Victor looks like he wants to say something but begins gagging. His body shudders before he groans, his eyes rolling up in his skull as if he is going to lose consciousness, but then a second later, they roll back into place and glance around confused.
Against all odds, he is still breathing, and where there is breath, there is hope.
“There is one thing,” I say. I can’t believe what I’m actually saying. My father sent me to retrieve the spellbook and now I’m about to tell theThief Queenabout one of the most powerful known relics in our land.
But then I give my head a sharp shake. Not the Thief Queen. Talyria, my sister, even if I have a hard time accepting that fact.
I draw in a shuddering breath before I force myself to continue. “The book—Valentine’s book– it’s a powerful spellbook full of healing spells. It has the power to heal anything, even mortal wounds.”
“It’s okay,” Victor gasps out, his breathing coming out heavy. Blood splatters his lips as he speaks. “I’m not actually dying.”
“He’s in shock,” Lief whispers sadly. He reaches out to pat Victor on the shoulder but seems to pause when he realizes thathe might hurt him more if he does so. “You’ll be all right, we will figure this out.”
Victor shakes his head. His fingers clutch at the floorboards as he tilts his head back gasping for air. “No,no. Likho will heal me…eventually.”
“What about the spellbook?” Talyria asks, not looking up. She is holding Victor’s hand in both of her own.
“The problem is, no one here can read it,” I admit at last. “I’m a sorceress and so are you, we cannot touch magic. And Lief is a Highlander, the spells wouldn’t even work on him.”
I reach out my hand, resting it gently on his hand that is clutching his bloodied arm.
Talyria turns to me, her dark eyes swirling with grief and another emotion. Resolve?
“If I read this spellbook, he won’t be in pain anymore?” she asks after a moment.
“I’m fine, Talyria,” Victor chokes out, his nostrils flare as he struggles to draw in air.
She ignores him, her eyes focused solely on me. I give a single nod. “The spellbook can heal any wound.”
Talyria bites down on her lip before she nods. “All right then.” She leans over Victor, reaching for his pocket. Victor lowers his wrist to grab her hand.
“No, you’re a sorcerer,” he rasps.
“I know the risks,” she says as she bats his hand away and pulls the spellbook out of his pocket.
“No,” he says but then stops, his whole face crumbling with pain as a hiss escapes his teeth.
Talyria pauses, her hand on the spellbook. She glances at him. “If you don’t want me to use it, then stop me.”
In response, Victor balls his hand in a fist as he lets out what appears to be an involuntary gurgle. Blood and spittle fly out of his lips.
“That’s what I thought,” Talyria says as she crosses her legs and opens the spellbook. “Forgive my mispronunciation. This is my first time reading magic.”
“Nooo,” Victor tries again, but Talyria cuts him off as she begins reading.
To my ears, it sounds like utter gibberish, but the effects on Victor are almost immediate. He draws in a sharp gasp as his eyes open wide. He raises his head, patting himself down as if trying to find any resemblance of the damage. All that remains is the blood he already spilled before and the jagged tears in his blue green vest. He looks up, narrowing his eyes as he looks at Talyria.
“You shouldn’t have done that. It was danger—”
“Oh, shut up,” she gasps out as she lunges forward, wrapping her arms around him. Her fingers clutch at the material of his shirt as if she is afraid someone will try to take him away. Her shoulders shake as she buries her face in Victor’s chest, not seeming to mind the blood still staining the front of his tunic. Victor wraps his arms around her, throwing me a bewildered look over the top of Talyria’s head.
I can’t help but let out a little chuckle of relief. Well, she didn’t drop dead immediately upon casting a spell so at least there’s that. Even though I do not know her like I know Natasya and Bronwyn, I still didn’t want anything to happen to her. I think a part of my heart accepts her and holds her in the same place as my own sisters.
I stare at the spellbook discarded by my sister’s boot, but I leave it there. For now.
Instead, I scoot toward Lief, allowing him to wrap his unhurt arm around me and pull me close. I rest my head against his chest listening to his heartbeat and relish the fact that he is still alive after this blood-soaked night.
Chapter Eighteen
