The white Kyren, the one she'd seen in her dreams after her encounter with the water sprites, raised his head. His coat was marred by streaks of blood. Ribbons of flesh hung from his mouth and his legs and hooves were covered in red.
None of that detracted from his unearthly beauty.
She'd never been so grateful for a sight in her life.
He approached slowly, his ears tilted forward as he regarded her.Little sister, it appears we owe you a great debt. What boon would you ask of us?
A broken sound emerged from Eva, half-laugh half sob. "Save him."
It was a useless request. She knew it as soon as it left her mouth, but it was all she wanted. She'd give up everything to keep Caden here in this world.
Hesitation read through the Kyren's posture before there was a weary sigh in her mind.Is saving him what you truly wish?
The Kyren's wise and gentle eyes held hers. As if in a dream, she felt herself nod.
Very well then. If that is your will.
Eva was slow to move out of the way as the Kyren padded over to her, his passage strangely silent.
He bent, his sharp horns dipping toward Caden.
A pained groan left Caden as one of the horns entered the wound. She started to protest, only to fall silent again as she struggled to grasp what she was seeing.
A bright light shown from the Kyren, swelling until Eva could barely see. She shielded her eyes as the blazing light nearly seared her pupils.
When it was extinguished, she blinked dark spots out of her vision. Caden came into focus, his wound healed, his breathing no longer labored or silent. His complexion was so much better, the sickly white gone as his color returned.
She sat forward, feeling sudden hope as she reached for his wound, pulling the cloth back to reveal a small scar, silvery and white. It looked decades old instead of minutes.
He was healed. Totally and completely.
He should be dead or at least on his way to it.
"How? What?" Her eyes were wide and disbelieving. "How is this possible?"
You can never speak of this,the Kyren ordered, his voice deep as it reverberated in Eva's mind.
Unsaid were the consequences if she did. He'd destroy her and anyone she told, kill them with no regret. This secret was too big to allow to spread.
She'd never be able to reveal what happened to anyone, for fear they would use the knowledge for their own gain. Even the most trustworthy had their breaking point. They might intend to keep her council, but eventually something would happen. A loved one would be placed in danger, their ambitions would change, and then the Kyren's closest guarded secret would get out and be used against them.
If the Kyren had been hunted before now, it would be nothing compared to what would happen if people learned they could bring others back from the brink of death. What would people do to possess such a power?
Nothing good.
No one,Orion reiterated as if sensing the direction of her thoughts.
This would not be easy, Eva realized looking down at the unconscious man in her arms. She'd given her loyalty to the Trateri. Keeping this from them wasn't treason but it walked a fine and dangerous line.
She took a deep breath and released it. It was worth it.
"You have my word," she told the Kyren. She didn't know if it'd be enough. She was, after all, human, and humans had been the ones to enslave the pregnant mares in pursuit of power and domination.
There was a small sound, the whisper of feathers on the wind and then a gentle thump as Sebastian set down several feet from them.
His posture was hesitant and he avoided looking at them directly, shame in the arch of his neck.
There was a shift in Orion's bearing. Anger poured off him along with frustration.
