My chest constricted again, because somehow, she and her brother had been among the few lucky ones to escape the Hollow. I couldn’t even fathom how she was feeling right now. I wasn’t sure if it was the change from the high temperatures at the caves where they were imprisoned, to the fresh weather within our mountains, or simply the shock of what they had been through, but many shook where they sat like the old man did.
Charlotte helped him drink some water and then continued to feed him. The sight of blood on his arm when he pulled the blanket higher on his chest took me straight to him.
“Is he injured?” I asked, seeing Charlotte’s attention snap up to me.
“Yes, he has a rip on his arm made by the chains, but we are waiting for Ava to make her way to him. She’s trying as best she can.”
“Of course.” Crouching in front of him, I offered him a smile, gently uncovering his arm from the blanket. “I’m going to heal you, okay?” Seeing his wrinkled skin practically lifted from the bone, I gently placed my hand over the wound. “It won’t hurt. I promise.”
Swallowing the aching, I focused on his fragile gaze, sending my healing power into him. When my hand lifted from his skin, the injury was gone. His body sank into the bench with relief.
“Thank you,” he mumbled, his lips covering the visible, teethless gums. His words were weak and muffled, but I could understand him.
“This is the Dragon Master,” Charlotte gestured to me. “He is the one who negotiated with the Warlock King. He is the one who freed you.”
The man’s head wobbled as he turned his attention to her, then back to me. His response was slow, but his eyes widened when he looked at me again, and he moved from the bench, leaning forwards. He was trying to kneel.
“No, please. Don’t,” I gasped, horrified, and helped him back onto the seat. “There is no need.”
“I thought I was going to die there…” His lips trembled with the struggle to speak, and he reached for my hand, tears escaping him. “Now I will die free. Thank you.”
My jaw strained as I fought to keep my emotions in check. “No one is dying today.” Charlotte’s gaze connected with mine, her appreciation bursting from her. Cupping the elderly man’s face, I sent more healing energy into him, giving him back the strength stolen from him. “Eat and make sure to rest so you can get stronger.”
I stood once more, and my fists tightened at my sides once my gaze swept the tables filled with fragile women, elderly, and even a few children. Our people fuzzed over them, trying their best to make them feel at home, safe. To help erase the evil they had witnessed and been forced to experience all these years.
When our people saw I was there, they began to explain to those they helped who I was. A small smile forced its way onto my lips as one by one their eyes slowly began to focus on me, looking up to me like I was their savior.
After thanking Charlotte for helping this man, I moved to the next woman being tended to by Edward.
Her hands gripped her large belly, indicating she feared something would happen to her baby. It actually seemed she might be giving birth any day now. The woman looked dismayed, following the actions of those of helping around her, as though this was a cruel dream, and soon she would realize they were still in the Hollow. Bruises covered her face and arms, her lip split and swollen like she’d been beaten recently.
“May I?” I asked her, calling her attention to me while I gestured to the space beside her on the bench. When she nodded slowly, I sat next to her, gently taking one of her hands in mine, and beginning to heal her. “Is your mate here?”
I wanted to make sure she wasn’t alone, and if he was here somewhere, then they could be reunited.
Lowering her gaze from mine she shook her head. “He’s been gone a moon cycle. The sentries, they—” She paused, tears clogging her throat. “Leno was only trying to protect me…” The words were barely a whisper.
Edward and I exchanged a loaded glance, understanding all too well.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” I offered, stroking her hand gently.
Focusing on her healing, I noticed the bruises along her body fade, the skin of her lip knitting back together and the swelling dissipating. Relief sank her shoulders and chest, feeling the comfort my ability provided. Silently asking for permission, I lowered my warm touch to her belly, cupping the other hand that protected her baby the instant she agreed, so she could feel secure with my touch.
The distress that captured her womb reached my essence, letting me know the baby had also suffered. With a reassuring smile, I sent loving, healing magic into it, imagining the golden glow engulfing the baby and keeping it safe. Tears spilled from her eyes when she felt the change in her belly and she finally let it go, pulling me to her and hugging me.
“Thank you,” she sobbed, knowing that whatever had affected her pregnancy was now gone.
Letting me go, she accepted Edward’s help more willingly, finally accepting she was in a good place now, and beginning to eat.
The pain inside me turned to full resentment against the Warlock King, and in that moment, I hated myself because a part of me had actually enjoyed my training with him today. Except, my teacher was the one responsible for this travesty. I could never forget who he truly was. Not even for a day, not for a single second.
He was a monster.
He wasn’t my tutor. He wasn’t my friend. Nor my grandfather. He was a demon who needed to be stopped.
Raithian was going to pay for this, for all of it, even if it was the last thing I ever did.
Lifting my gaze, I smiled at the woman and stood, moving on to the next person who needed my healing. My searching gaze found Evie helping Willow and the kitchen ladies to distribute more food. Our new kin were literally starving.
