I’m not strong enough to slow Stellen’s fall, able only to control my descent beside him.
He lands on his knees, one hand flying to his heart, closing over the top of my hand because somehow I’ve kept my palm to his chest.
Blood slides from one corner of his lips, enough of it to trickle down his neck.
“Stellen, let me?—”
Instead of holding on to me, he wrenches my hand from his heart, his voice striking hard. “Donothelp me.”
His speech carries power, forcing me to stop, but the impact quickly fades. Far weaker than before.
His porcelain cheeks turn a horrible shade of gray before his head bows and his hair slides across his face.
I’m certain that using his power drained him. “Conserve your energy.”
Maneuvering myself to his side, I reach out again, preparing to wrap my arms around him and help him across tothe side of the clearing, where a discarded fur coat could make a good blanket for him to lie on. Although…it means getting past so many bones first…
He jolts away from me, nearly toppling himself. “Don’t.”
“Why not?” I fight to stay calm as I’m forced to hover beside him, doing nothing.
I want to respect his autonomy, but I’m certain his thinking is clouded right now.
A droplet of blood falls to the stone.
The corners of my mouth turn down. “Because you think asking for help leads to pain?”
“Always,” he says.
“Then don’t ask.”
He bares his teeth at me between the strands of his hair. “It doesn’t make a difference. You should never help me, and you should never…ask me for help. Pain will always follow.”
“Not this time.”
“Everytime.” His gaze is unfocused, his eyes glassy.
I’m not sure if he’s even aware of what he’s saying anymore.
When I dare to angle toward his side again, he barely flinches as I draw his left arm across my shoulders.
His body is colder than it was before—a chill that seeps through my cloak.
I should probably be concerned that he could unleash his frost power without realizing what he’s doing.
That could be why he’s trying to warn me away from him.
He went to great lengths to keep me alive.
A shame to kill me now.
Pushing away my fear, I slip my right arm across his back, bracing against his weight and testing my strength to support him.
He tugs away from me, as if he’d rather collapse to the rock than accept any assistance.
I scan our surroundings for an easier option. The way is clear to the rock wall. It will be a slightly longer path, but I’ll also have something to lean back on.
Now to convince him.
