Page 101 of Shadows of Light
As soon asthey returned to Dragonia, Sahira saw Cole and Del settled into the infirmary before going to work on the potion to save Lexi’s life. Maverick and Varo hovered near Cole’s side while Skog stood over Del, grumpily describing the kind of ax he expected. Del gave him the finger.
While Sahira worked, the light fae and witches created poultices and potions to help Del heal. Only a few short months ago, she never would have believed a witch would work to help a vampire, but they were doing everything they could for her brother.
Even more astonishing, she trusted them to keep him alive.
She didn’t fear they would poison or try to kill him when she wasn’t looking. They would save his life; she was certain of it.
And while the fae and witches also worked on Cole, she was certain he was beyond their abilities. She’d sensed it before she saw the sad looks on their faces and the covert glances they exchanged.
He required Lexi’s healing ability to get him through the worst of this. She just hoped it wasn’t too late and would be enough to save him.
Sahira steadied the tremor in her hand at the possibility and lowered the bottle full of nutmeg, cloves, pixie dust, and a single unicorn hair. When she felt more in control, she poured the bottle into her cauldron.
This had to work.
While she added more ingredients, the young witch, Melisandra, stirred the pot. Her black hair rested in a knot against her nape while she worked.
It took a few hours, but as soon as Sahira finished the potion, she leaned out the window to shout to the dragons. “We have the potion to save the queen! Bring her to me!”
Leaning back from the window, she stretched her back while she wiped sweat-dampened hair from her forehead. She’d give anything for a shower to relax her tense muscles and a bed, but first, she had to save her niece.
She glanced back out the window as the dragons soared past. She wasn’t sure if they understood her, but ten minutes later, Alina arrived… without Lexi.
Sahira blinked at the dragon as she lurched toward her. Had Kaylia’s spell failed? Had something happened to Lexi while they were gone?
“Where is she?” Sahira blurted.
“I will take you to her, but I won’t bring her here while she and the Shadow Reaver are so vulnerable,” Alina said.
Sahira didn’t ask how Alina knew about Cole’s injuries; word got around fast with immortals and probably faster amid dragons. She bit her inner cheek while she pondered Alina’s words, but what choice did she have? Lexi needed her, Del was in good hands, and Cole….
“We have to bring Cole with us too. Lexi will recover from the poison once she drinks the antidote, and he needs her healing ability.”
Alina bowed her head in agreement. “Bring him to me.”
Maverick and Varo didn’t look happy about this new arrangement, and the witches and light fae muttered disapprovingly about moving him, but Cole required more than they could do for him. Reluctantly, Maverick lifted Cole, and Varo rested a hand on his brother’s leg as Maverick carried him to the window.
Alina extended her talons and carefully plucked Cole from Maverick’s arms. She curled him protectively against her chest.
A low, barely decipherable moan issued from Cole at the movement, but he still wasn’t getting enough air for anything more than that small sound. She’d never expected to see Cole so frail, and as she glanced around, she realized it was best to get him away from here.
The dragons couldn’t hurt the Shadow Reaver, but she couldn’t say that for all the others here. They would keep Del alive, but Cole represented a threat toeveryone. He was prophesized to destroy the realms; some might decide to eradicate him first.
And what better time than now?
“The potion?” Alina asked.
Sahira lifted the small bottle and gave it a little shake before tucking it securely into the inner pocket of her shirt. She buttoned it closed afterward. As a witch, she often had little hiding spots for any required things.
“I’ll bring it with me,” she said.
Glancing around the room, she contemplated bringing more healing potions and poultices for Cole. She didn’t know how she’d carry them all and couldn’t waste time gathering them. The best thing for Cole now was Lexi.
She ran over to tell Del what was happening and kissed his cheek before returning to the window. Sahira rested her hand against the stone sill and climbed onto it. The wind tickled her face, and she resisted her impulse to look down.Nothinggood would come ofthat.
Without looking down, Sahira scrambled onto the dragon’s neck and edged lower until she was secure against her nape and could grasp the lethal spikes. Poking her head out, she looked at Maverick and Varo in the window.
“Watch over Del for me,” she said.
