It was too late, she realised with a heavy heart. The most wonderful man she had ever met was gone.
A heartbroken sob tore free from her chest and the faerie collapsed heavily onto his body. She cried loudly, allowing her grief to pour out.
Desperation turned white hot and, with a brutal yell, Lori raised her fist. She slammed it down against Lephas's motionless chest.
A shot of heat like nothing the faerie had ever experienced erupted from her hand. There was a flash of light that seared her retinas. She jolted upright and her grief was momentarily forgotten.
Lori felt the familiar cold tingle of majick pouring from her body. She was light-headed, her stomach was in knots.
Her body shook violently, barely able to contain the molten force that burst free from her. She cried out in pain as it scalded her every nerve ending.
There was a sickening, wet, crunching sound. Lori cracked her eyes open against the onslaught of bright majick, barely believing what she was seeing.
The brutal injury, Lephas's splintered and snapped bones in his forearm, had begun fusing back together. The ripped muscles were mending, weaving together like the threads of a tapestry.
Lori tucked her chin to her chest and released the breath she was holding, allowing the healing majick to flow freely from her body. It was painful; agony beyond recognition. Her blood seemed to be boiling in her skull.
Another violent blast erupted from her, sending shock waves through the snow. Lori screamed with effort.
Her heart stopped. She heard the unmistakable gurgle as air was sucked into fluid-filled lungs. The demonroared beneath her, a truly horrifying sound, as majick forced life back into his still heart.
Focussing, rebuilding, reshaping, mending, fusing... Beating. Lori realised with a start that it wasn't her own heart beating in her ears – it was Lephas's.
She could hear every ventricle as it thumped and every nerve ending crackle as it came back to life. He was... Alive.
Another brutal yell ripped itself from the demon's chest. Splintered ribs snapped back into place as his chest rebuilt itself like an intricate puzzle.
As quickly as it had sprung forth, Lori felt the majick ebbing away. One last push... She gave him everything she had, feeling like the very core of her soul was being stripped and shredded.
With a desperate scream, the faerie's healing majick faltered and faded. She slumped and the cool darkness of unconsciousness enveloped her scorched mind like a soothing balm.
Just as she slipped away, Lori felt familiar, large hands cradle her skull.
∞∞∞
It was dark when Lori eventually came to. Agony splintered through her body, exhaustion as she hadnever known weighed heavily on her.
She groaned and held a hand to her aching head. It felt like everything inside her was burning.
“Lori?” a familiar deep voice asked.
“Lephas!” The faerie jolted upright, crying out in pain as her body protested.
“Shh, lie down,” the demon soothed. “I'm here.”
Lori felt him take her hand in his own. Even that simple touch sent pain coursing through her. She shuddered but held onto him tightly.
“Wh– What happened?” she mumbled.
“I have no idea,” the demon replied with a short laugh. “I don't know what you did, but you're in a bit of a mess. Just take it easy.”
“I think... I think I healed you.”
“No shit.” Lephas teased softly. “You did more than that. You resurrected me. I didn't even know that was possible.”
“Are you–”
“I'm fine. Better than fine really - I'm great. Whatever you did, it was some serious majicka. I feel better than I have in years.”
