by Lynette Noni
And he knew they might not all survive.
But D.C. had been right when she’d said that it was better to spend the days they were given with those they loved rather than push them away for fear of what might happen to them.
Jordan had lost so much in his short life—suffered so much. And he was still scared of losing more. Of losing his friends. Of losing D.C.
But as she’d challenged him to admit, she was worth the risk. And he wasn’t going to sacrifice what little time they might have left just because he was afraid of the future. If he did that, he’d be exactly the kind of stupid idiot she’d accused him of being.
Instead, he was going to hold onto her. To love her, with all his heart. Come what may.
He’d been through hell, and he’d survived—and he would continue to survive, no matter what scars he bore, no matter what new ones might come.
Because as he’d learned, scars fade.
And with D.C. by his side, along with Bear and Alex, Jordan knew he’d be able to make it through anything. He knew they’d be able to make it through anything. Together.
Aven didn’t stand a chance.
Because they weren’t going to let him break them.
On that thought, Jordan climbed into bed and, exhausted from the emotional turmoil of the day, soon drifted off to sleep. But for the first time since returning to the academy, he didn’t hear Aven’s voice calling through his dreams. He didn’t witness his brother hanging above the pond or his loved ones being killed by his own hand. He didn’t see death and destruction and everyone he cared for being taken from him.
Instead, he dreamed about a smiling princess and stolen kisses.
And he slept straight through until morning.
HEARTS
AND
HEADSTONES
A NOVELLA OF
THE MEDORAN CHRONICLES
One
Pain.
Overwhelming, unending pain.
That was all Bear felt—agony the likes of which he’d never experienced before.
His eyes snapped open, a moan leaving his mouth as anguish rippled through his body.
“He’s awake, Fletcher—do something!”
“Hold him down, Declan, we need to keep him still. Hunter, hand me—no, not that—yes, that one.”
Bear moaned again, deep in his throat, when lightning scoured up and down his leg. His stomach heaved, his nerves were on fire. Sweat dotted his forehead but ice was running through his veins. He started struggling, pushing against the hands that pressed him down, needing to escape the daggers of flame stabbing from his foot all the way up to his knee and beyond.
“Easy, Bear,” said the first voice again, from right above him. “Easy.”
Bear twisted under hands that were unyielding in their grip. He fought to open his eyes, his blurry vision catching sight of a familiar face looking down in concern.
“Declan… hurts…” Bear couldn’t even utter a whole sentence, his slurred words barely a gasp of pain.
Black dots began to creep in, and Bear saw Declan straining to keep him in place as he writhed on the Medical Ward bed.
He remembered trees, heat, running. One misplaced step, then the crack of his bone snapping, echoing through the forest.
He remembered Alex and Hunter, their faces pale as they worked to strap his leg, to keep him calm. As they carried him through the woods, fleeing from the Jarnocks who hunted them.
He remembered biting through his lip to keep from screaming, the slightest movement prompting waves of torment.
He remembered finally finding the Library doorway and returning to the academy—then the euphoric oblivion of Fletcher’s pain relievers.
Pain relievers that had now stopped working.
“Can’t you put him under again?” Declan asked the doctor, his steady onyx gaze remaining on Bear—calming, soothing.
Hold on, Declan seemed to be willing him. Just hold on.
That was the last Bear saw, the last he heard and thought, before another sharp lance of pain spiked enough for him to cry out, his eyes rolling to the back of his head as he returned to blissful unconsciousness.
A voice came to Bear as if from far away, low and deep, breaking through the haze of sleep.
“… and I’m still angry at him. It was one thing to give me Sarinpox—especially since I was the idiot who ignored the ‘QUARANTINE’ sign on his door and let myself in. Serves me right, really. But did Kaid have to borrow General Aesopheles right before they shut the place down?” A grumbled sound, and then, “We’ve been back so many times to look, but nope. Can’t find him anywhere. Limited edition, too, and lost to the ruins of Heartstone Grove. Probably forever.”
Bear fought to open his eyelids as he heard Declan’s annoyed sigh. But then, in a tone that held a hint of amusement, the other boy said, “I guess that’s one way to solidify a friendship. Share a disease, share an action figure, then lose both and be stuck with each other.” A snort. “Don’t tell Kaid I said that last part. He’s sensitive these days, especially since the girl he’s head over heels for is too busy saving the world to date him. Poor baby.”
Bear’s lips curled upwards and he was finally able to open his eyes, blinking against the bright lights.
“There you are,” Declan said, reclining in the seat beside Bear’s bed, his long legs stretched out, his broad shoulders seeming too large for the chair. “’Bout time you decided to wake up. I was running out of stories.”
“How long have I been out?” Bear said, his voice a harsh, grating sound.
“A few hours. It’s morning.”
Morning. That was more than just a few hours. Bear must have slept all through the night.
“What—” He coughed, trying to clear his dry throat, but it felt like he was swallowing gravel.
With more grace than someone so large should command, Declan stood and ambled across the room, returning with a glass of water. He moved closer and held the straw up to Bear’s mouth, as if helping a child in need of coddling.
Bear pointedly took the glass from him and rasped, “I didn’t break my hands.”
“You’re welcome,” Declan simply said.
Tossing the straw and instead downing long, deep gulps of the soothing water, Bear only spoke again once the glass was empty, his voice no longer quite as hoarse. “What are you doing here?”
An amused laugh. “Way to make a guy feel welcome.”
A hint of warmth prickled Bear’s cheeks. “Sorry. That’s not what I meant.”
Humour still lit Declan’s dark features as he said, “I know.” His easy grin proved he wasn’t offended. “I’m here because Fletcher had to go help Luranda with something but didn’t want you to wake up alone. I swung by to check on you right as he needed to leave, so I offered to stay.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
Declan shrugged, his shoulders like mountains moving up and down. “It’s Sunday. I don’t need to be anywhere else in a rush.”
Sunday. Bear was supposed to go to Graevale with Alex today. With Jordan and D.C. stuck in detention, he was all Alex had.
Pushing back his covers, Bear swung his legs over the side of the bed. He was still wearing his clothes from yesterday—including his lucky jeans, as he’d called them, though now he felt a name change might be in order.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa—what do you think you’re doing?” Declan demanded, standing in front of Bear with his hands on his hips and a scowl on his face.
“I have somewhere to be,” Bear answered. Flexing his leg, he felt a twinge of pain—a tired kind of ache, like he’d overused a muscle—but otherwise Fletcher’s Regenevators had worked miracles overnight.
“Yeah, you do,” Declan said, pointing a finger back at the bed. “Fletcher says you’re to stay here until he checks you over.”
“I’m fine.”
“You snapped your fibula in two last night.” With emphasis, Declan repeated, “In two, Bear. The meds work fast, but you still have
a few days of healing before you’ll be fully recovered.”
Bear ignored him and placed his feet on the ground, rising carefully. The moment he put weight on his injured leg, the tired ache flared into a bolt of pain, enough for him to utter a muffled curse and collapse back onto the bed.
Declan, to his credit, didn’t say anything.
“How long did Fletcher say he’d be?” Bear asked through clenched teeth as he waited for the pain to subside.
“He didn’t.”
Bear blew out a loud breath. “I don’t suppose I can convince you to grab me some painkillers and let me go on my merry way?”
“Orders are orders, B. I’m here to make sure you stay put.”
‘B’. No one called Bear that. He wondered why Declan was being so friendly. The two of them had always got along well, but they’d never spent much time together. They didn’t share any classes at Akarnae, but with Bear’s dad being a Warden and Declan’s grandfather the advisor to the Medoran throne, they’d run into each other every so often at social events over the years. Bear imagined that if he and Jordan weren’t so close, and Declan and Kaiden the same, then Bear and Declan likely would have been closer than they were. They would have found that friendship with each other—that bond that makes two people nearly inseparable.
… But that wasn’t enough to stop Bear from what he did next, what he had to do next.
“You don’t want to be here,” Bear said, infusing his words with intent, with encouragement. He often compared his gift of charm as being like a lullaby—something that hypnotised the listener, swaying them into acquiescence. “You’re hungry and you want to go and have breakfast. But before you do, you want to pass me that green vial sitting on Fletcher’s desk. Then you’ll get to go and eat.”
Bear waited for Declan to succumb to the power of his gift. But instead of nodding dazedly, handing over the pain reliever, and disappearing, Declan smiled a wide, incredulous smile.
“Did you seriously just try to use your gift on me?”
Bear swore under his breath.
Snorting, Declan said, “You do know who my grandfather is, right? Don’t you think Jaxon would have made sure I had at least some defensive training? I mightn’t be able to keep out mind readers as well as Kaiden or even Jordan, but I can hold my own against most mental manipulation.”
Bear refused to feel guilty. “I have to get out of here. Alex needs me.”
“Alex needs a lot of things,” Declan said, straight faced. “Not the least of which is a holiday.”
Bear couldn’t argue with that.
“But if you’re speaking of her needing you, specifically, today,” Declan continued, “then she’s going to have to do without.”
“You don’t understand. I need—”
“You need to rest and recover,” Declan said, firmly. “And Alex is smart enough to know that.”
Bear’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“She’s already gone. Whatever you were planning on doing—I saw her disappear into the shadows with Caspar Lennox when I was walking over here this morning. She knows you need to take it easy, and she’s making sure you do exactly that.”
A frustrated, helpless feeling overtook Bear. He hated that Alex had been left to visit Graevale on her own. But… at least she wasn’t completely alone—though, he doubted she’d be thrilled by having the company of their SOSAC teacher. Four years into his education at Akarnae, and even Bear still felt on edge around the Shadow Walker at times.
… Most times.
“You can’t join her, and presuming you’re sane, you won’t want to join Dix and Jordan in detention, so that leaves you…” Declan trailed off pointedly.
“Here,” Bear said with a sigh. “That leaves me here.”
“Got it in one.” Declan grinned. “Everyone says you’re the smartest in your family.”
A surprised laugh escaped Bear, chasing away his frustration. “Don’t let my brothers hear you say that.”
“Ah, yes. The infamous Ronnigan brothers.”
“Don’t let them hear you say that, either.” Bear pulled a face, knowing he’d never hear the end of it if word reached Johnny or Blake that they were ‘famed’.
“My lips are sealed,” Declan said, his soulful eyes dancing with humour, “as long as you promise to stay here for the day.”
Knowing he sounded like a grumpy child, Bear couldn’t help saying, “It’s not like I have a choice, is it?”
“That’s the spirit.”
Before Bear could retort, Declan stepped away and grabbed the vial on Fletcher’s desk, handing it over.
Bear looked at it suspiciously. “I thought you said my gift doesn’t work on you?”
Declan rolled his eyes. “I’m not letting you out of here. That’s just to help take the edge off.”
Since Bear’s leg was still aggravated from his failed attempt at standing, he nodded his gratitude and downed the pain reliever, not pausing to take a proper look or smell of it before doing so. The moment the taste hit him, he realised his mistake.
“Wha…”
“Sorry, B,” Declan said, his now blurring face looking both amused and apologetic. “You’ll recover faster if you’re sleeping. And you won’t be able to try and escape as soon as no one’s looking.”
“You…” Bear’s mouth was unable to form the insult on his lips before his eyes shut of their own accord and sleep claimed him once more.
When Bear awoke next, there were shadows flooding the room, indicating that it was much later in the day.
A crunching noise had him looking towards the end of his bed where he found Jordan eating from a box of crackers. D.C. was curled into his side and reading their Med Sci textbook, a slight frown between her eyebrows as she took notes with her free hand. The two of them looked the picture of the perfect couple, causing Bear’s heart to warm.
He was so happy for them; thrilled, in fact, after everything they’d been through—especially Jordan, who had overcome demons to reach where he now was. Ever since he and D.C. had stopped dancing around their feelings for each other and become an official couple a few days earlier, it was like their entire group dynamic was just right. Like a missing piece had been filled, even though all the players remained the same.
“Well, finally,” Jordan said, grinning as he noticed Bear had awakened. “I’ve had to ask Fletcher three times to check if you were dead. Declan sure got you good with that vial swap, didn’t he?”
“I’ll definitely be having words with him later,” Bear said wryly. But as he stretched his leg and felt only the barest hint of pain, he wondered if perhaps those words would include ‘thank you’. The day of rest appeared to have been exactly what Bear had needed, much to his disgruntlement.
“How are you feeling?” D.C. asked, her expression soft as she bookmarked her textbook and placed it aside. “Does your leg still hurt?”
Stretching again, Bear shook his head in wonder and said, “I can hardly feel it anymore. Good as new, it seems.”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Fletcher said, appearing from within a supply room and walking over to Bear’s bedside. “Let’s take a look at you.”
The doctor rolled up Bear’s jeans and rotated his leg to and fro, running his hands along the bone and using his MedTek to check that everything had set well, before finally nodding.
“You’ll be a bit tender until the Regenevator finishes its work, so take it easy for the next few days. But otherwise, you’re good to go,” Fletcher said, rolling the jeans back into place.
Relieved, Bear swung his legs over the side of the bed, feeling only a slight twinge of discomfort this time when he moved to stand.
“If the pain flares up again or you’re concerned about anything, come back and see me,” Fletcher said. His look was stern when he added, “I mean that, Bear. You had a nasty break and while you’ll make a full recovery, you’ll lengthen your healing time if you don’t take care of yourself.”
“Don�
��t worry, Fletch,” Jordan said, “we’ll make sure he’s waited on hand and foot until he’s all better. Breakfast in bed, spoon-feeding, sponge baths—the whole shebang.”
Fletcher’s stern look shifted as he took in Bear’s expression. Now fighting a smile, the doctor said, “I’m not sure the spoon-feeding will be necessary.” A lip twitch. “Nor the sponge baths.”
Shooting a very clear warning to Jordan, Bear said, “You so much as come near me with a spoon or a sponge and I’ll show you firsthand just how healed my leg is.”
D.C. snorted and Jordan chuckled, but he nodded all the same.
“Then let’s get you out of here, mate,” Jordan said, as D.C. uncurled from him and the two of them stood. “You hungry?”
“Starved,” Bear answered. He looked to Fletcher and said, “Thanks for putting me back together, Fletch. Until next time.”
“You lot are going to turn me prematurely grey,” Fletcher said.
“Don’t be so dramatic,” Jordan said. With a wink, he added, “We all know the credit for that will go to Alex.”
Fletcher sighed—deeply—and wandered off, murmuring under his breath about needing a new job.
Snickering, Bear donned the coat D.C. offered him before limping out of the Med Ward with her and Jordan, heading through the thick snow in the direction of the food court. What he’d said before was true—he was starving, having not eaten anything since lunch the previous day.
When they reached the entrance, D.C. paused and said, “I’ll go see if Alex is back from Graevale yet.”
Bear looked at his two friends and asked, “You didn’t check earlier?”
“We came straight to you after we finished detention,” D.C. said, as if he was ridiculous for thinking otherwise. “We wanted to be there when you woke up.”
Her words and her gentle smile resonated deeply within Bear. When he’d first noticed the feelings growing between her and Jordan months ago, Bear had wondered if a relationship between the two would mean he would be pushed to the side. But that wasn’t the case—they’d all been through too much together, their bonds too deep for them to ever consider casting him aside.