There.
Daimonion was two hundred feet west of me on the ground, roaring with laughter as he merrily burned redcaps alive. One of them was sliding toward Mere in that eerie crawl they used while hunting.
She was crumpled on the road, vulnerable and alone.
I snarled, tucked my wings close, and dropped.
Daimonion hadn’t noticed me. He was still busy gleefully lighting the redcaps on fire and watching them run into the trees as they screamed.
I threw my power at him and landed next to Mere.
She was so still. Her nose was broken… Her neck…
I threw my head back and roared. It was echoed by another howl at my back, closer now.
“Took her from you,” Daimonion gasped out. I lifted my head, but he was slowly turning to ash in front of me, the redcaps still launching themselves at him to take their vengeance.
“Mere,” I whispered. “Please, Mere. Please…”
“Move,” a voice ordered, and I lifted my head to find Samael next to me, Eldan with him. I refused to let Mere’s hand go, but I shifted to the side, watching the healer as he knelt next to me.
Danica stood next to Samael, Evie by her side. Both of them had tears running down their cheeks. Bael put his hand on my shoulder, tensing slightly as a white werewolf bounded out of the trees and sprinted toward us.
There was nothing human in Kyla’s ice-blue gaze. But she stopped as she saw Mere lying broken on the ground. Her head tipped back, and she howled once more.
The griffin appeared, likely trailing after Kyla. He padded over to us, his gold eyes sad as he looked at Mere.
“She’s somehow still breathing,” Eldan gasped. “I don’t know how, her neck is…” He shook his head. “She has a remarkable will for life.”
Kyla approached, gently nuzzling Mere’s hair. Evie crouched next to me. “She’s refusing to leave you, Vas. Talk to her. Let her hear your voice.”
I leaned down and murmured in Mere’s ear. I had no idea what I was saying, until Evie reached over and squeezed my free hand.
“Keep telling her, Vas.”
I was whispering “I love you, I love you, I love you,” over and over again. I wouldn’t let this happen. Wouldn’t let Mere die.
The griffin stepped in front of Eldan’s vision. I almost snarled at him, but Bael’s hand tightened on my shoulder as the griffin had some kind of silent conversation with the healer.
Eldan’s mouth dropped open. “I thought that was a myth.”
I could still feel Mere… Feelsomething. Her life. Maybe her soul. It was lingering, but she was almost out of time. I opened my mouth to snarl at them, but Eldan was bowing his head.
“If you’re sure. An incredible gift,” he murmured to the griffin. Then he held out a hand. “With your permission.”
Virtus shifted, holding out one twisted wing. On the underside of that wing, one of his feathers gleamed silver among the white. I’d never noticed the color difference before.
Eldan plucked the feather free.
“Legends say each griffin carries one feather which can restore human life from the brink of death. I’d thought it was nothing more than myth…but…” He smiled at Virtus, and we all watched as Eldan placed the feather on Meredith’s forehead.
The griffin lifted his paw, placing it gently on her head over the feather. Eldan’s hand slid on top of his paw, and I felt the magic churning between them, ancient and eerie.
Magic that could never be used again.
A hint of color slowly returned to Mere’s cheeks, and I leaned over, feeling her faint breaths.
Alive. She was alive. I raised my head and met Virtus’s eyes.
