He coughed, the sound wet and broken. “You’d be the one rotting instead. What lousy kind of shifter would I be if I let my alpha die?”
The black veins crept higher, spidering across his collarbone. He gritted his teeth, every muscle trembling and flexing. His pain was unmistakable as he tried to fight against the shadows beneath his skin.
I pressed my palm to his chest, right above the spreading darkness. “Let me help,” I whispered.
“Sky—”
“Don’t you dare tell me no.” My voice cracked like thunder. “I’ll make it an order.”
His breath hitched, but he didn’t resist when I called my healing powers forward. Working with my healing gift, I allowed my fire to flicker and weave through the strands of gold. The rot hissed under my touch, shadows shrieking as my fire met their poison.
The smell of scorched magic filled the room. For a heartbeat, I thought I saw the darkness falter until it lashed out again, wrapping around my wrists like chains.
I gasped, pain blooming white-hot up my arms.
“Skylar!” Talon’s hand shot up, gripping my forearm even as his body shuddered. “Stop,” he rasped. “It’ll take you too.”
“I don’t care.”
The room began to freeze around us, torchlight disappearing, ice creeping along my fingers, kissing my neck in a cold touch that brought me strength. I didn’t need to open my eyes to know Daxton was here.
And gods above… he was pissed.
My vision blurred at the edges, but I refused to release Talon. Just a little more.
“Spitfire!”
“Come back to me, Talon,” Rhea whispered from the corner, voice trembling. “Keep fighting.”
The rot roared again, a sound only this magic could make. And then, for one fragile second, the black faded.
Talon went still.
The light in the room dimmed, and all I could hear was the pounding of my own heart in my ears. Strong handspulled me back, and I collided with a wall of muscle before skidding across the floor.
“Skylar Cathal. You reckless, stubborn—”
“It’s not gone,” a healer said, moving to examine his patient. “But it’s better.”
I smiled, breathless, leaning against my mate. “Totally worth it.”
“What did you do differently?” Rhea asked as she brushed back Talon’s hair, pressing her lips to his temple as he blinked, coming back to us once more.
“I added a little fire.”
“Try a fuck ton of it.” Talon coughed. “Gods, it felt like fire was running rampant in my veins.” His breathing steadied, lashes fluttering as his eyes found mine. “You’re stubborn as ever,” he whispered, a weak smile ghosting his lips. “Thank the gods.”
I let out a shaky laugh, brushing the sweat-damp hair from my forehead. “Someone has to be to get things done.”
Silence stretched between us as Daxton helped me to my feet. A healer handed me a vial of their crimson remedy, which I eagerly swallowed. The magic immediately took effect, returning my strength once the liquid slid down my throat.
“Talon?” My voice cracked as I approached his bed once more, Daxton at my side. “Should I go? Should I answer the princess’s call?”
He studied me for a long moment. Then, with visible effort, he sat up, locking eyes with Rhea, who gave him a nod before turning to meet my gaze.
“You already know the answer,” he murmured. “Peace doesn’t come to those who wait behind walls and never reach out. It finds the ones willing to step beyond them.”
I swallowed hard. “Magnus won’t like this.”
