“Isn’t it, though? But never mind.”
I moved away from him and peeked around our hiding spot. I was trying to assess the situation. Jeondar jumped back into the fray, picking up his sword on the way.
“Really?” I called after him. “Do you have a death wish?”
The sound of clashing metal drew my attention to a ledge about fifty feet up a very steep section of the mountain. Kalyll was up there, sword-fighting against a massive male at least two heads taller than him. As they exchanged blows, they teetered precariously, sending rocks sliding down the almost vertical slope.
It took me a moment to notice that the others were just standing there, watching Kalyll fight. I glanced all around and realized that they’d taken care of everyone else, and the male fighting Kalyll was the last one left.
Hesitantly, I walked into the open, my eyes glued to the fight taking place high above. How had Kalyll even gotten up there?
“Will no one help him?” I asked, more to myself than anyone else.
Kryn shrugged. “He can take care of himself.” He turned around, looking uninterested, and started poking at a fallen enemy, as if searching for clues.
“What an asshole,” I said under my breath. “But what do I care?”
Except, despite myself, I did care. I couldn’t take my eyes off that ledge, couldn’t stop imagining Kalyll tumbling off, breaking his neck on his way down. He couldn’t shadowdrift, not at this hour.
Kalyll’s opponent lifted his sword high and brought it down as if he intended to chop the prince in two. My heart jumped into my throat as Kalyll leaned toward the cliffside and, through some impossible maneuver, ended behind his attacker. Wasting no time, he slammed his sword’s pommel into the back of his attacker’s head.
“What?!” Silver exclaimed. “Just kill the bastard.”
The blow should’ve knocked the male unconscious, but it merely slowed him down. He blinked, looking dazed, then whirled on Kalyll, setting his left foot too close to the edge. He teetered for an instant, then toppled. The prince tried to take hold of one of his windmilling arms, but he missed, and the large male rolled down the mountain, the sounds of cracking bone echoing throughout.
I averted my eyes as he reached the bottom, landing in a heap of broken bones.
“Dammit!” Kalyll cursed and started descending, easily finding footholds.
My healer instincts had me rushing toward the injured male. Silver ran ahead of me and got there first. He kneeled in front of the male, reaching a hand behind his back and coming up with the dagger.
“No,” Kalyll and I both yelled at the same time.
When I came around Silver, I found he had the tip of his dagger pressed to the male’s neck.
“Stop. I want to question him,” Kalyll ordered as he jumped onto the path and came running.
With a snarl of disappointment, Silver reluctantly pulled the dagger away and sheathed it. He stepped away as I fell to my knees, immediately assessing the injuries. One leg was twisted at an unnatural angle, and one hand was mangled out of shape.
Kalyll settled next to me. “Is he alive?”
I nodded. “Barely. Internal injuries. Broken… everything.” There was a rib that had cracked and punctured his lung. His breathing was weak and wet-sounding. After healing Jeondar, my power was at half capacity at best, but perhaps I could heal the worst of his injuries and his enhanced Fae healing would do the rest. But who was I kidding? My healing magic couldn’t remove broken ribs from punctured lungs. That had to be done by surgery.
“Can you save him?” Kalyll asked.
I shook my head.
The male opened his eyes. They were an intense violet color that reflected the extent of his pain. I took his unbroken hand and held it in mind, knowing that these were his final moments. I wanted to turn away, but I made myself hold his gaze, trying to convey a sense of peace and easing his pain with my skill.
“Who sent you?” Kalyll asked him, leaning forward, trying to get in the male’s field of vision, but those violet eyes were locked on mine.
“Be—” he managed in a watery voice.
When he exhaled his last breath, I gently placed his large hand on his chest and walked away, fighting against the emotions crowding my chest, making it feel as if it would explode.
Kalyll approached me and placed a hand on my shoulder. I took a step forward and shook him off. I didn’t want or need his attempts at comforting me.
Silver was the first one to break the silence that ensued after the male expired. “I think he was going to say Belasha.”