Page 24 of Claim the Light
The longer I concentrate, the more their bodies appear as streams of energy within my mind—energy carried around their bodies by blood and oxygen. But it’s being disrupted by the unwanted droplets of water where air should flow.
My palms tingle as I call gently to the river water in their lungs, coaxing it to give itself over to my power.
Return to the river where you belong, I whisper to it within my mind.Come out into the night.Leave them and let them live.
I sense the water respond and a moment later, Micah and Beatrix convulse, one after the other. Their chests heave and hacking coughs leave their lips as they both jolt onto their sides.
Water splashes from their mouths while they stay lying down.
Isaac has quickly leaned away from them, although his soul light remains a gentle glow around his palms.
I want to believe that Micah and Beatrix are okay now, but I keep my hands pressed to their chests as best I can despite their sudden movement. I need to confirm that the water has been completely expelled.
For a second, I sense a heaviness within them both, but I’m certain that the water is gone, and in the next moment, they’re opening their eyes.
I sag with utter relief. “Micah?” I lean toward him, reaching for his shoulders, careful to avoid his injured ribs on his left side.
His forehead is creased as he squints up at me. “Sophia?”
A second later, he wobbles into a sitting position, his wings retracting fully as he reaches for me with his right arm. “Are you okay?”
A sob-laugh wrenches out of me. “AmIokay?”
I slip my arms around him, curling up against his uninjured side while he adjusts his position, wincing as he moves. His left arm folds protectively against his chest, but his right arm pulls me close.
“I thought I lost you.” That’s all I can say because my throat is choking up.
He rubs my back, pressing his cheek to my forehead, his voice muffled. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
I can’t fight the hot tears running down my cheeks.
I’m vaguely aware of Beatrix sitting up on my other side, of Isaac crouching over her, and of Lana and Callan remaining standing like protectors over all of us.
Beatrix’s low whisper cuts through me. “Fuck, I thought my life was over before it even really began.”
She tries to stand and promptly sits down again. Her face remains pale as she looks up at Isaac, whose arms hover around her as if he’s about to catch her.
A little of her old spark returns as she smiles up at him. “Oh, hello there,pet.”
Isaac scowls at her and I’m reminded of the moment they first met. Isaac was in chains at the time and Beatrix had looked him up and down before she announced that she didn’t take Lana as the type to keep a pet. Isaac stiffened and rebuked Beatrix, making it clear that he’d chosen to wear the chains out of respect for his leader. Not because he was anyone’s toy.
His glare now would make even the toughest dragon quail.
It quickly fades when Beatrix sniffles, hurriedly swiping at the tears leaking from her eyes. Her gaze is luminous as she leans in his direction. “I followed your light back to myself.”
He gives her a quiet nod, his arms lowering to his sides. “Give yourself time to stand. Your legs will be wobbly.”
Her short hair slips to the side as she smiles up at him through her tears.
When Lana crouches beside Beatrix, Isaac stands again.
I can’t help but notice how he takes up position at our backs while Callan keeps guard on our other side, both of them keenly alert to our surroundings.
Lana considers us all and doesn’t direct her question to any particular one of us. “What happened?”
“Tylerhappened,” Beatrix says, speaking first, her face paling again as she wraps her arms around herself. “His dragon is like nothing I’ve seen or felt before.”
“Tyler.” Lana makes a low, growly sound in the back of her throat that reminds me she’s half-dragon, even though she has the appearance of an angel.
