Page 13 of The Magic of Eternity
Napoleon scurried down the bed toward my feet. “Mon dieu, I was so excited to see you that I nearly forgot. Daddy of Thunder, please lift me to that vent.”
“Daddy. Of. Thunder?” Cam choked out. If I had the strength, I would have been crying tears of laughter.
“‘Tis your name,non? Hurry now,” Napoleon clapped his paws, and Cam obeyed, walking him over to an air vent that was near the ceiling. “Pop the cover off.” Cam made quick work of it and Napoleon disappeared inside, reappearing a moment later with a syringe in his mouth.
“What’s this?” Cam took the syringe and held it to the light. The liquid within was dark, sparkling with a myriad of colors.
“Raw healing magic mixed with melted down Nox stone. Stab him with it so we can get the fuck out of here.”
“You’re sure, Napoleon?” I inquired, though at this point I’d be willing to risk it if it would make me feel even five percent better.
My tiny friend nodded firmly. “How do you think we are speaking right now? I wanted to give myself an edge over the Persians so I gave myself the teeniest of injections, and voilà! Of course, being able to speak has only allowed me to call them bitches to their faces, though getting to speak with you normally is quite a perk. Anyways, you must administer it into a thick muscle. Stick his ass, and then we’re going to get our woman.”
Cam nearly dropped the syringe. “What?”
“Our woman. Two days ago I finally found her, though she was not awake. I wasn’t able to speak with her.” Napoleon looked saddened, but I whooped and startled him.
“Cam, shove that in my ass right now!” I barked, excitement and adrenaline mixing with the fever, causing me to feel like I was on a serious drug trip.
Something cool and wet brushed over a small area of skin on my right butt cheek. “Definitely not what I thought I’d be doing the first time I heard you say those words to me...”
A hiss slipped through my clenched teeth as the needle pierced my skin, then warmth spread throughout my body, like the rush of water when a dam breaks.
“By the moon,” Cam gasped.
“Oui, it is working beautifully!” Napoleon cackled maniacally, jumping up and down in excitement.
I couldn’t see what was happening, but I could feel it. It was as though the infection that had been killing me was being disintegrated, wiped from existence. The lash marks that before had felt like burns just morphed into a dull ache. It was incredible. The cold was banished from my bones as I began sweating, the fever finally breaking.
On wobbly arms, I pushed myself up and sat upright. I held out my hand, and Cam gripped it, hauling me to my feet. We wore matching feral grins. The rush flooding my system now was all power—mine.
“My magic is back,” I announced, rising to my full height. Fuck, it felt good.
Cam’s voice was nothing but a growl, his green eyes turning nearly black as his pupils blew out with the promise of what was to come. “Well, we need to go find more of those vaccines, and then we’re going to go get our family.”
“Vive la révolution!” Napoleon cried, scampering up and resting on Cam’s head.
My strength was nearly fully restored, and it had been less than two minutes. Absolutely incredible. There was a deep thirst for blood now, which wouldn’t be sated until I’d had vengeance. “Death is coming to everyone who caused us harm. Fuck. Them. Up.”
Bagheera woke at that moment, and a wicked snarl burst from me as we charged through the door.
The doc had just left after delivering my lunch and checking my vitals. There was a small two-seat table by one of the windows, and I ate slowly while letting my gaze trail over the view. The city sprawled out in the distance; it seemed to be endless. With that many people, surely an uprising could overthrow Asrael. Then again, he was so powerful now...
He’d definitely used whatever breakthroughs he managed in his research on himself. That level of power wasn’t natural.
A shadow moved over the sun, and I glanced up, seeing the body of a massive dragon soaring through the air alone. Not just any dragon. I’d recognize him anywhere—midnight black scales with molten fire surging beneath. I stood so quickly that my chair fell backward as I scrambled to the window.
“SLOANE!” I screamed, half hanging out of the castle. “SLOANE!”
My heart pounded within my chest as he slowed his flight, his large head turning to look in my direction.He heard me. Oh gods, he heard me. I screamed again, tears springing to my eyes as my unborn babies moved within me. Whether it was my screaming that had awoken them or Sloane being near, I didn’t know. I wanted to think it was the latter.
The door to my chambers flew open, hitting the wall so hard that a framed piece of art fell to the floor. I startled, turning my head to see who had come to tell me to be quiet. Asrael stood there, looking malicious and as smug as ever.
I looked back outside, and Sloane was closer now. I could practically see the flames rolling off of his scaled body. He was right there, and I longed to touch him. Even in his dragon form, he was mine, and I wanted nothing more than to curl up next to him and feel safe for the first time in weeks. My mouth opened just as Asrael’s large hand clamped over it, effectively silencing me.
Warm breath fanned over my neck, and I whimpered. “That’s quite enough noise. He’s going to be here in seconds, Saige. He knows to stay away from you and he’s disobeying me.”
My eyes squeezed shut as Asrael ran his hand over the top of my round belly, softly caressing me. His other hand fell away from my mouth and dipped to my throat. “Quiet, witch.”
