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packed the wound and they were preparing for the ritual healing ceremony. It wasn't happening fast enough to suit him.

She was too pale, her mind confused. She didn't even seem to realize her very essence was moving away from him, growing weaker with each passing minute.

"Hurry, we don't have much time."

Gregori arrived, a tall, wide-shouldered man with long flowing hair and a man's face. There were no soft edges to him anywhere. He bent over Juliette without preamble and glanced back at the tall, slender woman who entered the cave after him. "Francesca. Hurry. She is far gone from us."

Riordan wanted to protest the assessment, but he knew it was true. He was holding Juliette in a ruthless grip, caging her spirit when it wanted to drift away along with the tremendous blood loss.

A wave of the healer's hand and aromatic candles sprang to life all around them. Riordan sat between the two healers, Juliette cradled in his lap, watching as the male simply shed his body and became a white light. The energy was strong, Riordan had to turn his head away. Almost immediately, Francesca did the same. He felt them enter Juliette's body, moving quickly to her neck and throat, examining the great tears in the veins located there.

You have lost too much blood, Riordan, and need healing yourself. Have your brother give her his. He is ancient and strong and his blood will help speed the process, Gregori dictated.

Rafael immediately stepped forward and offered his wrist. Riordan had no choice but to force Juliette. She was too weak to feed on her own, and he doubted if she would willingly take from another-even his brother.

Raven, Mikhail's lifemate, began to chant softly and all around him, Carpathians filled the cave of healing and those not present, joined in from afar to aid Juliette. The ancient words were beautiful as the voices rose in a melodious throat chant. Riordan knew the healers were deeply concerned because they were using the Great Healing Chant, one designed to bring back a lost soul already moving to the next world. He felt tears in his eyes, feeling the power of the unified people, all working toward one purpose-bringing his lifemate back to him-bringing their sister back to them. His voice rose with the others, so many now, like in the old days, using their ancient language, a language secret with rituals almost as old as time.

Ot sis arm ainajanak hany, jama.

Me, ot sisarm kuntajanak, piradak sisarm, gond es irgalom ture.

Opus wakenkek, ot oma sarnank, es ot pus funk, alnak ekam ainajanak, pitanak sisarm ainajanak elava.

Ot sisarm sielanak pala. Ot omboce palaja juta alatt ojuti, kinta, es szelemek lamtijaknak.

Ot en mekem ?ama?: kulkedak otti ot sisarm omboce palajanak.

Rekature, saradak, tappadak, odam, ka?a o numa waram, es avaa owe o lewl mahoz.

Ntak o numa waram, es mozdulak, jomadak.

Piwtadak ot En Puwe tyvinak, ecidak alatt o juti, kinta, es szelemek lamtijaknak.

Fazak, fazak no o saro.

Juttadak ot sisarm o akarataban, o'sivaban, es o sielaban.

Ot sisarm sielanak ka?a engem.

Kuledak es piwtadak ot sisarm.

Sayedak es tuledak ot sisarm kulyanak.

Nenam coro; o kuly torodak.

0 kuly pel engem.

Lejkkadak o ka?ka salamaval.

Molodak ot ainaja komakamal.

Toja es molana.

Han ca?a.

Manedak ot sisarm sielanak.

Al?dak ot sisarm sielanak o komamban.

Al?dam ot sisarm numa waramra.

Piwtadak ot En Puwe tyvijanak es sayedak jalleen ot elava ainak majaknak.

Ot sisarm ela jalleen.

Ot sisarm wenca jalleen.

My sisters body is a lump of earth close to death.

We, the clan of my sister, circle her with care and compassion.

Our healing energies, ancient words of magic and healing herbs bless my sister's body, keep it alive.

But my sister's soul is only half. Her other half wanders in the nether world.

My great deed is this. I travel to find my sister's other half.

We dance, we chant, we dream ecstatically, to call my spirit bird and to open the door to the other world.

I mount my spirit bird, we begin to move, we are under way.

Following the trunk of the great Tree, we fall into the nether world.

It is cold, very cold.

My sister and I are linked in mind, heart and soul.

My sisters soul calls to me.

I hear and follow her track.

Encounter I the demon who is devouring my sister's soul.

In anger, I fight the demon.

He is afraid of me.

I strike his throat with a lightning bolt.

I break his body with my bare hands.

He is bent over and falls apart.

He runs away.

I rescue my sister's soul.

I lift my sister's soul in the hollow of my hand.

I lift her onto my spirit bird.

Following up the Great