I reached out, my fingers brushing his arm. “Hey?—”
The air around us vibrated with outside noise, breaking apart the dream. Someone was waking me up.
No! I didn’t want to wake up. I needed to figure out what was going on with Aspen.
He crushed his lips to mine, devouring my mouth in a desperate kiss. “I’ll do what I can to find them,” he murmured, his voice muffled against my mouth before the dream-walk unraveled and our midnight field faded.
“Lucille.”Sam sighed as I opened my eyes. “What have you done to yourself now?”
I rubbed my face, aggravated. It wasn’t Sam’s fault. The whole reason I came here was for him to check on me. I just wish he’d waited a little longer before waking me up. More importantly, I wished Aspen would—I didn’t know—be more open and honest about what was going on with him. Wasn’t that what a relationship was supposed to be like? Or love, for that matter? Unless this wasn’t love. Unless?—
“Lucille.” Sam shook my shoulder. “Are you okay?”
I dropped my hands and sat up, pushing away my thoughts. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just have a concussion from running.”
Sam shook his head, ripping the yellow amulet from around his neck. “Let me guess. Instead of going to one of the many healers here, the general demanded you seek me out—again.”
I raised a brow but nodded.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, holding his amulet in front of my face. “I’m an elite healer, Lucille. Concussion, muscle aches, and frozen toes are for the grunts without yellow or white amulets.”
“I was just doing what I was told.”
Sam’s lips tightened as he wrapped a fist around the crystal. With his other hand, he pressed gently on my forehead.
Scalding heat shot through my skull, and I yelped, squirming beneath the intensity before it cooled into a soothing, steady warmth. Energy surged through my veins, chasing away the fog from my brain and the ache in my muscles.
I perked up, feeling refreshed and brand new. “Thanks,” I said, swinging my legs off the bed.
But Sam didn’t move. I glanced up, finding him frowning.
“What’s wrong?”
His eyes narrowed as he studied me. “Your energy levels were as low as a human’s.”
“I gather that’s bad?”
He quirked a brow, placing the amulet back over his head. “Humans don’t have enough energy to sustain angelic powers.”
I didn’t understand, and my face must’ve shown my confusion.
“Yes, Lucille, that’s bad. Your energy dropped dangerously low. If you’d tried using your powers before I healed you, you could’ve died.”
“Oh.”
“Oh?” He scoffed. “Your body needs breaks and rest. If you’re training physically, then don’t train magically, and vice versa. It puts too much strain on your energy. Also, if you feel even the slightest bit lightheaded, you stop what you’re doing and rest. Don’t push yourself to run ten miles if you can’t.”
“You do know I’m training with the Tormentors, right?”
Sam grabbed my shoulder. “Yes. And still, I’m hoping you heed my expert advice. Understand?”
I understood that what he was saying was impossible, but sure. “Yep.”
He pinched his nose, then shooed me with his hand. “Go. I have other patients to heal.”
I walked out of the healers’ wing with a skip in my step, feeling more energized than I had in days. It was wonderful. So wonderful, I figured it’d be a great time to run. I had a goalto reach.
The sun hoveredbehind the winter-burdened evergreens, painting the landscape in pastel pinks and blues. Cold gusts stung my face, forcing me to shield my eyes as I ran. I wasn’t having half the fun Rune was having as she chomped on the drifting snow beside me. Her shadow fur swirled around her body, dancing with merriment. She really was made for Hell. And although I was the daughter of it, I felt no connection to the icy land or its inhabitants.
