My entire body twitches, my lungs so tight I can barely breathe. When I open my eyes again, he’s gone.
I lie on the cool marble floor for long moments, panting, my entire body bruised and aching. Eventually, I haul myself up, just as a healer steps inside.
Bran has left two dark red marks on her neck and fingerprints on her throat. But she bustles around as if nothing has happened, checking Leon’s breathing and murmuring a few words of a chant. Leon’s sigil flares in response, and she gives a short, satisfied nod before stepping back out of the room.
Bran took her memories.
Nausea swamps me, just as it does each time I’m forced to face the vampire’s most threatening powers.
At some point, Neris arrives with a plate of food. I eat it numbly, andshe steps toward Leon’s bed, lowering her head and murmuring something that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
A tiny hint of color enters Leon’s cheeks, and I stare at her.
“My mother was from Nesonias,” she says. “I received a spark of her gift.”
My eyes burn, and I press the heels of my hands against them, suddenly unable to speak. Neris doesn’t even like me. I think she’s spoken to Leon once.
She pats my shoulder. “I know,” she says. “My talents know no bounds. I would be speechless too.”
A hoarse laugh leaves my throat and I wipe at my wet cheeks. Neris gives me a hard stare.
“I know a little about what you’re facing. And I know many people would give up right about now. But you’re not one of them. Your guardant was hurt. But you’ve wallowed enough. So what are you going to do about it?”
With that, she walks out the door.
I get to my feet to pace.
WhatamI going to do about it?
This isn’t like when Kassia died. Then, I was entirely alone, with no one to rely on but myself.
Now … now I could have people. If I let them in.
I saw that look on Maeva’s face when she visited earlier. It was a look I recognize. A look that told me she wanted to bridge the distance between us but didn’t want to let herself get hurt.
Pushing people away hasn’t helped me. It hasn’t made anything easier. Those same people made it through my defenses regardless.
So what am I going to do about it?
I’m going to find Maeva. And I’m going to find out who did this to Leon and kill them. Then I’m going to find a way to get my brothers back and break the bond with Bran.
And then I’m going to kill him.
My plan needs work. But I can at least complete the first step.
I move to Leon’s side. “I’ll be back.Fight, Leon.”
The healers’ quarters are quiet, and it’s not until I make it into the corridors that I realize it’s early in the morning. I’ve stayed with Leon all night. Which means Tiernon never returned.
My stomach twists, but I don’t have time to linger on it.
“Arvelle,” Brenin calls. “How’s Leon?”
“Alive, but barely. Have you seen Maeva?”
“No, sorry. I overslept.”
That explains the mussed hair.
