by S. D. Grimm
“I should hope so.”
She smiled and her own emotions made the corners of her mouth waver. “I wasn’t hurt when we fell. Because of you.”
He shook his head. “Good. I would hate it if—”
“You don’t understand. I’m a Healer. No one protects Healers.”
He looked at her as though that was the strangest thing he’d ever heard. “Everyone needs rescuing at one point or another.”
Tears stung her eyes and her voice quavered. “Thank you.”
Ryan winced and hung his head. “It isn’t fair for me to compare you to Belladonna; she isn’t you. She’s nothing like you. But the Healing, it—it scares me, Serena.”
“I know, and I—”
“When I was bloody and whimpering on the floor like a beaten dog, all I wanted was Belladonna. Don’t you see? I wanted the enemy to touch me, to soothe me because I felt relief. She made me need her. Her healing made me grovel at her feet. I wanted it so badly that I believed I loved her.”
Serena fought hard to stay strong as Ryan’s eyes filled with tears. She hugged him close. He squeezed back.
“You have every right to be ashamed of me,” he said softly.
“I’m not ashamed of you, Ryan. I promise you, I will help you kill that woman.”
“It won’t be pretty. She terrifies me. I have never been more afraid of anything in my life.”
“Then I will do my best to make sure she never hurts you again.”
He looked into her eyes and squeezed her hands tight. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t.”
“I can’t let you.”
“Why not?”
“Because I would never forgive myself if she hurt you. She hates you.”
“She’s always hated me,” Serena said.
“No. I’ve heard her secret desires. She would kill you simply because I love you.”
Serena stared, dropping his hands and leaning away. Her eyes were glued open, she was sure. Had she really heard him right?
He grimaced. “I know it hasn’t been obvious.”
“It’s not that.” She was surprised at how airy her voice sounded. She wanted to say she loved him, too, but the words stuck. “No one has ever said that to me before. Ever.”
“That they love you?”
She nodded, unable to find words.
“Serena, that’s the saddest thing I’ve ever—I love you.”
“Please.”
“You deserve to hear it, and truthfully. You kept me alive. You kept my heart from becoming fully tainted. You saved me. Then you came back for me. You showed me kindness when I was unlovable. You never lost hope in me. I love you. I love you so much my heart wants to burst from it.” He wrapped her in his arms.
Serena shook as the tears poured out of her relentlessly. He held her close, as her emotional dam broke. Yet she knew she was safe, even if she still felt vulnerable. She wanted to say she returned his love. But that thought terrified her.
She was just like him, wasn’t she? Damaged with no desire to let someone love her. Afraid that no one could.
He ran his fingers through her hair. “Thank you. For not giving up on me. For coming after me. For rescuing me.”
“Of course.” She smiled. A warmth flooded her heart and she nestled closer to him. Whether she was afraid or not, he deserved to know. “I love you.”
His chest heaved under her head. “You don’t have to say it because I did. I understand if you don’t.”
“I can’t lie.”
His breathing hitched. “You—?” His chest shook. “I’m a monster.”
Serena pulled back and looked at his face. “Prove it.”
“What?”
“Let me see your heart.”
He looked right into her eyes like he’d do anything she asked. “How?”
“Trust me.” She touched his cheek.
The veil lifted.
He had opened his heart to her. It thundered in her ears. The pure part, the tainted part. It ached. For her. From fear. He was broken in there, but alive. So alive. And fighting the darkness.
It was such a beautiful heart. Compassion and love blossomed there. Even though a huge chunk of darkness covered part of it, he kept it contained. No one should be able to fight the pull of the dark so hard. But he did.
She looked into his eyes. “You have the most beautiful heart I’ve ever felt.”
He stared at her. “You can’t be serious.”
“I love you.”
A smile covered his face, one that reminded her of the first time they met. “I love you more.”
Truth.
Her heart soared. It might not be the truth, but it was his truth. His hands slid up her back, and he pulled her closer. She didn’t resist. She placed her hand over his chest and felt his heartbeat. Looked into his eyes. Stormy gray eyes that searched her face. Her lips. She leaned in and kissed him. And he crushed her close. His heart beat strong and pure, and the pure part seemed to pulse harder than the darkness. She wrapped her arms around him, and his heart squeezed against the darkness harder. Pushed it away as strongly as he pulled her close. Closer. And she never wanted him to let go.
When morning broke, Serena found herself huddled on the ground, and Ryan sat not far from her, cooking what looked like a rabbit over a fire. He flit his fingers through the flames without getting hurt. The dancing fire mesmerized him as much as watching him did her. “Where’s Blaze?”
He looked up at her, snapping out of a deep thought. “He found a dead dragon near here. He’s checking it out. The same arrows that shot him are embedded in this one.”
“That’s terrible.” Serena stood.
“And quite far away from where he was when Dash found him.”
“Which makes you think what?”
She felt for Dash, let him tap into their conversation. He’d already left for the day to try and meet them at their next place. “Someone isn’t just hunting dragons. They’re hunting you.”
“I agree.” She crouched near Ryan. “Do you feel the Mistress?”
He nodded, looking at the fire again. “She’s always in the back of my mind like a leech I can’t get rid of.”
Something cracked like a stick snapping. Ryan stopped still. He pressed his finger to his lips. Serena scanned the wood for movement. Froze. Looked out beyond the cliff on the other side for anything in the air. Slowly, she grabbed Ryan’s hand. He flinched.
“I’ll hide you,” she whispered.
He nodded and drew his sword.
Everything grew unnaturally dark. The scent of lavender permeated the air. Ryan’s hand warmed. “Black lions.” He spoke her fear aloud.
Someone moved through the wood like a cat on the hunt, and her skin chilled. Belladonna. Five black lions surrounded her, and they sniffed the air.
Ryan shuddered. Hot flame pulsed into his hand. Serena almost screamed. “Ryan.”
She wasn’t getting his attention. She grabbed his elbow with her other hand.
His hands cooled and he looked at her. “Let me go.”
“No!” Her whisper turned harsh, and a black lion turned its yellow gaze onto them.
Ryan gasped. “It’s talking to me. She knows I’m here.”
Serena pulled him back farther away from Belladonna. How was that even possible? He couldn’t be bonded to that.
“It smells us.” Ryan’s voice trembled.
“We’ve got to run.”
“You run. Keep yourself cloaked and run.”
She strengthened her grip around his hand. “We stay together.”
“I can’t risk her getting her hands on you.”
“We’ll hide.”
His eyes softened. “How do you think she keeps finding us? It has to be the taint.” His eyes scanned her face. Serena’s breath hitched. The warmth of him, soft this time, like a fire meant to bring comfort and keep off the chill, drew her in.
“Serena,” he whispered. “I love you, more
than life itself.”
Truth.
Then he released her. Cold enveloped her, crushed her. Ryan stood there, exposed. The black lion crouched, whipping its tail back and forth. A purr escaped its throat.
No.
She reached for him, and that look of love covered his face again as he stepped away.
Please, Ryan.
The black lions encircled him. “Pet?” Belladonna walked nearer, a wide smile on her face. “How fortunate to have found you here. Now where’s that wretched Healer?”
Ryan tipped his head toward her. “Belladonna.”
Serena held her tears in, her sobs clawed at her stomach begging to be set free. Sorrow choked her. Belladonna placed her hand on the black lion. “She said she smelled something, but I should have her skinned for not telling me it was you.” Her smile snaked across her lips. “I knew you couldn’t stay away from me.”
Ryan closed his eyes. “Your pull is strong.”
“I know. But I wasn’t tracking you, so this is a pleasant surprise.”
Ryan sucked in a breath. “You . . .”
“It surprises you? It shouldn’t. I placed my links where I could. When you killed Franco, you gave me a lot of power. He’d blood-willed all his power to me.” She pulled out a knife and walked closer to Ryan. The scent of pears clung to her. The black lions kept a tight circle around them both. “That means I have her soul.”
Serena’s heart stopped. She touched the tattoo on the base of her neck. No.
Belladonna slashed the knife and cut into Ryan’s arm as he placed his hands up to block her strike. Blood seeped onto his sleeve. Serena felt his pain, and Belladonna looked right where Serena stood hidden. “Heal him, slave.”
Serena’s legs disobeyed her. They moved forward and took her right up to the black lions. Tails thrashing, they moved aside so she could walk between them. Right up to Ryan. She knew, by the way his eyes met hers, that she was no longer hidden. She was exposed. And controlled.
She reached toward his arm. “I’m sorry.”
“No sorrys. You didn’t know.” He offered his arm for her to heal. She sealed the wound, but not before her tear dripped inside.
“Isn’t this nice?” Belladonna pulled out her whip, and Ryan cringed.
He pushed Serena behind him. “You have us now. There’s no reason to use force.”
“No?” She laughed. Then her expression darkened. “There’s always reason. You would protect her from me, pet? You’re supposed to hand her over.”
Ryan turned to Serena and whispered. “Blaze is fast. We both have fire. There’s a way out of this.”
The hope in her heart blossomed, and Serena clung to it. He pushed her down and dove on top of her as heat sprayed above them. Fire so hot, it scorched the air. Serena buried herself in his protective arms. The black lions screeched. Blaze! He’d come to their rescue.
Belladonna’s strange, strangled laugh rose above all the noise.
The fire stopped.
“Heal them!” Belladonna commanded.
Serena rose. Where was Blaze? She looked out over the cliff to watch him falling.
Belladonna stood holding a crossbow and glared at Ryan. “You thought your dragon was strong enough to combat me, pet. Really? Could you have bonded to anything smaller? Have you forgotten that I studied under the great wizard Rubius? Have you forgotten that I killed him?”
Serena gasped and Belladonna chuckled. Her dark eyes locked onto Serena. “See, even your Healer knows what that means. His powers are now mine. And the two of you will help me get the Creator’s power and destroy the Mistress.”
Ryan grabbed Serena’s arm.
“Don’t stop me, please,” she said. “It’ll tear me apart. I have to do this.”
The land had been blackened, and two mounds of ash told the deaths of two black lions. The others were injured. Serena moved toward the first. It hissed at her. She couldn’t stop moving toward it anyway.
Serena healed the black lions, even as they hissed and growled. Ryan took his protective stance in front of her again. “You have a few powers. So do I.” He shot fire from his hands at Belladonna.
She held up her hand, and his flames winked out. “You have to try harder than that. How do you think I got close enough to your dragon to shoot it?”
He blasted fire in a steady stream at two of the black lions. The third lunged at them. Belladonna aimed her arrow.
“Ryan, look out!”
The arrow sailed right for him and speared through his stomach. He fell. But he’d taken out two of the black lions. One remained. Serena bent to heal Ryan.
“Stop.” Belladonna’s voice was quiet.
Serena’s hands froze. The warring needs inside of her nearly tore her apart. She wanted to heal him and the tattoo wouldn’t let her. “Ryan, I—”
“It’s okay.”
It wasn’t okay. A clicking sound resounded in the breeze, and Ryan wrapped a bloodied hand around her wrist. “Go.”
“No.”
“Please.”
Belladonna towered over them.
Serena looked up at her. At the whip dangling in the crazy woman’s hand. “He’s dying!”
“It’s a small price to pay for his disobedience.” She put her boot on Ryan’s shoulder and pressed. Serena took out her daggers and sliced deep into Belladonna’s calf.
Her wild, crazy eyes locked onto Serena. “You dare?” The whip curled around Serena’s dagger, and Belladonna wrenched it from Serena’s grip. Serena pulled out another dagger and threw it. The blade sunk deep into Belladonna’s chest. Belladonna yanked it out and tossed it away. “You’re more foolish than I thought.”
“You can’t have him!” Tears raced down Serena’s cheeks.
“I already do. And I have you, too.”
A black lion pinned Serena to the ground, face first. She struggled to free her other dagger. The animal moved back, keeping weight on Serena’s legs. Stinging slices ripped into her back and sharp, cutting objects shredded her skin.
“Do not heal.” Belladonna’s voice remained placid as Serena screamed.
Again Belladonna whipped her.
And again.
“Leave her alone!” Ryan shouted.
Then Belladonna stopped. She stooped over Ryan’s form. “She can’t heal you unless I let her.” She ripped the arrow from him, and his cries seemed to shake the trees.
Serena tried to move the heavy weight of the lion, but claws pricked her skin. Held her there. Where was Dash?
He felt closer. Running, but not fast enough. By the time he got here, they’d be gone.
Belladonna coursed healing into Ryan’s wound. “Stand up, pet. Groveling will do you no good.” She reached out to place her hand on Ryan’s heart. His hands balled into fists, he jerked his head away from her and squeezed his eyes shut. A small whimper escaped his throat. Belladonna stopped, her palm inches from him. “You fear my touch?”
He said nothing.
“I scare you.” Her smile grew. “Good. Because I don’t want you to make the mistake of leaving, ever again.” She stroked his ear and Ryan screamed. He crashed to his knees, writhing on the ground.
“Stop!” Serena wriggled beneath the black lion.
The toe of a boot bashed into Serena’s head. “You do not control anything here. See? Your powers are mine.”
The boot hit her again. Ryan’s screams filled her ears. The pounding crushed against her skull. Blood flowed from her nose, from her head, from her ear. Her mind filled with memories of her father standing in front of her laughing. “Does this hurt?” he laughed over and over in her head.
She gritted her teeth and pulled one arm free. When Belladonna’s boot came forward, Serena caught it. Something in her hand snapped, but she didn’t care. Belladonna lost her balance, and the black lion fluttered its wings to catch her. Weight lifted, and Serena rolled out from beneath the monster. She stood and pulled out her dagger as she raced to Ryan.
Sweat soaked him and h
e shivered, still writhing. “Turn it off. Please. I’ll do anything you say. Just turn it off.”
Belladonna crouched low over Ryan. “What do you think, pet?”
“I’m s-sorry.”
No. He’d done nothing wrong.
“P-please. Make it s-stop.”
“That’s a good boy.” She stroked his ear and kissed him. Immediately his thrashing ended. He curled into a tight ball and tears leaked from his eyes. “Now. We can’t kill Serena, but we can beat her and keep her from healing until we get to the four thrones.” She pulled a little vial of purple liquid from her pocket. “You are familiar with this, aren’t you?”
Serena shivered.
Belladonna slid Ryan’s sword from its scabbard and placed it in his hand, blade first. Then she looked at Serena. “You should heal yourself for this, slave. I don’t want anything to go wrong.”
Serena’s bones and tendons mended. Her wounds closed. But no relief rushed through her. She didn’t control her talent.
“Stand, pet. And face your enemy.”
Ryan stood, unsteady on his feet. His eyes bored into Serena, the same eyes she’d seen in the palace. Dull. Dead. Broken.
Her breath shook. “Ryan?”
“Don’t call me that.”
Belladonna stroked his neck. “See, he’s mine. Now, pet, you won’t technically be killing her. Just making her less of a problem.” Belladonna smiled. “Go ahead, I can guarantee she won’t hurt you. Cut off her head or bring me her heart.”
Ryan’s sword tip dragged in the dirt as he took two steps toward her.
Serena backed up.
Belladonna shook her finger and her head. “No, no. That way leads to the cliffs.”
Serena gasped. Her feet pulled her backward. The trees around her parted. A misty fog hung over her. She turned. What would have been a magnificent view of a giant chasm chilled her to the bone.
“On second thought, go ahead.” Belladonna shrugged. “A fall like that could take you days to heal from. We’ll have your decapitated body in the wagon before you’re able to run should you choose the easy way out. Or, my black lion will catch you before you hit the ground and bring you right back.”