thumb at Roth, then motioned for him to proceed her. “By all means, do your thing, Dr. McHottie.”
He hesitated before closing the distance to crouch before us. He was uncomfortable about using his ability with her, like this, but I wanted those bruises gone.
When he reached for me, I shook my head and said, “The girl first.”
Blink, blink. He glanced over his shoulder at Everly.
The sorceress shrugged before asking, “Are you sure? You look near death, and she has an owie.”
“The girl first,” I repeated.
“Don’t listen to him,” Ashleigh cried. “Obviously, he has severe brain damage. The worst. Of course you should heal him first.”
“The girl,” I insisted, and yes, I was just as surprised as my friend. Maybe I did have some brain damage. But that crack...it had gone deeper, something breaking inside me this time.
I needed Ashleigh’s pain gone before I could focus on my own.
I wanted her with me. I didn’t want to go another day without her.
I wanted her to be with me.
I wanted the promise of what I’d found with her already. Smiles, kindness, and acceptance.
I wanted her so badly I expected my wings to start producing amour at any moment. But I’d felt that way both times before and never had.
So what could I have with her?
Ever my friend, Roth took Ashleigh’s hands and muttered, “You will heal...right now...let my healing magic flow through you.”
A pause. Then, “Ohhh. My throat is tingling.”
Her delight caused the corners of my mouth to lift.
Roth repeated the process with me, but my wounds went deeper, and I didn’t tingle, I throbbed. The fractures in my bones closed and the swelling drained from my joints. Gashes wove back together. I breathed through it all, comforted when Ashleigh linked our fingers, holding my hand.
Just as the process completed, laughter sounded outside, a new celebration kicking off.
Ashleigh jumped up as if she’d just been biding her time, wrenching from my embrace, severing contact. “Well. Look at you. All better. Now you need your rest. In private. I’ll just grab a guard outside and hurry home, like we discussed. Yes, yes.” She didn’t wait for my response; she barreled out of the tent. Or tried to. The border spell knocked her back.
She whirled on me, eyes flashing. “Why can’t I leave?”
“Border spell,” I reminded her.
“Let me out.”
“Go, then.” I waved, shooing her off, granting her the permission she needed to slip past the boundary. I think I was...pouting.
She spun on her heel and raced away, not looking back.
I could only sit there, stunned. I’d just discovered another difference between Ashleigh and Leonora. Leonora had vied for my attention, and I hadn’t liked it. Ashleigh continuously ran from me, and I hated this far more.
Roth patted my knee, his eyes glittering with mirth. “You’re going to follow her, yes?”
“Yes.” I lurched to my feet and shot out of the tent. What I’d do when I caught up to her, though, I didn’t know.
17
Hush, hush, baby, don’t you cry.
When the truth comes out, the lies will die.
Ashleigh
I didn’t bother recruiting an avian guard. Since I had no idea which ones remained loyal to Queen Raven, I knew I would be better off on my own. Besides, Saxon wanted me protected, and I had a dagger, the perfect guard and the best way to protect myself. So, in a way, I had selected a guard, after all, obeying his orders.
My heart galloped at full speed as I ran from the tent, urgency giving my feet wings. Hearing Saxon’s plans for any living dragons... I had to get Pagan and Pyre away as swiftly as possible.
I had to hide them.
How many others would fear my babies, hoping to kill them? How many would want them dead?
I hurried around a tree, then another and another, my brow wrinkling. Had even more trees sprouted around the camp? Someone must be using magic to raise them, and I could think of only one reason—to better hide.
As spectators and combatants returned, overcrowding the walkways between tents, I used the trees to my advantage, masking my presence with shadows. There weren’t as many individuals as before, but everyone’s emotions were higher. Some people were overly excited by the day’s events, while others oozed anger or sadness.
Just get to your babies. If anyone would be strong enough to harm a dragon, it was Saxon. He’d defeated a vampire, a gorgon, a fae, and a giant. A giant. He’d killed Trio right in front of me.
Why had Saxon put my welfare above his