Chapter 49 Chapter 49

Chapter 49 Chapter 49
Liora's POV

I sat in a dark corner of the cave, my back against the cold wall and my legs sprawled out in front of me.
Weak was probably the most modest way to put how I felt.

Who could possibly want me dead? My mind raced. Kysen’s family? Some stranger? Just a random assassin?
I knew I had a lot of haters but I just never thought anyone would actually attempt to murder me.
This wasn’t over and I knew it.
I swallowed hard.
Whoever sent him… whoever he was… they’ll come again.

I tried to steady my breathing. I didn't want to go home looking as bad as I did. I wanted to look somewhat out together, especially because I knew I would meet my mother.
But I couldn't. I grew even more weak by the second.

I frowned as I assessed my wound, my breathing heavy.

The nick on my arm was ignorable but imagine my shock when I realized that the nick on my torso wasn't just a nick. It was actually deeper than I thought.
How did he even?... When?...
My eyes widened as I stared at my own blood in shock.
I was seriously bleeding, but my attire hid it well before.

Green. He got me good.
I didn’t know who he was, but the fear he instilled would linger, even long after the bruises fade.

If I had known it was this bad, I would have gone straight home, straight to the healers.
There was no healer out here and I wasn't sure I even had enough strength to fly back.

“Come on, little one. This is not nearly enough to put you down. Get up!” Vyrmoth said, his tone firm.

I swallowed as I realized two lives were on the line.
I shook my head and dragged myself to my feet, my hands gripping the wall as I made my way out.

“I really don't think I can make it, Vyrmoth. It's too far” I said, and he stirred within me.

“You have to try, Liora. You can't die out here, especially not like this” he argued.

I swallowed again as I bent over and shook my head to clear my vision.
I grabbed the edge of my tunic and I pulled at it, ripping a sash out of it, before carefully wrapping it around my torso.

After giving myself a very solid and much needed pep talk, I mustered every single last energy I had in my body and used it to propel myself.
I flew as fast as I could, trying my possible best to work against my now rapidly blurring vision.

I was only a few minutes away from the palace when I started to feel myself slow down. And what sucked the most was that I couldn't control it.
Vyrmoth's words started to blur out, and I could barely make out what he was saying anymore.

“Liora?” I suddenly heard faintly and I narrowed my eyes as I looked up. Through blurred vision, I could make out a fae, but I couldn't figure out who it was.

I just hoped and prayed to Green that it was someone who could and would actually help me.
Fingers crossed.

Unfortunately, I could not bear it anymore, and my body gave up as I began to fall.

The ground never came.

Instead, strong arms wrapped around me midair, stopping my fall with a force that knocked the last breath from my lungs.

For a moment, everything was dark.

Then a voice cut through the ringing in my ears.

“Liora.”

My eyes fluttered open weakly. The world swam in and out of focus, shapes blurring together as I struggled to see.

But I knew that voice, even through the haze.
And somehow, just knowing it was him surged some energy through me.

“Kysen…” I managed to whisper.

His face came into view above me, closer than I had ever seen it before. His jaw was tight, his usually calm expression twisted with panic.

“Stay with me,” he said sharply, his tone reflecting everything even his face couldn't.

I tried to laugh, but it came out as a weak breath.
“Wasn’t exactly… planning on dying today.”

His grip on me tightened.
“Don’t joke about that.”

Something in his voice made my chest ache more than the wound did.
He shifted slightly, one arm supporting my back while the other pressed against my side.

The moment his hand touched the blood-soaked fabric, he froze.

Then his head snapped down.
“What happened?”

I followed his gaze weakly.
The sash I had tied around my torso was soaked through.
Completely soaked.

That was not good. Dear Green, I really didn't plan on dying this early.

“It’s… just a scratch,” I murmured, obviously lying.

Kysen’s expression darkened instantly.
“That is not a scratch.”

I barely even had the strength to respond.

Then Vyrmoth’s voice rumbled faintly in my fading mind.
“If you plan on dying, little one, at least choose a more dramatic setting.”

I almost smiled.

The realization that he was going to die alongside me suddenly hit me.
“I'm sorry you have to die because of me, Vyrmoth. And thank you for everything” I said in my head.

“Shhh” he hushed in response.

I felt Kysen move around me, doing something around the wound.
I groaned in pain and he tied something around me.
But my vision was already dimming again.

“Kysen…” I whispered.

“Yeah?” He answered, immediately pausing to look at me again.

“Someone tried to kill me.”
The words came out softer than I intended.

But the effect on him was immediate.

His entire body went still.

When he spoke again, his voice was colder than I had ever heard it.

“Who?”

I shook my head weakly.

“I don’t… know. Find them…”
The world tilted again, darkness creeping into the corners of my vision.

His arms tightened around me.

“Hey,” he said quickly. “No, no. Stay awake.”

“I’m… trying.”

That was the last thing I managed to say before everything finally went black.