Defiance Rising

THIRTY-ONE

  I can’t wrap my mind around Eamon’s words. Bastien can’t die. It’s not possible. How could he be in my vision of the future if he dies now?

  “Toren says he’s fading fast. He needs you, Illyria.”

  Panic lances through my exhaustion. “Take me to him.”

  “I can’t,” Eamon says. “They are ten miles away. We won’t reach him in time.”

  Toren!

  Seconds later, a gust of wind ruffles Eamon’s hair. He turns, shocked to see Toren standing behind us. “How did you…never mind. Take Illyria to Bastien. I’ll just hang out here until you get back.”

  “Take this,” Toren says, handing Eamon a laser gun before picking me up into his arms. My head lolls against his arm. “Is she strong enough for this?”

  Eamon shrugs. “She took out two drones on her own. I don’t know how much she has left in her.”

  Toren places my arm over his shoulder and I weakly hold on. I catch one final glimpse of Eamon standing in the middle of our camp’s ruins before my vision blurs brown. Seconds later, Toren slows to a walk. Shouts rise all around as we approach.

  “Where is he?” I croak.

  “Over here,” Aminah calls. As Toren carries me through the milling crowd, I estimate that roughly forty people remain. Most have burns on their bodies. Some limp on twisted knees or sport cloth bandages over their faces where wood impaled their flesh.

  Gently placing me beside Aminah, Toren rises and tells her he’s going back for Eamon. The scent of blood draws me to Bastien’s side. I feel his neck, barely detecting a pulse. His cheeks are sallow. His limbs have grown cold and his chest barely rises and falls.

  “I did everything I could to stop the blood flow, but I’m not a healer. I don’t really know what I’m doing,” Aminah says. “Can you help him?”

  “I have to try.” I rest my head atop his chest, no longer able to hold it up on my own.

  “He’s lost so much blood. I don’t know how he’s hung on this long,” Aminah mutters, mopping Bastien’s brow. Her trembling fingers betray her fear.

  The blood on his shirt has dried to a faded maroon. I stare at the wide stain, remembering how his life literally drained out on the floor of my cabin.

  “I need you to hold me up, Aminah.” I lock my gaze on her. “Promise me, no matter what happens you will make sure that I don’t let go.”

  “But if you can’t…” she begins to protest.

  I cut her off. “Promise!”

  “I swear.” She grips my waist and places my hand on Bastien’s arm. Closing my eyes I struggle to focus, unsure of how to even begin to heal him.

  Bastien? Can you hear me?

  Silence. My head droops onto Aminah’s shoulder. “He can’t hear me.”

  “Don’t give up hope.”

  Illyria?

  I feel a rush of strength at the sound of his weakened voice. I’m here. I’m going to save you.

  I tighten my grip on his stiff hand. I’m cold, he whispers to my mind.

  Just hang on a couple more minutes.

  This time there is no response. Bastien?

  Fear makes me claw at the veil that has fallen over my mind. I direct my waning power into my hand, the way Kyan taught me, willing healing fires to pass on to Bastien. Through my closed eyes, I can sense a glow and feel heat burning in the palm of my hand.

  “You’re doing it!” Aminah cheers.

  “It’s not enough,” I gasp, scrunching up my forehead to try and increase the flow of warmth radiating down my arm from my heart. I can only manage a small spark instead of the bonfire I need.

  “Help me,” I cry, latching onto Aminah’s arm. My head rises slightly off her shoulder as I draw power from her, and her strength mingles with mine. There is an explosion of heat within my chest, radiating outward.

  Like lava flowing out of an active volcano, my life force seeps down my arm, singeing the hairs on my forearm as it goes. It reaches my fingertips and then makes the small leap over to Bastien’s limp hand. I begin to tremble violently but I clamp down, refusing to let go.

  In my mind, I can see Bastien’s body enveloped by golden light. I watch as the torn flesh slowly knits itself back together, sealing the wound with newly formed skin. Blood cells rapidly multiply, replacing all that has been lost. Bastien’s breathing steadies and his pulse regains its former strength.

  “You did it!” Aminah cries, releasing my hand as she leans over Bastien.

  The instant she releases my hand the glow goes out, snuffed from existence like a candle blown in the wind. I slump over Bastien’s body, my mind shutting down just before everything begins to darken.

  “Illyria!” Aminah screams. The alarm in her voice doesn’t faze me as shadows fall across my eyes. I feel my energy burn out, like an ember smoldering into ash, completely used up. I sink into the void…gladly embracing the chance to rest.

  “How could you let her do it? She could’ve died,” an angry voice rises nearby.

  “Let her? I couldn’t have stopped her even if I’d been here,” another voice spits back.

  “Someone should’ve knocked her out!”

  “It was her choice,” a resigned voice responds. “You would have done the same for her.”

  A tense silence surrounds me. I can hear feet shuffling on the ground. “You’re right, but what she did was stupid and reckless!”

  “Of course it was. This is Illyria we’re talking about. She does stupid things…especially for you.” I recognize the bitterness of this voice and realize Eamon and Bastien are at it again.

  A hand cups my face as I struggle to open my eyes. The pain in my head is blinding. All I want to do is escape to the void once more. “I think she’s coming around,” Aminah calls.

  I wince at the volume of her voice. Heavy footsteps rush toward me. I feel, rather than see, the crowd tighten around me. I moan, feeling weak and oddly disconnected, but alive.

  “Can you speak?” Aminah asks, softer this time.

  “I’m fine.”

  Strong arms pull me into a sitting position. I blink and smile at Toren, thankful a neutral friend chose to help. I’m not sure I can bear to hear Bastien and Eamon bicker any more. I take a steadying breath before searching for Bastien. He hangs back in the crowd, his head hung low.

  “You look better,” I call weakly.

  He runs his hand gently along his closed wound. A scar trails across his stomach, the only evidence of his dance with death. “Yeah, but you look terrible.”

  “Didn’t look so hot yourself a few minutes ago,” I remind him.

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” he insists, his face stern with reproach.

  “I lived,” I say, shrugging feebly.

  Ignoring everyone around us, Bastien dips down before me. “But you could have died. You’ve never done that before. It could have…” he trails off as his face pinches with anguish over what could have been.

  “It was worth the risk,” I whisper, low enough that only he can hear. He leans back as he strangles off a groan between gritted teeth. He lurches to his feet and takes off before anyone can see the pain in his eyes.

  Eamon rushes in to take his place as Toren and Aminah control the crowd to give us some privacy. Eamon cups my face and kisses my forehead. “I thought I’d lost you.”

  “I’m sorry I worried you. I didn’t know how else to save his life.”

  “I know,” he whispers, pressing my hands together and kissing each of them in turn. “If I weren’t so mad at you, I’d be really impressed.”

  I smile. “It’s no big deal.”

  “Says you.” He brushes his thumb along my cheek. “Are you really okay? Bastien was right, you do look awful.”

  “Yeah, I’m just a bit off at the moment. I can’t really figure out what’s causing it. Probably just need to rest.”

  “Of course. Lie back and I’ll g
et you something to eat. Toren’s called a meeting of the survivors soon so that should give you about an hour or two to sleep.” He turns and points to a crowded clearing just over a row of low bushes. “I’ll be right over there if you need me.”

  “I’ll be fine. Go on, get!”

  He grins and places a kiss on my lips before hurrying off. I sink down to the ground and curl my arm under my head. I don’t actually mean to fall asleep, but the next time my eyes open, the moon is well on its way toward the western sky. I sit up and stretch, surprised to find Eamon lying behind me, his soft snores rising and falling.

  I untangle myself without disturbing him and head toward the dwindling campfire. Several men surrounded the space, some snoring while others appear restless. Only one person remains beside the fire.

  “Bastien?”

  He raises his head but doesn’t turn. “I was wondering when you would wake.”

  I move around to the side of him and drop down onto one of the log seats, holding out my hands to the fire for warmth. “I thought someone would wake me.”

  “Eamon thought it best that you get some rest. He’s worried about you,” he says stiffly.

  “I’m fine,” I hedge.

  For the first time, he breaks his gaze with the fire to stare at me. “I know you’re not. I saw it in your face earlier. You looked panicked. What aren’t you telling us?”

  I sigh, running my hands through my hair. “My powers are gone.”

  “Gone? As in forever, gone?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know. I overdid it today. If I hadn’t been able to draw from Aminah’s powers, you would be dead right now.”

  “That’s why you passed out,” he whispers, watching me very closely. “How do you feel?”

  I turn to look at him. “Empty. Like there’s a huge part of me that is missing.”

  His jaw clenches as he turns back to the fire. “Maybe it’s for the best then.”

  “What is?”

  “Eamon has talked the others into leaving you behind when we attack tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?” I gasp. “Do we have enough guns? Enough men?”

  “You don’t remember anything, do you?” I blink, confused. “You had a vision while you were passed out. Aminah read your thoughts and deciphered Kyan’s location. He’s in the heart of the City, right in front of the Shard. That’s where he will be at noon tomorrow.”

  “Why?”

  Bastien closes his eyes. “He’s bait…for you.”

  “Me?” I lean back, shocked but at the same time not the least bit surprised Drakon would stoop this low. “We have to save him.”

  “We will.”

  I stare at him, zeroing in on the inflection in his voice. “Why do I get the feeling I’m not included in these plans?”

  “Because you’re not. I’m sorry.” He tosses a branch onto the fire and watches as the sparks rise into the air. “I was overruled.”

  “But that’s not fair! Kyan needs me. I can’t just leave him there.”

  Bastien glances over at me. “You said it yourself, your powers are gone. Who knows if it’s temporary or permanent. Eamon will never let you go.” He rises from his log, pausing beside me. “I truly am sorry. I know this a fight with your name written all over it.”

  I kick at the edge of the fire, wishing I had something more substantial to hit. “Take me with you.”

  “What?” He turns back.

  “I don’t have to fight. I just…I need to be there.”

  Bastien hesitates just outside the ring of firelight. I can tell he’s mulling it over. “Goodnight, Illyria.”

  He disappears into the dark, leaving me alone. I sit and stare at the dwindling fire, embracing the cold that seeps through my clothes and surrounds my heart, filling the empty recesses of my mind. It reminds me that I’m still alive.

  When the sun begins to rise on the eastern horizon, I rise and return to Eamon’s side. I stand over him, watching as he stirs. His hand searches the ground for me. He jerks upright, blinking against the blinding orange sunlight until he focuses on me.

  “Illyria? Are you alright?”

  “That depends.” I let my arms unfold and sink down onto a small stump. “I heard about how your decision to leave my behind was nearly unanimous.”

  “Now hold on,” he begins, tucking his legs under. “You know that I’m doing this for your own good.”

  “I do and that is what infuriates me, Eamon. Since when have I ever been able to sit out of a fight?”

  He shifts uncomfortably. “I’m a hunter. I always have been. With or without my abilities I can still fight. You know I will take out any Caldonian that crosses my path.”

  “And Drakon? What will you do when he captures you, because that is obviously the reason for this ruse.”

  I look down, unable to meet his fiery glare. “I don’t know, but I have to get Kyan back. He’s the only one holding me together right now. If I lose him…”

  “Exactly.” He shifts onto his knees and walks toward me, placing his hands on either side of me. “This isn’t a normal fight anymore, Illyria. The stakes are too high. Never before have you been in such grave danger.”

  He reaches up and runs his fingers along my cheek, slowly, tenderly. “You know I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you.”

  I close my eyes and release a heavy sigh. “So what am I supposed to do, sit around here and wait to hear if you’re still alive? What about Aminah and Toren?” I make sure to leave off Bastien.

  His hand moves around to cup the back of my neck, pulling me close as he rests his forehead against mine. “I know this is a terrible thing to ask of you, but it’s for the best. I have to know that you are safe.”

  Eamon’s gaze searches mine as he lowers his head, hesitating before kissing me. I want to pull back, to let him see the full brunt of my frustration, but I can’t do that, knowing this might be the last time I see him.

  I lean into his kiss and close my eyes so he doesn’t see what this moment costs me. He envelops me in his arms and I give in, praying I don’t go to whatever hell my mother believed in because of this betrayal.

  He pulls back and smiles down at me. “Thank you for understanding.”

  “Of course,” I smile, feeling a part of my heart shatter. As much as I love Eamon, I know that whatever the future holds for us, he will never truly stop trying to change me. I suppose a part of me should be grateful that he cares enough to want to protect me, but I’m not. A warrior never wants to be treated like a child.

  Eamon kisses my nose and releases me, standing upright. “I need to see Toren about our plans. Will you be ok for a bit?”

  “Sure,” I shrug. “It’s not like I’m going anywhere.”

  As he disappears toward the makeshift camp, I pull my knees to my chest and rest my cheek against them. A myriad of emotions spiral through me, most of them potent enough to create any number of natural disasters. Perhaps it is a good thing my abilities are lost to me.

  I stare out into the woods, watching brilliant shades of red splash across the sky, chasing the shadows from the woods. The forest is quiet today, as if even the animals know an epic battle is about to begin without me.

  Illyria…

  My spine jerks straight. Kyan?

  I don’t have much time. He will know I’ve spoken to you.

  Then don’t! I cry back, remembering his torture from the day before.

  I must. You need to know…his voice trails off.

  Kyan?

  A scream pierces through my mind, sending me tumbling off the log. Kyan!

  Not gone. Powers…his words are broke, cut off by a blood-curdling cry and then only silence resounds in my mind. The silence is a million times more terrifying than his shrieks. Is he still alive or have I just heard Kyan’s death?

  I roll to the side as I lose the contents of my stomach into the low brush. I have no
idea how one man can endure such terrible torture.

  I call repeatedly, but never feel the touch of his mind. Terrified for my friend, I stumble into camp in search of Bastien. He is the only one who might still be able to help me.