“Maxon,” I say softly, and pull him to me. “We need to get up. We have to leave. Another demon…another demon could come.”
He nods and needs help getting to his feet. His body is still too pale, still way too cold. My stomach clenches with worry. He could easily use up his remaining energy and disappear into nothing.
He holds onto me as I open the portal. We fall through together, and my scythe clatters to the ground. We’re back in the training room, and Kaia is lying on the ground. Her eyes are closed, and she looks like she’s sleeping.
“Max?” He’s on top of me, head resting on my chest. “Max?”
He grumbles something unintelligible and tries to sit up, but fails.
“It’s okay,” I tell him, and rake my fingers through his hair. “It’s okay.”
My eyes flutter shut and I pass out for a few minutes. I come to with a start, inhaling deep and startling Maxon awake.
“Addy.” He slowly pushes himself up and blinks in the dark room. “Are you okay?” His hand closes around my wrist.
“Yeah,” I say as I let out a grunt. My entire body hurts. “You?”
“I’ve been better.”
“Kaia?” I turn, and she’s still there. Still unmoving, but she hasn’t died and disappeared into nothing.
“You…you were right.” Maxon reaches up and grabs onto the table to pull himself up. He reaches down for me and helps me to my feet as well. “You saved her.”
“You did too.”
My fingers lace between his, and I can’t look away from his ocean-blue eyes. My heart is in my throat, beating just as fast as it did when I was facing down the demon.
“And you…you risked yourself for me,” I repeat, though it’s more than obvious. “Why did you?”
“I knew you’d need my help,” he says, trying to give me a cocky grin. But he fails, and the cocky grin gives way to raw emotions, fear flickering over his handsome features. “And…and I couldn’t stand the thought of you going out there by yourself and getting killed.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Oh really? Wouldn’t that have made your life easier?”
He scowls. “Don’t be stupid. Just because you’re a pain in my ass doesn’t mean I want you to die. I…” He runs a hand through his chestnut hair, looking pained. “I know things haven’t been the best between us, but I do care about you. You saved my life, and you’re a hell of a reaper. I’m proud to call you my friend.”
My throat swells with emotion, and tears spill down my cheeks. “Do you really mean that?” I croaked. “You consider me a friend?”
“I do.” Maxon suddenly smiles, and the effect is dazzling. My breath catches in my throat, and I’m struck by the sudden urge to fling my arms around him. But before I can act on the impulse, Kaia stirs.
“Kaia!” I drag myself to her side and shake her. Her eyes are fluttering, her lips moving wordlessly. “Kaia, can you hear me?”
But she doesn’t answer, and fear begins to gnaw at me again. “Cass!” I call, trying to summon my best friend.
“We have to get her to the hospital wing,” Maxon grunts as he pushes himself to his feet. He picks up Kaia, then staggers, struggling with her weight. He barely has enough energy to keep himself upright.
“Cass!” I cry again, desperate now.
She pops in through the closed door. “Addy, there you—what the hell?” Her mouth opens in shock.
“I’ll explain later. Go let Madame Altrix in the infirmary know we’re on our way. A Red Skull took most of Kaia’s energy. And tell them…tell them we killed it.”
* * *
Cass gets Madame Altrix,who takes one look at us and immediately hauls us off to the hospital wing. Two students are with her, and they carry Kaia on a stretcher, then gently lay her on a waiting bed.
“Outrageous,” Madame Altrix fumes as she shoves two energy replenishing potions into our hands. “Three students galivanting off into the human realm to fight demons. I’ve never heard of such a thing! You just wait until I inform your heads of house!”
Maxon and I exchange guilty looks as Madame Altrix spins away to deal with Kaia. She runs her hands over Kaia’s body, her palms glowing with runes as she performs some kind of healing magic on her.
