my chest, focusing on conjuring my newest-found power. I’d used it back in Taitha to heal the mass of Vacants. Surely, I could do it here.
