Chapter 218 - The essence of Life

Chapter 218 - The essence of Life
LIRA 

The wind howled across the shore, carrying the salt spray of the ocean and the distant cries of seabirds. I knelt in the wet sand, Cassian's head cradled in my lap, my hands pressed against the wound on his side. The blood was still seeping through my fingers, warm and thick, and I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, it was faint, unsteady, flickering like a candle in a storm.

"Cassian," I whispered. "Cassian, you need to stay awake. You need to stay with me."

His eyes fluttered open, unfocused and glassy. He tried to speak, but only a rasping sound escaped his lips.

"Lira," he breathed. "You are... you are really here."

"I am here," I said, my voice cracking. "I am here, and I am not going anywhere. But I need to get you help. I need to stop the bleeding."

"Lira…” 

"Stay awake."

He tried to smile. "I am... trying."

I looked up at the sky, searching for Taheer's massive form. He was circling overhead, his wings beating against the grey clouds, his presence a distant warmth in my mind.

Taheer, I thought through Luna's bond. Taheer, he is badly injured. He is losing too much blood. We must head to the palace. Is there anything you can do?

A pause.

Then Taheer's voice rumbled through my mind, deep and ancient, heavy with centuries of wisdom and sorrow.

We won’t reach the palace in time, but there is a way, he said. But it will require something of you.

Anything, I thought. I will do anything.

The magic within you, it can be used to heal. But you must give him some of your essence. Your life force. Your blood.

My blood?

It is the easiest way. The most direct. You must channel your magic through your blood and into his wounds. It will help seal them, temporarily, give his body the strength to begin healing.

Will it save him?

It will give him a chance. That is all I can promise.

I looked down at Cassian's pale face, at the blood still seeping through my fingers, at the shallow rise and fall of his chest.

"Tell me what to do," I said.

\---

Taheer descended from the sky and landed on the shore a few feet away, his massive form casting a long shadow across the sand. He lowered his head, his golden eyes fixed on me.

‘You will need to cut your palm,’ he said. ‘Let your blood flow into his wound. But you must also channel your magic through it. Focus on the warmth within you. The light. Let it flow through your blood and into him.’ 

I drew a dagger from Cassian’s belt.

My hands were shaking.

"Cassian," I said softly. "I am going to try something. It may hurt. But I need you to trust me."

He looked up at me, his blue eyes hazy but still full of that fierce, stubborn light that I loved so much.

"I trust you," he said.

I cut my palm.

The pain was sharp, immediate, but I did not flinch. Blood welled up from the wound, dark and glistening. I pressed my hand against the gash in Cassian's side, feeling the warmth of his blood mingling with mine.

Focus, Taheer said. Focus only on the magic within you. Let it flow through the cut.

I closed my eyes.

I reached deep inside myself, down into that place where the magic had been sleeping for so long. I felt it stir, felt it rise, felt it surge through my veins like a river of fire.

I channeled it through my blood.

I felt the warmth spread from my palm into Cassian's wound. I  felt his heartbeat strengthen beneath my hand, his breathing grow deeper, more steady.

But I also felt the cost.

The magic drained me, pulling at my own life force, leaving me weak and dizzy. I swayed on my knees, my vision blurring.

That is enough, Taheer said. You have done all you can. Let’s hope his body heals as fast as he can. 

I pulled my hand away.

The wound in Cassian's side was still there, but it was no longer bleeding. The bleeding had reduced, there was still a chance. 

I collapsed beside him, my head spinning, my body trembling.

Cassian reached for me.

His hand found mine, they were calloused, weak and warm. 

"Lira," he whispered.

"I am here," I said. "I am still here."

\-————————

Taheer's voice rumbled through the bond.

He will live, he said. But he needs rest. And so do you.

I looked up at him.

He was standing over us, his golden eyes fixed on the horizon. His wings were half-spread, his body coiled with barely restrained energy.

"Taheer," I said. "What are you doing?"

I must go, he said. I must find Veyraxis. Finish this.

"Taheer….” 

‘I can hear her still in the skies, this might be the only opportunity I have. I should have done it long ago.’ His voice was heavy with regret. ‘During our battle, I had the chance to kill her. I hesitated. I let her go because of the bond we once shared, because of the hatchling we have together. I thought I could reason with her. I thought I could make her see reason.’ 

‘I was wrong.’ His voice hardened. ‘She is beyond reason. Partnering with Norwyn told me as much. She is beyond redemption. She will not stop until she has destroyed everything I love. Everything you love.” 

"Taheer, you cannot…” 

‘I must.’ He looked down at me, his ancient eyes filled with sorrow. ‘I must. If I do not, she will return. And next time, she will not rest until Cassian is dead. Until every Valemont is dead. Until this entire kingdom is ash.’ 

I felt Cassian's hand tighten around mine.

"Taheer," Cassian said, his voice weak but steady. "Do not... do not do this."

‘I have to, Cassian.’ Taheer's voice softened, just slightly. ‘You are my rider. My bonded. My friend. I have failed you once. I will not fail you again.’ 

"Taheer…” 

‘Stay with Lira.’ He spread his wings. ‘I will return. I swear it.’ 

He launched into the sky, his massive form disappearing into the clouds.

\-————————

We lay on the shore, the waves crashing gently against the sand, the wind whispering through the rocks.

Cassian was propped up against a rock, his face still pale but his eyes more focused than before. I looked at the skies again for any sign of Taheer but found none. Cassian had insisted on not leaving until Taheer came back. And Kael had gone to look and help any survivors left. 

"Evander," he said finally. "He betrayed me."

I felt my blood run cold.

"What?"

"He was working with Sargon," Cassian said. "He stood on the ridge and watched as I was surrounded. He did nothing. I don’t understand why he did that.” 

I felt rage surge through me, hot, fierce and overwhelming.

"He what?"

"He betrayed me," Cassian repeated. "I guess he never really forgave me for anything. He wanted the throne. He wanted everything I had. And he was willing to let me die to get it."

"I can’t believe…” 

"It is done." His voice was flat. "There is nothing we can do about it now."

I sat beside him, my hands trembling, my mind racing.

"He will pay," I said. "I swear it. He will pay for what he did to you."

"Lira…” 

"He will pay."

Cassian reached for my hand.

"Tell me what happened," he said. "Tell me how you escaped."

I took a breath.

And I told him.

About the Queen's discovery. About my confession. About the execution. About the magic that had erupted from within me, saving my life and throwing the courtyard into chaos.

When I finished, Cassian was silent for a long moment.

"Your magic," he said finally. "It finally awakened."

"Yes."

"And my mother? The people?"

"They escaped. But the people saw."

Cassian closed his eyes.

"Then we have to go back," he said. "We have to…"

"No."

He opened his eyes.

"No," I repeated. "We do not have to do anything. I don’t care about any of that life anymore. We could run Cassian. Start a new life somewhere. Somewhere far from this."

"Lira…” 

"Think about it, Cassian. We could leave all of this behind. We could just... go."

He stared at me.

"Go where?" he asked.

"Anywhere." I squeezed his hand. "We could find a small village. A cottage by the sea. We could live quietly. Peacefully. We could…” 

"Lira…” 

"We could be happy."

He was silent for a long moment.

Then:

"I am only happy with you," he said. "I do not mind giving everything up. But Sargon still wages war on Aurelia. The people need to be saved.” 

"Just think about it," I said. "That is all I ask."

He squeezed my hand.

"All right," he said. "I will think about it, but what kind of king would I be if I ran?”