Page 64 of Blood of the Fallen
Her eyes blinked open, a sign that she’d heard the soothing thought I’d pushed forward. It seemed to take her a moment to recognize me, but when she did, she weakly pulled her hand away. Her gaze drifted over the ground and stopped on the magistrate’s body. Realization flashed in her expression. Her eyes met mine again, softening in a way that made her look like an entirely different person.
“Thank you,” she mouthed, closing her eyes again.
My head snapped toward the woods, the way Novus had disappeared. I sprang in that direction, my senses sharp. I followed the magistrate’s sour smell of magic. My enhanced vision pierced through the trees, searching for movement, but there was no trace of her.
The coward!
But I had no time to waste on her. My pack needed me.
I traced the new bond that now linked me to Kall, Maki, and Novuk. Kall was the one in worse shape. I opened myself to him, somehow aware of exactly what to do. It was like breathing or blinking. It took no effort at all. Right away, I felt him drawing on my strength, pulling what he needed to heal. I expected the siphoning to make me weak, but it didn’t. It had taken almost all the energy they’d had left to make me better, and that had weakened them, but since I was fully healed, it was as if I could produce enough energy to lend him what he needed. Strange. No wonder tetrads were powerful.
As I walked back into the camp, I shifted to my human form and scanned the area for guards, but it seemed they’d run with the magistrate.
Cowards. All of them… cowards!
My feet felt leaden as I moved closer. People lay on their backs and stomachs. Some showed no injury, while others had gaping wounds. The sight of blood slashed across my vision. I wanted to turn away from the horror, but I had to find those who were still alive and help them. Shaking, I kneeled next to a woman, who was lying face down. It was Desna’s mother. Her face was pale, and her skin cold.
I moved to the next person. Nosh. I peered into his jovial face and noticed a slight fluttering of his eyelashes. He was alive! I went to move him, but I didn’t know if that was a good idea. In fact, I didn’t have any idea what to do. I wasn’t a healer.
Ila. Where’s Ila?
I jumped to my feet, eyes roving all around.
Please, please, don’t let her be dead.
I couldn’t see Ila anywhere, so I ran to Bethel. She was still lying where I’d left her.
“Bethel,” I said, kneeling at her side.
Her eyes opened. “I’m still of this world,” she said, then smiled.
“You did it,” I said.
“Good.” Her eyes fluttered closed.
“Do you… know where Ila is?”
She frowned as if thinking, then her forehead smoothed. I waited for an answer, but it seemed she’d forgotten I was even there.
Past the tents, movement caught my attention. My heart swelled as I saw Kall walking toward me. He was fully healed. I took two steps forward, then I ran. I crashed into him, burying my face in his chest. His strong arms wrapped around me and squeezed me for a couple of seconds before holding me at arm’s length.
“Ila?” I said.
He simply nodded, and we started searching for her together. I felt his presence inside me, guiding me through our tetrad bond. Without words, I understood he wanted me to heal Maki, while he focused on Novuk. I quickly found Maki, a too-quiet presence within me. He was utterly still, but as soon as my healing energy started flowing into him, I sensed his relief like a weight falling off my own shoulders.
We found Ila around the rubble of the Chieftess’s tent. She was kneeling in front of someone. Her hands were working quickly. We approached. My heart trembled, fearing who I would find on the other side.
“Ila,” I whispered.
She glanced over her shoulder. Tears spilled down her face as she saw me.
“You’re all right,” she half cried in relief.
Kall and I came around. The person Ila was working on was… our mother. She had a deep gash across her chest, a terrible cut made by a long blade.
“She’s bleeding so much,” Ila sobbed.
“Is… is there anything we can do?” I asked.
