“Hale,” Serafina said. A flicker of something crossed her face, too quick for Araya to read it. “I’ve heard the name. The things they sayabout him…” She looked at Araya sharply. “Be careful, Araya. He’s not finished.”
Araya nodded faintly, her focus fixed on Loren’s pale, unmoving face. The pull in her chest had quieted into a faint thrum, her magic no longer flowing into him, but still she couldn’t bring herself to let go of his hand.
“Jaxon will…he’ll make sure Hale can’t get back in,” Araya murmured, her voice distant and hollow. She blinked, forcing herself to focus as she added, “I’ll make sure he does.”
Serafina studied her for a long moment, her expression softening as she crouched down beside her. “You’ve done everything you can for him right now. It’s time for us to go.”
“I know,” Araya whispered, but she couldn’t bring herself to let go.
“Araya,” Serafina repeated. “You need to stand up and come with me. Jaxon can’t see you like this.”
Jaxon—waiting. The thought was enough to give Araya the strength to loosen her grip on Loren’s hand. For the second time that day, Araya let herself to be pulled to her feet and guided away—against every instinct screaming at her to stay.
“Well?”
Jaxon leaned against the workbench, his arms crossed over his chest. But there was nothing casual about the sharp edge to his voice or the way his dark eyes raked over her before flicking to Serafina.
“He’s still unconscious,” Serafina said brusquely, toweling off her hands. Somehow, her crisp, blue Healer’s uniform was still pristine, while Araya felt like every inch of her skin was crusted with blood and dirt. “He’ll need to be assessed daily?—”
“Araya can handle that,” Jaxon waved her off.
Serafina’s eyes flashed. “Araya isn’t a Healer,” she snappedwithout missing a beat. “This is far beyond the scope of care either of you are equipped to provide. If you want him alive, you’ll allow me to monitor his progress.”
Araya risked a glance at Jaxon, her pulse stuttering at the faint tick in his jaw. He didn’t argue, but the silence dragged—his displeasure curling around her like a hand closing over her wrist.
“Fine,” he said at last, voice tight. “But only under strict supervision—following the same protocols as today.”
“Good.” Serafina exhaled through her nose, snapping her bag shut with a sharp click. She straightened, her shoulders stiff as her gaze flicked between Jaxon and Araya. “And I’m taking Araya back to the clinic with me.”
Araya started, her gaze jerking to Serafina, but Jaxon didn’t even hesitate.
“No.” He crossed his arms, leaning back against the workbench.
“She’s just been through a traumatic episode,” Serafina snapped. “You’ve already wrung her dry. She needs to be observed?—”
“Her place is with me,” Jaxon interrupted, his lip curling slightly as he stared Serafina down. “I can manage my own bond.”
“She’s not something to bemanaged.” Serafina squared her shoulders. “She’s exhausted, Jaxon. If you push her any further, she’ll break—and then what? You’ll trade her in for someone else?”
Araya flinched at Serafina’s tone, but Jaxon just tilted his head, staring at her.
“You’ve always thought poorly of me,” he said, sneering. “And you underestimate her. Araya knows her limits. Don’t you, Starling?”
Araya’s heart stuttered as they both looked at her. Serafina’s face was set, her eyes pleading with Araya to take the out—but Jaxon’s sharp gaze was expectant. If Jaxon felt like she was choosing Serafina overhim?—
“I’ll stay,” Araya said. She forced herself to smile at Serafina, adding, “It’s fine. I want to stay with Jaxon.” The words sat heavy on her tongue, thick as tar, but she could force them out—that aloneshould be enough to reassure Serafina. Araya didn’t need to be saved—Jaxon was her bond. He would never hurt her.
Jaxon’s smirk widened—a flicker of triumph flashing in his dark eyes.
"We’re done here." Jaxon didn’t even look at Serafina as he nodded to the guards. “Escort her out.”
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Araya’s handstrembled as she pressed the bone blank into its setting. The ivory disc had to fit perfectly. One slip, one miscalculation, and the entire thing would be ruined. They’d already lost more than a week making sure Loren didn’t die—long enough for Jaxon’s precious timeline to slip, and the silence between them to shift into something cold and threatening.
She inhaled slowly, steadying her grip on the dropper of Loren’s blood as she touched it to the ivory surface. The carved runes there pulsed, drinking in the first drops with greedy hunger. A novice would be tempted to flood them, mistaking enthusiasm for strength—but Araya knew better. Move too fast, and the entire structure would fracture—just like everything else in her life right now.
