Page 116 of The Silent Mountain
Once outside again, I instantly notice that the dark clouds have disappeared, so have the black birds, instead, there are white seagulls fluttering above us. “Is it truly gone?” Stefan asks.
“I can’t feel its presence anymore,” I say, relief filling me. “Cassie did it! She stopped the curse.”
My relief is short-lived though. “Your Highness!” Theodor yells. “Come fast. Elio, he’s stopped breathing.”
thirty-seven
Time to Heal
*FAVIAN*
Itfeelslikemysoul leaves my body when I hear Theodor’s words. I can’t accept it, I just can’t. Elio is the only remaining family I have. I would rather sell my soul to the underworld than see him die! Without wasting another moment, I run to my brother, kneeling next to him and resting my hands on my chest. “No,” I say. “You are not dying!”
Favia is still with me, obviously clinging to the bond with my brother to keep him with us. But there is only so much she can do in that state.Favia, I know the rules state I can’t be selfish with your powers, but…
Sometimes it’s alright to be selfish,she says evenly.If anyone asks, losing your brother would have meant putting the clan in danger.
I let her take over my body, watching how she keeps both her hands resting on Elio’s chest. Warmth engulfs us, which she uses to pour into Elio’s body. For a moment, nothing happens, the seconds dripping by with no change in my brother, until I feel it again, the slow thumping of his heart.
Thank you, Favia.
His heart just needed a little push,she says quietly.If he had truly passed, I couldn’t have done anything, but he wanted to keep fighting.
“Damn,” I exclaim, allowing myself to sit down for a brief moment. I look from my brother, who just barely made it, to my mate, who is wrapped in a blanket now, and still unconscious, to Cassie, who is now resting with her head in Erin’s lap. Theodor is still at Elio’s side, gently brushing his hair. He must have been terrified, as well. First, he lost Maggie, and now he came so close to losing Elio. Many of the dragon shifters have lost their family, and their chosen family is all that remains.
My warriors are still busy skimming through the building, but now that it’s all over, I can feel how tense I truly was.
I was so terrified of losing Alana. I couldn’t reach out to the bond with her, I just felt her pain and her fear. It took all my willpower not to panic. I gently pull Alana into my arms, promising myself not to let go of her again and to make sure to protect her well from now on.
Stefan comes closer and squeezes my shoulder. “It’s okay,” he says quietly. “We all came out of it alive. Time will heal all the other wounds.”
I haven’t even realized I am crying. I allow myself a moment to regather my senses and emotions before I am ready to answer him. “Let’s get away from here,” I say.
“Should we have a team of warriors remain here to guard the island?” Stefan asks.
“Yes, put together a team and make sure they are well attended to. The spell has been lifted, and the air here feels like it should.”
“If you allow me, I would like to see the ceremony hall myself,” Erin says.
“Of course, go ahead.”
She gently puts Cassie’s head on a jacket before getting up and walking towards the building. Meanwhile, I turn to study the water when I hear some splashing sounds. It’s the water woman, the nixe. “Thank you,” I say genuinely. “You helped us so much. Are things safe for you?”
She smiles and nods.
“No sea creatures attacking you?”
She gestures for a creature with many legs, probably the same one that attacked us too, and then makes a diving motion with her hand.
“It went back to the depths of the ocean?”
She nods.
I smile at her. “I am glad. If you ever need anything, make sure to reach out to us. You will always be welcome on my clan grounds. No one will harm you should you be close.”
She makes her usual cooing sound before disappearing in the water again, leaving us for now. “Erin,” Stefan says when the witch returns. “Did you spot anything?”
“Just these feathers,” she mutters, pulling out a handkerchief where she wrapped a feather in it. “Something feels off about it. I would like to research it more closely.”
