Chapter 32 A Healer?
Trixie’s POV
I stood directly beside the sofa where Ryder and Brianna laid while Elara continued the ritual. At least I thought it was still a ritual. At this point everything happening inside this room felt more like complete chaos.
Dark magic swirled through the air thick enough now that I could physically feel it pressing against my skin. Candles flickered violently around the room while the symbols spread across the floor glowed an ugly dark red. And right in the center of all of it… Ryder suddenly started convulsing violently.
The second Brianna screamed, panic slammed straight through me.
Not fear.
Panic.
Real panic. The kind that settles deep in your chest and makes your hands shake.
“Trix, breathe.” Leigha’s voice hit immediately. “You got this.”
I tried. But then Ryder’s entire body jerked once more before suddenly going completely still. Every bit of air vanished from the room.
Atlas stumbled backwards slightly. “He’s fucking dead.”
The horror in his voice snapped me into motion instantly. “No.”
I moved before I even fully thought about it. I leaned over Ryder immediately and pressed both hands flat against his chest while pulling healing energy forward as fast as I could.
My hazel eyes flashed gold instantly. Light spread through my hands and poured into Ryder’s body in waves while power crackled through the room around us.
“Come on,” I whispered desperately.
Nothing.
Then suddenly Brianna screamed again. The sound ripped straight through the room painfully enough that everyone nearby visibly flinched.
“Ryder!” She screamed loudly.
I glanced over my shoulder briefly. Brianna clutched both hands against her chest like she physically couldn’t breathe while tears streamed down her face.
The mate bond. She was feeling his death.
Elara looked completely drained already from the ritual itself, but the second our eyes met she understood immediately.
I needed help.
She moved toward Brianna instantly and dropped beside the sofa placing both hands against her shoulders. “Breathe Brianna,” Elara ordered firmly. “Look at me.”
“I can’t feel him,” Brianna choked out brokenly.
My chest tightened painfully.
No. No no no.
I turned my full attention back toward Ryder and tried again. I closed my eyes tighter while pushing more healing energy into him. Golden light spread brighter this time surrounding both of us while warmth flooded through my veins hard enough it almost burned. Leigha surged forward beside me adding her own strength to mine.
Still nothing.
Not even a gasp.
Not one damn breath.
The room itself reacted around us now. Windows rattled violently while cold wind tore through the war room hard enough papers and books flew across the floor.
The dark symbols carved beneath the table pulsed brighter. Like they were fighting us.
“No!” Brianna’s scream echoed off the walls again.
I opened my eyes briefly just in time to see her shove herself away from Elara and crawl across the sofa toward Ryder.
“You killed him!” she screamed at me.
The words hit hard. Hard enough that for one terrible second my concentration slipped. Fear twisted violently inside my chest. Because what if she was right? What if this was my fault?
“Trixie,” Leigha snapped. “Focus.”
I swallowed hard and shoved the panic back down. Not now. I could break down later. Right now Ryder needed me.
Brianna reached Ryder and grabbed his face between her shaking hands while tears continued pouring down her cheeks.
“Please Ryder,” she whispered brokenly. “Please.”
The entire room felt unstable now. Power crackled through the air wildly while the candles burned high enough flames nearly touched the ceiling.
Atlas stood near the wall looking pale as hell while Cass paced like he was one wrong sentence away from losing his damn mind. “This was a horrible plan,” Cass muttered roughly.
“Not helping,” Atlas snapped immediately.
Neither one of them looked alright.
None of us did.
I pushed more healing energy into Ryder desperately while my arms started trembling from strain.
“Come on,” I whispered again.
Still nothing. Fear started clawing harder into my chest now.
Why wasn’t it working?
I brought more power forward. Leigha joined me completely this time and golden light exploded brighter around Ryder’s body.
Still… Nothing.
“Fuck,” I gasped. The word barely escaped me.
Brianna suddenly leaned closer toward Ryder while both her hands stayed against his face.
Then something changed. The air shifted violently. Every head in the room snapped toward her instantly.
Golden light started glowing beneath Brianna’s skin.
Not elemental power. No this was different.
Healing powers, that’s what it was.
Pure healing magic.
Elara’s eyes widened instantly. “She’s a healer too.” Shock filled her voice completely.
The room itself seemed to react to Brianna’s power immediately.
Wind slammed through the palace hard enough the windows cracked. The glowing symbols spread brighter beneath the floor while the candles burst higher all at once.
Brianna’s golden eyes filled with tears as she pressed her forehead against Ryder’s.
“Please,” she whispered again.
Then her hands moved slightly.
Just barely.
Whatever she did… it seemed to be working.
Power exploded outward violently enough that everyone nearby staggered backwards. The symbols beneath the floor flashed blindingly bright.
Then suddenly…. Ryder gasped sharply for air. At the exact same moment Brianna collapsed unconscious beside him.