But I couldn’t fail her again.
I’d been so far away when she’d been tossed into that arena with Saldrea. Izzy had nearly died today and I’d not been there to protect her.
I couldn’t reconcile these thoughts and was starting to spiral when the door to the room opened. I was instantly on high alert, but it was only Rook.
He staggered over and slumped into one of the soft chairs in the sitting area.
“I’m done.” He laid his head back against the plump cushion and looked over at me. “Vyns is resting in another room. Thought you’d want to know.”
“Thank you,” I grunted. “How is he?”
Rook shrugged. “Other than still alive, I have no clue.” The incubus grimaced. “He… gave a lot of himself. I was partially connected to him. He was infusing me with spirit so I could take Izzy’s thoughts of doubt and pain. And he was giving his spirit to Izzy too… but I think he gave too much. Suddenly his infusion into me stopped and he slumped over.”
That didn’t sound good.
“I’ve never seen anyone give away all of their spirit before,” Rook continued, “didn’t think it was possible. If that’s what he did, I have no clue what that means, other than, it’s going to be a while before he wakes up.”
I clenched my jaw.
Partly in concern for my friend, but mostly because Vyns had been able to help Izzy when she’d needed us the most, but I hadn’t. I’d have happily given all of myself to free Izzy, but instead, Vyns had done it.
Everyone else was connected to Izzy in some way. Myelwas bonded to her, Vyns had a spirit link, and Rook had some sort of mental connection. I had nothing. The others could all help her in various ways when she was suffering. I could only protect her body. And I hadn’t been there when she’d needed me today.
And the thought which plagued me was: what if I wasn’t there when she needed me in the future?
IZZY
I wokewith a cut-off scream as the nightmare of Saldrea torturing Myel while I slowly died faded away.
Koar was at my side in an instant.
“It’s over,” he whispered. Then, as if sensing exactly what I needed, he poured some water from a pitcher on my nightstand into a glass and handed it to me. I slid up, reclining against a cushioned headboard, to drink. The chill water soothed my parched throat and cooled my sweat-slicked body.
As I did, I looked around. I had some vague memory, more like a dream, of Koar carrying me and laying me somewhere soft, but now that I got a good look…
Wow.
Wherever I was, it was swanky. This room was easily twice the size of my old apartment and didn’t even have a kitchen.
“Thanks,” I said to Koar, handing back the empty glass.
Koar refilled the glass, but I declined a second round. I was still thirsty, but if I drank the whole pitcher — which Iprobably could have — I’d have to pee in an hour, and all I wanted to do was stay in bed and rest.
“Anything else you need?” Koar asked, attentive. His golden eyes shone with dedication and a hint of concern. Long silver hair fell loose around his hard-featured face. I wasn’t sure I’d completely noticed before how lustrous that silver hair was, how silky and soft. It seemed a bit discordant with that heavy brow and hard, square jaw. I wanted to run my hand through that hair but stopped myself. Now wasn’t the time.
I smiled. “Just more rest,” I said in response to Koar’s question. Though as I looked around, spotting Myel on the bed not far away and Rook snoring, slumped in a chair in that lowered sitting area, I wondered…
“Where’s Vyns?”
I tried to reach out through my spirit for his familiar humid feel, like a warm summers-rain… but I couldn’t find him.
“He’s in another room,” Koar answered quickly. “He… he may have burned out his spirit helping you. We’ve summoned a spirit master to look at him.”
“Oh.”
He’d burned out his spirit?
That was possible?
