But it did not remember fast enough.
After throwing another warrior over her shoulder and back into Lavana, who had managed to extricate herself from Ouda since the creature had fallen flat and lifeless on the ground, Magda turned in time to block the right hand of the next warrior. But not the left. His blade plunged into her gut, smooth as a fin through water.
Her breath caught. Her heart’s steady pace stumbled. The world at once rose below her and fell on top of her.
Damion’s roar restarted her heart and breath, both of them lurching into a panicked rush. The warrior ripped his sword free. She swayed and fell.
“I’ve got you.” Kaelan’s lips were brushed against her ear and yet his voice sounded distant.
The last thing she saw was Damion spinning, his sword—Kaelan’s sword—slicing through the warrior’s neck, and a crimson spray bursting into the air.
THE WORLD CREAKEDand rocked, as if she were at sea. A high-pitched voice pierced through the haze of her healing sleep.
“Why did you bring them here?”
“I didn’t know where else to go,” a familiar voice replied.
Another familiar voice cut in. “Shut up, imp.”
“Don’t speak to my mother that way.”
“Damion...” Her throat rubbed raw and dry against itself.
“It’s all right, Mistress,” he said. “It’s all right.”
She groaned, trying to open her eyes, but failing.
“She’s still bleeding,” Damion said. “I thought you healed her.”
“I did.” Kaelan’s voice. “I tried,” he said. “I’m weak.”
“Because you wasted all of your energy trying to save that nymph!”
“I used all of my energy bringing us here. Including you,” Kaelan said. “Besides, I tried to help Honey, but I couldn’t—”
“Of course you couldn’t! She’s not a Rae!”
“I’ve been able to heal others—”
“Oh, yes,” the high voice chimed in. “Healed the wart on my toe. Zip-zip, gone!”
Damion growled again. “If my mistress dies, then so do you.”
Magda moaned again. Not because she was in pain, she could barely feel her body at all. Rather, she wanted to tell Damion to back off, but couldn’t.
“Grump, grump, grumpy that one,” the high voice said. And then more softly asked, “Is this a Rae?”
“Yes,” Kaelan muttered.
“Can you heal her?”
“I’ll try.”
“Good boy. Always such a good boy.”
The world rocked again, and a sharp jolt of pain cracked through her. She clenched, screaming, her eyes flying open.
“It’s all right, Magda.” Kaelan’s green eyes shone through the surrounding darkness.
