Page 80 of Final Shift
He closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. “You were right to leave me.”
I smiled. “I know that, too.”
The golden light in his eyes faded just a touch. His chuckle was genuine this time. “Your mate and Ethan know my secret. We live in unprecedented times.”
“You can trust Rowan. Ethan is a sonofabitch, but he seems to operate by his own fucked up code of honor. Plus, I think he has a crush on Moira, so your secret might be safe with him since we’re all linked together.”
His eyebrows flicked up. “Moira. Huh. No shit?”
“We’ll see where it goes.” I pulled back a little more. “I’m not sure if I can, but I’d like to heal you. If you allow me to.”
He snorted. “After all this, I’ll allow you to do whatever the hell you want, Evie.”
“Danu still lurks below. If you want me to put a barrier up, I will. Doing so will shove her out of your lands.”
“Why hasn’t she attacked?”
“She knows I’m here. Titania is—” I paused. “Titaniawasa lot more impulsive than Danu. Though you did a hell of a good job making sure she won’t rise again.” We shared a savage grin. “If I claim the outskirts of your lands, Danu won’t be able to claim any of the Lord’s territories. We can talk details later.” When I was sure that old bitch wasn’t listening.
He nodded. “Then yes and thank you. I won’t be able to use this power again for a while. My lands and people are the most vulnerable they’ve ever been.”
I touched his cheek. “With this, I can fully purge the poison from Danu. You and your lands will be completely healed. I’ll also try to heal your people if I can, but I’ve never tried such a thing before. Some of them have lost a lot of blood.”
When I first arrived, I could feel it seeping into the earth.
Caelan’s eyes met mine, both of understanding what I meant. I wasn’t sure I could save everyone. With his life force linked directly to his people’s, I had to try. He put his hand over mine. “I can never thank you for what you’ve done.”
“We didn’t do much of anything tonight. You had it well under control. But I hope I can do something now. Ready?”
“I am.”
I squirmed out of his grip and sat beside him, keeping a hand on his arm. “Try not to move.”
My other hand went straight into the cool dirt, the familiar magic of Caelan’s land rising to welcome me. I sent everything I had down into the earth, following the golden veins of magic from Caelan to his shifters and went to work.
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
Igasped. Two of his shifters were near death. The only thing holding them to the world was Caelan. I had to heal the Lord before I could heal his people.
“Evie?”
“Mmm?”
He rarely interrupted me when I was in the middle of using my power.
“There’s one more thing.”
I cracked an eye open.
Caelan wouldn’t look at me. “I’ve only used this power once before. There was a consequence I wasn’t prepared for.”
I stayed silent, even as dread crept down my spine.
“The last time, some of the survivors…” Caelan blew out a long breath. “They lost their autonomy. A cruel punishment for anyone, but a death sentence for a shifter.”
His meaning struck me like an ice pick to the heart. “You made them your slaves?”
