Blood. A lot of it.
“Are you all right?” Yiran’s form came into focus. For some reason, he was holding one of her swords. He paled when he saw her bloody hand. “What happened to you?”
“The Revenant threw me in the air—were you not paying attention?” Every word she said to this imbecile was a waste of effort and time.
“There’s so much blood,” Yiran said, looking faint.
All Rui wanted was for him to hand over her weapon and get lost. She tried to stand, but her legs buckled. “Give it to me.” She tried to grab at thesword in Yiran’s hand, but he held it away, afraid she might hurt herself. She swiped at him again.
“Stop moving—you’re injured.”
“Shut up, I’ve got to kill—”
A howl turned both their heads. The Revenant was shuddering violently, swaying from side to side.
“Listen,” Yiran said. “I’m going to pick you up and make a run for it.”
Rui’s head was muddled with pain, but she forced herself to concentrate. “No, it’ll chase us. We can’t lead it to other people, and you can’t outrun it if you’re carrying me. Just go.”
As suddenly as it started, the Revenant’s tremors stopped. It crawled toward them, tentacles trailing behind like misshapen limbs.
“Go,” she repeated.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not leaving you like this.”
Yiran faced the Revenant, shielding her. What was he thinking? He couldn’t fight it. Not without a spiritual weapon.
Something caught her eye. The talisman. A small piece of it was stuck on her sleeve. The Revenant had thrown her before she could finish Zizi’s spell... Would it still work if she finished the incantation?
Theoretically, if there’s contact between two bodies, the spiritual energy may transfer.
“Spiritual weapon,” Rui whispered to herself, an absurd idea forming in her mind. That was the key. She couldn’t kill the Revenant in her current state, but with her weapon and a boost ofherspiritual energy, maybe, just maybe, Song Yiran could use her sword. There was only a slim chance her idea would work. But what other choice did they have?
She seized Yiran’s hand, dragging him down to her. They locked eyes. He didn’t pull away from her, and she didn’t let go.
In one breath, she recited the rest of the incantation.
The last bit of talisman lit up.
Please.
Seconds ticked by like an eternity. Rui was suddenly hyperaware ofher splintered ribs, the blood trickling from her side, her own shallow breathing, and the sound of the Revenant dragging its body along the gravel path.
Andhim. The boy who was staring at her in wonder.
The spell hit.
Energy vibrated through her blood like an electronic hum of tiny needles pricking and biting. Heat spread through her body—followed by a piercing cold, like ice burning in her veins. The hum rose to a crescendo, screeching like nails on a chalkboard as it went back and forth between Yiran and her. A song that only both of them could hear.
With no warning, it stopped.
They stared at each other, breathless.
Rui was shivering. But although Yiran’s face had gone pale, an ethereal glow emanated from him. It disappeared as his hand warmed in hers, and the same unusual heat radiated off the rest of him.
Yiran was first to speak, his voice hoarse. “What wasthat?” He jerked away from her, a hand on his own chest like he was checking for a heartbeat. “What did you do to me?”
“I’m saving us.” Rui nudged his cheek so he faced the Revenant. “You have to kill that.”
