The next day, I woke up to find him gone. I showered and changed, then went back to the other bedroom. I continued to keep vigil as Celestia worked, ate, rested, and worked some more. She was determined to help Dev. Eirik had even brought a pitcher of special apple juice just for her, pouring her some whenever she needed it.
Dev’s body warmed up, but his temperature was below normal and his heartbeat stayed low. We covered him with a blanket to keep him warm, but that didn’t help. Outside the bedroom, people visited to check on Celestia. She had some serious friends. Two Grimnirs—one cowboy and his Japanese reaper buddy—dropped by a few times as did Hayden, Jessica, and Trudy. I didn’t get to talk to them, and they didn’t interrupt Celestia. In fact, I doubted she noticed them. She was focused on Dev and when not with him, she ate and slept. Everyone was not just rooting for her to succeed. They were worried about her, too. That night I thought I heard Echo snarl, “Damn it, Dev. Fight to live. Celestia can’t help you if you don’t fight.”
Sunday brought more people. Andris, Ingrid, Lavania, Femi, and Raine’s mother, Svana. “Why didn’t you tell Raine about this?” Svana asked.
“I didn’t want to interrupt her honeymoon.”
She dismissed my words with a flick of her hand.
“She’d want to be here for you and Dev.” When she left, I knew she was going to tell Raine what was happening. People continued to stream in—the cowboy and his partner, Trudy and her blond friend. I supplied Celestia with juice and Eirik made sure she ate, but the process was taking a toll on her. By evening, despair hung in the air and tempers frayed.
“How is he doing?” Rhys asked Celestia.
“Leave her alone,” Echo snarled from behind him, and I groaned. He needed to go reap or swim or something. Sleeping on the chair with me at night and being cooped up in the house was not helping his crazy mood.
“You’re not the only one worried about him, so back off,” Rhys shot back.
“The way you two are behaving, you’d think you hadn’t cursed him out the last several centuries,” Nara cut in.
Celestia sighed. I could tell their bickering was irritating her, but she was too exhausted to reprimand them. Eirik must have felt her frustration because he appeared. His eyes became slits, and scales covered his arms. He looked scary.
“Out or I’m ripping heads off. All of you. Yes, even you, Echo. Go outside and snap each other’s necks for all I care. Just let Celestia work. You are messing with her concentration.”
The three filed out, and Celestia smiled at Eirik. “Thank you.”
She was still working when Torin and Raine arrived. Raine hurried to my side.
“How’s he doing?” Raine asked. She sat on the arm of my chair and rubbed my back.
“Not so good. Celestia’s been great, but he’s still not waking up. He has more color in his cheeks, though.”
“Yes, he does.” Celestia placed a hand on his forehead.
“His skin is warmer, too,” I said, squeezing his hand.
“I’ll feed him a few more times. Then he should have enough life force to open his eyes,” Celestia said. “His heartbeat is steady, and his soul is sealed in.”
“Really?” I searched her face. She looked like she could faint at any second.
“Yes. I can feel it. I’ll be right back.” She staggered out of the room, where Eirik was waiting for her.
“She looks terrible,” Raine whispered.
“I know. I feel bad because I know she’s doing this for me.”
“For Dev.” Raine touched Dev’s forehead. “If you want to lie down and rest, I can keep an eye on him.”
“No. I’m okay.” I wanted to be there when he opened his eyes. I knew it was only a matter of time. I could feel it.
Raine sighed. “Why didn’t you tell me you were helping him this weekend? I would have been here with you.”
“You are on your honeymoon, silly. I wouldn’t want you to interrupt mine either.”
She smiled. “I’m a portal away. If you are about to do something this big, get me.”
She had a point. “Then you should know I’m going to Helheim after this.”
Her eyes widened. “Okay. Count me in.”
I shook my head. “I’d love to have you there, but not this time. I want to do this on my own.” Just like Echo had said. I needed to know my mother without others or my relationship with them coming into the equation.
Thoughts about Helheim became secondary as I inched closer to Dev. His breathing was shallow as though he was struggling for air. Suddenly, his skin grew clammy and pale.
“No, no, please. Don’t die, Dev. Fight,” I begged, gripping his hand. “Please. Celestia!” She rushed back with Eirik behind her. The others followed. I didn’t realize I was crying until Echo put his arms around me. Raine went to Torin while Nara and Rhys stood at the foot of the bed.
I touched Dev’s face. “He’s getting cold. What’s happening?”
Celestia touched his neck, checking his pulse, and frowned. “I don’t know, but I think we might be losing him. The life force is leaving his body. It’s like it is not holding anymore. Like he doesn’t want to come back.”
“But you can fix him, right? Please, Celestia. Help him.” My voice caught on a sob, and Echo muttered a curse under his breath. Celestia looked at Eirik, but he shook his head.
“You are too weak already,” he said. “You need to rest, Stj?rna mín.”
She gripped his hand. “One last time. I promise.”
“But what if…?”
She silenced him with a kiss. “Then you’ll catch me,” she said, looking into his eyes, love and understanding passing between them. Then she turned around and moved closer to Dev. A worried Eirik stayed by her side.
“Now you listen to me carefully, Dev,” Celestia said. “I have spent the last three days here with you, giving you my life force when I could have spent them with Eirik, so you better wake up because I’m not letting you go. Do you hear me? You and I are linked now, and anyone with my life force in them isn’t a quitter. They’re fighters. Tammy fought and won. Merle did. And you damn well better, or I swear I’m going to personally make sure Eirik drags your soul to Corpse Strand for a week before you’re allowed in a Resting Hall.”
I stared at her, hoping for a miracle. She placed her hands on his chest.
“And if you didn’t already know,” Celestia continued, “Cora hasn’t left your side or slept in a bed since Friday. She’s been holding your hand and urging you to wake up every night. She’s fought so hard to help you, fought so you can be back with your Druid family, so now it’s your turn to fight to live. Fight like you’ve never fought, Dev. Echo is here, too. He hasn’t reaped in three days, and although I’m sure he won’t admit he’s worried about you, he is. He’s driving me crazy with his grouchiness and constant pacing.” She was weakening. Her lips lost color and her eyes glazed. She slurred her words as she continued. “Then there’s Rhys…” I didn’t hear what she said about Rhys because her voice grew weak. Slowly, she whispered, “Nara, tell him how you feel.”
“I’m not going to cry over you, you insufferable, arrogant bastard,” Nara said, tears swimming in her eyes. “You’d better fight and get up so I can knock you on your ass again. Don’t think I’ve forgotten our last fight.”
“He’s warmer,” I said, feeling his forehead and cheeks. “And his color is improving.”
“Keep talking,” Celestia urged.
“Come on, Dev,” I said. “Fight. Students at Mystic Academy will need you in the fall.”
“Damn it, Dev,” Nara added, moving closer to the bed. “You are a fighter, so stop dragging your feet. I have souls to reap instead of cheering for you to reach the freaking finish line.”