“Don’t come any closer, or I’ll slit her throat,” Loris ordered Valek. He stood behind Yelena, using her to shield his body.
Valek wondered why Yelena hadn’t disarmed him. That move had been a part of her training. She even clutched something in her hands. The answer dawned on him when he met Yelena’s gaze. Anger and helplessness blazed in her eyes. He stopped.
“Smart,” Loris said. “Too bad you weren’t smart enough to protect her with a null shield.”
Ah, hell.
“Don’t let him leave,” Yelena said. “He’s going to kill me regardless.”
“Shut up,” Loris said. He backed up a couple more steps.
Valek scanned the cave. Ari and Janco waited nearby. He lifted his eyebrows just a fraction. Then he returned his attention to Loris.
Tapping a finger on the hilt of the sword, Valek gauged the distance to the man.
“You’re not getting out of here alive, puppy dog,” Janco shouted.
Loris glanced at Janco. In that split second, Valek flipped his knife over and threw it at Loris. The tip of the blade pierced the man’s left eye. He screamed and flailed. Valek shuffled close and disarmed Loris, freeing Yelena.
But before he could finish the man off, Loris tackled Valek to the ground and yelled, “Drink it.”
As Valek struggled to push Loris off, Janco cried out. Yelena tipped the glass vial filled with amethyst to her lips.
“Don’t!” Desperate, Valek finally broke away, lunged and knocked the bottle from her hands, but purple stained her lips. He’d been too slow. His world shattered.
Yelena’s face creased in disgust. “Yuck.”
How could she be so—
“I never liked grape jam.” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
Valek almost fainted with relief. “Was that one of the things we need to discuss?”
“Yes.”
Loris moaned. Valek found his knife and slashed the man’s throat, ending his ability to bark orders and his life. Then he pulled Yelena to him and held her tight, needing to breathe in her scent and just take a moment before he released her.
Valek scanned the cave, assessing damage. Everyone appeared to be okay, despite their collection of cuts, bruises and bloodstains.
“Pack up,” he said. “We need to move to another location. This one’s been compromised.”
A shout from outside the cave drew his attention. More enemy soldiers already?
He, Ari and Janco raced to the entrance with their weapons in hand, preparing for a fight. The bright sunshine seemed incongruous to the carnage inside. A small group of people huddled over a prone figure. And then Valek remembered.
Leif.
His brother-in-law had been shot with a crossbow bolt. The wooden shaft jutted from Leif’s chest an inch from center. Blood pooled underneath him. Unable to stand, Valek knelt beside him, feeling for a pulse. Weak. He sank back on his heels. Ah, hell.
Yelena’s and Mara’s cries of alarm roused Leif. His eyes fluttered open, focused on Mara. She crouched next to him and grabbed his hand in both of hers. Tears streamed down her face.
“I...tried to...warn...” Leif gasped. “...sorry.”
“No,” Yelena said with anguish, falling to her knees next to her brother. “You’re not leaving.”
“Don’t think...I...have...a choice. Mara...I...love you.” Leif passed out.
Yelena growled in frustration. “I’d give anything to have my magic back.”
Magic! “Get Zethan, Zohav, Teegan and Heli,” Valek ordered Janco, who hovered nearby.
Janco raced to the cave and returned with the twins, Heli and Teegan right behind him. Valek asked them if they could heal.
“No, sorry,” Zethan said.
Heli shook her head sadly. “It’s not part of a Stormdancer’s power.”
Teegan creased his brow, looking queasy. “I tried to heal a squirrel, but I killed the poor thing instead.”
Silence followed the bad news.
“We can’t,” Zethan said. “But maybe you can.”
“I...”
“Valek? What are you talking about?” Yelena demanded of Zethan.
Wordless, the poor boy stared at her.
The idea seemed ridiculous. He might flame out or end up injuring someone. Plus he’d never used magic before and had no clue how to wield it. But he was intimate with someone who did. He had to try, or he’d never forgive himself.
“Everyone except Yelena go inside the cave,” Valek ordered. When they hesitated, he said, “Go now!”
They hurried to obey. Valek stripped off his shirt to remove the null shield Leif had attached, tossing it far away.
“Valek...?” Yelena began, but then she pressed her lips together. “Tell me what you need.”
“I need you to imagine you have magic and you’re going to heal Leif. Think of each step and how you’d use the magic to repair the damage. I’ll follow your instructions. Be very specific.”
She drew in a deep breath. “Imagine in my mind, right?”
“Yes. Visualize as much as possible.” He reached for her hand, but she pulled away.
“Touching me will block your magic. Tell me when you’re ready.”
Valek grabbed the bolt in both his hands. “When I yank this free, start.”