Thank the Creators! Going to release the energy, I hesitated—something was wrong. Exploring further, I faltered. Her blood. Poison coursed through it, destroying everything in its path. I prodded at it with my power, but nothing happened.
“Kaleah.” Ryker’s voice was barely audible over the rushing in my ears. He started pulling me away, and nearly unconscious, I could do nothing to fight back. But I couldn’t give up—I wouldn’t let her die. Pushing every ounce of remaining energy I possessed into my sister, a copper tang filled my mouth, and the world faded to black before a searing white light exploded in my vision.
“Pleasecomeback,Kaleah.”Ryker’s broken voice murmured close to my ear. A sudden warmth filled me, followed by a jolt of pain. I gasped, the ache lingering in every single nerve before I forced my eyes open. The blinding sun beat down from overhead, making me squint.
Ryker’s scared face hovered over me, blocking the harshest of the light. “Kaleah?”
“Mmn?” I mumbled, my fingers scraping through grass and dirt as I tried to rise. A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I crashed back down.
“Careful.” Ever so gently, Ryker slipped an arm beneath my shoulders, lifting me into a sitting position. He held me close and rested his head against mine.
“What happened?” I slurred, my brain filled with peach fuzz. Green foliage spun in my vision as I tried to get my bearings and I closed my eyes against the nauseating sight.
“You pushed yourself too far. You almost died.”
My breath caught in my throat, horrifying memories resurfacing, but I couldn’t even muster the strength to move my head from where it rested against Ryker’s shoulder. “Cassie?”
His chest expanded as he inhaled and fear gripped my heart. “She’s stable for now, but there’s still poison in her system. Thanks to your healing, it won’t kill her immediately, but ultimately, it will claim her life.”
“How much time?”
“A week, maybe two if you’re—”
“We have to go back.”
“Kaleah.” Ryker pulled away, his eyes searching mine. “They’ll kill you.”
“I don’t matter!” I shouted, needing him to understand.
Ryker flinched, moving his hands to hold either side of my face. “Why do you think that?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I was born expendable.” Too weak to hold my head up, I leaned into his touch.
“You’re not—”
“Iam. But maybe now at least my sacrifice will be worth something. I’m not strong enough to save my sister. The empress is—”
“What makes you think she’ll even heal her? She doesn’t care about either of you, and you both defied her and ran away—”
My lips pulled into a tight line. “She’s our mother. And if that’s not enough, I have something she wants.”
Ryker shook his head. “I barely managed to bring you back; I’m not about to let that demon claim your life for her own. You’re not evil now, Kaleah, but if you let her take you, you’ll no longer have a say in the matter.”
“Why do you care so much?”
His grip tightened, and after a moment, he pressed his forehead to mine, making my traitorous heart race.
I closed my eyes, understanding that was the only answer I would get. “Thank you for saving me, again.”
He hesitated, then moved back, nodding. “I wasn’t sure I could.”
I hadn’t even given my revival a second thought. “You have divinity?”
Pain shadowed his face. “Some.”
“So you’re not human?”
“And you are?” He lifted a single eyebrow.