“Faolan, you can’t do this.”Caly tried to step in.
“I have to.”
THIRTY-SIX
CALYTRIX
Iforced myself to watch. I felt so helpless, but then it struck me: I might be able to help. I’d suspected for days we could share magic, even if we aren’t melded, in theory. I’d begun to feel the strength of his power as if it was nudging me, tempting me to reach out for it. Maybe that was how the meld began? Our magics slowly reached for the other until they finally embraced and merged into one. The thought was quite beautiful. I’d always seen it as such a romantic notion, the merging of two opposites to become a formidable symbiotic pair. It was living up to my idealized notion.
I dropped to my knees beside him, finding the strings of power between us easily. It took me a minute to untangle them. There were so many, more than just a few days ago. Our bond was strengthened, I noted with a thrill.
I pushed magic towards him, ignoring my reserves and the objection of my body, knowing he needed it. I would keep him alive even if it meant us both clawing to life with our fingertips.
He grabbed my arm harshly. “Don’t bleed yourself dry. You might need your magic to escape.”
“What’s the point if you don’t survive this?” I said through my teeth.
“This isn’t about me.”
I laughed through a snarl. “I’m not letting you leave—yet.”
The fae around us moved in and held hands over his body, using their own magic to seek what was tracking our movements. Faolan’s head snapped back, and his body lifted as they worked over him. The veins in his arms protruded, and every muscle flexed, like they were slowly sucking the life out of him.I wanted to stop them, but I knew this was our only route to safe harbor.
At first, I had to force my magic into him, but slowly, he began to draw it out of me, like he was drinking from an open faucet, unable to quench his thirst. I siphoned some, trying to keep him alive without fully draining myself. My heart rate sped up like I was being bled and could feel the color drain from my face. I grabbed his tunic and squeezed the materials between my fingers, holding on to the physical world as my vision narrowed.
What felt like a lifetime later, Faolan hit the ground, his body limp. It took me a moment to realize I was even alive before I could get my arms to move. I searched him for a pulse, pleading with the God of Sun and life.
Don’t fucking take him from me, I begged.
Not yet.
“How is he?”I asked the latest visitor who’d come to check on Faolan as I’d kept watch, curled at his side.
The dark figure lifted his head, still completely shrouded by his cloak’s hood, which created a deep cowl concealing his face. There’d been lots of movement in and out of the room in the last few hours, but no one revealed their identities or spoke to us, and I needed to know—something.
“He remains stable, and he is strong. I’m hopeful.”
I blew out the breath it felt like I’d held since we landed. Faolan was strong, and this fae sounded as though he knew him enough to rely on it. Was he the friend Faolan had thrown himself at the mercy of out there? His deep voice had curled around me with his reply, and I realized if he was, he’d disguised it before.
“Are you who we met before, outside?”I asked.
“I am. It’s been decided it is I who will be your contact. It’s better to keep our secrets. It’s how we’ve survived this long.”
“I understand.” I glanced over as Faolan stirred, muttering something in his sleep. “How long will it be?”
“He needs to replenish his magic so his body can heal, which is a difficult task in the wastelands.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Can’t you feel it?”
I frowned, not sure what he was talking about.
He cocked his head, considering his words. “Do you know how to gather magic from the land?”
“Faolan showed me some. I’ve been practicing.”
“Connect with it. Feel how dry the ley lines are.”
