I saw the lightning coming for Emry, and I jumped in front of it. I heard her scream, and then there was pain and then nothing. Had I died? It would suck if I had, but at least I went out throwing myself into the line of fire for someone I cared about.
Someone I loved. Emry.
I thought I saw her stab Radnak. Then I thought he imploded, but that could all have been in my head. Bits and pieces came to me as my body was jostled. Something was pressed against my back.
Emry’s face hovered in front of mine. She’d kissed my forehead and held my face in her hands. She’d said something, but I didn’t hear it. I went back to the darkness.
I was dreaming again or thought I was. I stood outside the clinic in town. It was night, but there were dragons everywhere, celebrating and drinking. Some looked sad. Beyond them all were the Fell Gates and the fortress that I supposed would be a new feature to our valley. I frowned. I wasn’t dreaming. I was Traveling.
“Emry.” She was close, I sensed her.
I walked into the clinic, avoided running into the healers hurrying about. Nearly every bed was occupied, but even here, everyone’s spirits were high. Amelie sat with Tank, no longer ill. Tank had several bandages along his arms, and she was scolding him until he pulled her onto the bed with him and kissed her to shut her up. I continued on the path toward Emry.
Slade and Everest stood outside one of the rooms, their hand clasped together.
“He’s going to be fine,” Slade was saying to her. “He’s strong.”
“He’s my baby brother,” she replied, and Slade wiped a tear from her cheek.
“Exactly. He’ll make it. Mahlia said his wounds were already on the mend. He just needs time.” He pulled her close again, but as I stepped nearer, his eyes flickered to me, and he startled. “Mason? What the hell, man?”
Everest’s pain and Slade’s worry had tugged at me, and I wanted them to see me so I could tell them I was alright. My sister looked through the window of the door then back to me. “You… are you Traveling right now?”
“Let’s hope so because otherwise, I think I’d be dead.”
She punched me in the arm. There wasn’t much pain, but I rubbed the spot anyway. Then she was hugging me and calling me an idiot.
“What? Just taking after you,” I told her, and she struck me again. “Hey, take it easy on the wounded guy. I am wounded, right?”
“Yes, you are which is why you probably shouldn’t be doing this.”
Slade pulled me into a brotherly hug next. “As glad as I am to see you, there’s someone else I think who’d like to see you.” He stepped aside.
I peered in through the window. Emry sat by my bedside, which was weird. Seeing my own body lying there. My back was bandaged, and I’d been placed on my stomach. Emry’s head rested on our hands.
“She hasn’t left your side for a second.”
“And everything’s good? I mean, Radnak is gone?”
“Yeah, he’s gone. She killed him. The rest of the Black Diamonds in his army and the priests are being hunted down. Jared’s seeing to it that this time, there’s no chance of any of those priests wandering the world.” Slade shoved me to the door. “Now get in there and talk to the poor girl.”
He opened the door, and I smiled as I walked in, ready to hug Emry, but it seemed being this close to my body didn’t work well with Traveling.
Emry’s eyes opened as I was sucked back into myself. My hand squeezed hers. The throbbing in my back hit me all at once. I grunted, and she was moving around so she could see my face.
“Mason? Were you just in the doorway?”
“Traveling,” I mumbled, and she rolled her eyes. “What? Didn’t do it on purpose.”
“You’re supposed to be resting and healing, you oaf, not Traveling. What’s wrong with you?”
I laughed through the pain. “Had to check on you.”
“Had to…” She squeezed my hand so hard I gasped and then she was kissing me. “You are going to drive me crazy, you know that? Jumping in front of killing blows. Are you insane? Have you completely lost your mind?”
I was able to prop myself up on my elbows without it killing me too much and pulled her closer for another kiss. “Now you know how Slade feels.”
She shook her head but didn’t move away. “Don’t ever scare me like that again.”
“You got any more crazy relatives I should be worried about?”
Her jaw dropped, and she squeezed my hand even harder.
“Hey! Wounded here, remember?”
“Your back’s wounded, not your hand.”
“Not yet,” I grumbled. I rested my forehead on hers. “You okay?”
“I’m just fine. I’m free. It’s all thanks to you.”
“Told you I’d keep you safe.”
She couldn’t hug me, but I saw the want to do just that in her eyes. I leaned forward, and we kissed again, something I was never going to grow tired of with Emry. “Yeah, you did. Now let me take care of you.”
“Whatever you say.”
I sank back to the bed and closed my eyes. Emry never let go of my hand. I smiled as I drifted back to sleep knowing my life was going to be anything but normal and boring from here on out.