With her amplified sight, she could just make out the cloak of the other ambusher, behind a tree several yards away. Hearing augmented, his quivering breath echoed in her ears, the smell of fear in the wind.
Good, she thought.Let him fear me.
A frightening twang resounded from her bow as she released her fueled arrow, followed by a cry from the downed man.
Astraia waited a moment more, feeling with her bond for any hint of more attackers, before limping to where Draven fell.
His chest was barely moving, blood oozing from his wound, coating his armor.
She knelt beside him, inspecting the injury. The arrow had managed to wedge between two flaps of his leathers.
She cursed as she pulled back his chest piece. “Draven, you have to stay with me, okay? I have to pull the arrow out so I can heal you,” she said sternly, attempting to hide the fear in her voice.
He blinked several times, choking out a laugh. “If I had known this would be my prize for saving you, I would have left you to the wraith.”
Astraia rolled her eyes. “Stars, you’re insufferable.”
“Yet you’re still here,” he said, softly this time, his breaths becoming more labored.
“Just hold still. This will hurt.” She grabbed the end of the arrow closest to his chest firmly with her hand, steeling herself.
Sacrifice flickered beneath her palms, eager and ready. Allowing her bond to flare, she prepared to heal him as soon as the arrow was free.
Taking a deep breath, she wrenched the arrow free in one smooth motion.
Draven moaned in pain through clenched teeth.
Astraia pressed her hands to the wound now gushing blood. Opening the gates to her bond, Sacrifice flared. A soft blue light webbed its way through her fingers, intertwining with the broken skin.
Warmth replaced the sticky coolness of blood on her fingers as the gash mended. Tissue knitted together, blood clotted, and scars vanished with her touch.
She dared a glance at the bounty hunter.
He was blinking slowly, awe in those amber pools.
“You’re incredible,” he said, voice low and reverent, before closing his eyes.
Chapter 21
Put down notions of revolution, for this is folly. Do you not know that the Empyrean, once cloaked in magnificent starlight, was formed on the premise of order? Hail Balance.
Trutinoris, Priest of Balance
ASTRAIA READJUSTED HERSELF IN THE overly plush armchair, gazing out the massive floor-to-ceiling window beside her.
The town of Volpes glistened below in the morning sunlight. Every building was made of whitewashed stone, once thought to be incorporated with stardust by the constellation Desire as she sought to establish Volpes as the glistening jewel of Astradeon.
Astraia involuntarily rolled her eyes at the notion.Pretentiouswas a more fitting term for the town.
It was the wealthiest province in Astradeon thanks to the mining of Stardust, which was used to strengthen swords, structures, armor, cookware, and all manner of both helpful and harmful objects.
The people of Volpes benefitted from the riches, flaunting their lifestyle and indulging in the finery of life. The mystical gardens of Desire surrounding the city only inflated egos further—with rare trees, plants, and flowers surrounding the town and Volpes Manor.
Astraia sighed, turning her attention to the extravagant room around her.
The room was bright, with cream-colored walls and gold-trim accents throughout, even on the door handles. The ceiling was ornate, a hand-painted mural reflecting the white starbloom flowers of the surrounding gardens. Polished marble floors were carpeted with lavish rugs, also accented with gold threads. Even the silk curtains adorning the side of each window were stenciled with gold.
Pretentious asses, Astraia grumbled to herself.
