The Abyss (Fae's Captive #7) - Lily Archer Page 0,37

their wounds almost as bad as mine. I close my eyes and summon my power. The ache stops, my body healing, and then I change. My feral form erupts. The power is like a streak of lightning coursing through my veins. When I flick my tail and wrap it around Beth, the magic intensifies, soaking my blood in wild, untamed ability. Can I heal them all? I don’t know. But I have to try.

I lower my head and summon that deep burst of energy, the single thread of healing that lives inside me via my mother’s line. I pull that thread until it wraps around me, echoing outward in waves of living green. The power is there and then gone, extinguished from complete use. With a breath, I look up, my feline eyes taking in the slaves and Parnon—all of them staring at their healed hands with wonder, then looking at me.

“You did it!” Beth wraps her arms around my neck as a wave of fatigue washes over me. I sink down and rest my face on my paws. “We’re safe.” She kisses my ear. She seems to like them because they’re so soft. “Rest now, my heart.” She strokes my fur, and though I fight slumber, I can’t keep my eyes open. Drained, I fall asleep in the arms of my beloved.

16

Beth

When we stop moving, I have to blink and look around. Are we really at the bottom? I stare at the neverending rock wall. It’s not changing anymore. We’re really stopped. The hard jolt and the sound of metal clanging onto stone tells me it’s real.

I cradle Gareth’s head in my lap, his kitty snores utterly adorable as he sleeps. But the movement—or lack thereof—wakes him too. In a flash, he’s back to his fae form, his pointy ear forming under my hand as I continue petting him.

“Hi.” I smile down at him.

“Hi.” He looks up at me. “Am I in the Glowing Lands with you, my beloved?”

“Nope.” I glance around. “We’re sort of in the opposite. Short of the Spires, this is definitely the worst place in all of Arin.”

He blinks a few times, as if his memory is coming back. Sitting up, he stares at the bloody cog with the golden brake. “We’re at the bottom?”

“Smells funny down here.” Iridiel follows one of the fighters off the platform and onto the stone floor. “Like rot and magic and evil.”

“Yeah?” Parnon stomps past him. “What does evil smell like?”

“Monogamy.” Iridiel snorts.

“That … makes no sense.” I roll my eyes.

“Does to me.” Iridiel walks into the gloom, the only light some sort of glowing lichen along the dark gray walls.

“There are slavers’ quarters down here, too.” Parnon’s voice bounces back and forth in the stone wilderness. “Best take advantage of them before the real journey begins.”

“I feel like this has definitely been ‘real.’” I steal a glance at the bloody cog as Gareth pulls me to my feet. I stretch, my joints aching from hours of tension. I couldn’t rest, not when danger likely still lurked above us and definitely lurked below us. Besides, it was time for me to guard Gareth for a change. He seemed so peaceful, his soft fur and velvety paws warm as I stroked him and whispered to him.

“Thank you.” One of the fighters gives Gareth a low bow.

“It was nothing.”

The others who Gareth healed bow as well, then more join until all the former slaves are bent in gratitude.

Gareth clears his throat. “That, ah, that’s not necessary.”

I get up on my tiptoes and whisper in his ear. “Take a compliment, why don’t you?”

For the first time I can remember, his cheeks pink with embarrassment.

“No need.” He gives a stiff bow in return, then takes my elbow and leads me onto the solid stone floor.

Despite the fact that I’m leagues underground and surrounded by monsters, it’s rather nice to have solid ground beneath my feet.

“Come, let’s see about those slavers’ quarters.” He pulls me with him.

“Shouldn’t we help unload the—”

“We’ve got it. Get some rest before we begin.” Chastain turns and starts directing everyone on where to take the unicorns and how to handle the wagon.

Gareth doesn’t need permission. He’s practically dragging me toward some dwellings hewn into the rock. There is more lichen here, the ceilings aglow with life as we pass into one of the carved areas. Inside, there are several rooms with fluffy beds and bathing chambers. Water constantly pours into the basins from Spires-knows-where and creates a soothing sound