Lunaria (A Soulmark Series Finale), page 25
"If you were looking to wake the entire block with your arrival, you succeeded," he comments off-handedly.
Ruby kills the engine and pops out of the cab, Nova next. "I didn't know if they would call ahead of our arrival," she retorts.
"Atticus did." Ryatt stops at the passenger door and peers inside, wondrous awe passes over his face. "Friends of yours?"
I bob my head once. "They may need help to get inside." I stand on shaky legs and fuss with the tailgate handle before it drops open with a clatter. "They'll need help too."
Ryatt's face pales as he eyes our fallen comrades, his interest lingering on Deval. "Is he even alive?"
"Yes," Adrian says. "But not for much longer if we don't do something about it."
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Everyone inside."
Ruby offers me a hand to climb down and switches places with me once I'm grounded. Nova is right on her heels. They rouse Jax enough to get him to stand, wherein Ruby hauls him up in her arms like he's a damsel in distress.
"Help him," she instructs Nova with a tilt of her head. "I've got Jax."
Nova swallows visibly, eyeing the blood-covered man with her dark eyes slipping into a shade of red. Nova spies Adrian through lowered lashes, and he offers a subtle nod of his head. The pair work together to secure and move Deval while Ruby carries Jax.
"We need Zoelle," I tell Ryatt as I make my way to the cab. I open the passenger side door, and Celosia blinks back at me. Dark purple half-moons hug her eyes. "We're here," I say softly and extend my hand to her.
Celosia scoots across the long seat and grabs hold of me for balance as she exits the car. Alekos follows suit without a word, looking just as exhausted.
"Where are we?" Alekos scans the area as he stumbles from the vehicle. Ryatt is there to steady him and slips an arm around his back to help him forward.
"My brother's home. Let's get you inside where you can warm up and be treated."
Everyone hobbles inside; each person burdened with the load of another. I cannot stop the surge of emotion that takes me when we first set foot inside—unadulterated relief—and release a choked sob.
"Bring them in here!" Quinn calls from the room directly off the entryway. The petite blonde is in a baggy shirt and what appears to be little else. Her face is flushed as she studies our battered numbers. "Lay them on the couches. Zoelle is grabbing supplies."
Ruby forges ahead and lays Jax on the farthest couch. He lets out a small whine as he sinks into the cushions, eye fluttering open to examine the room.
"Where am I?" He mumbles, eyes locking unmistakably on Adrian and Nova as they move with precision to the couch as Quinn finishes making it up. Deval's labored breath emits a telltale hitch as they lower him.
"You're at the Adolphus manor," Ruby tells Jax as she kneels by his side. "What can we get you?"
Jax closes his eye and raises his hand to his neck. Emotion clots his voice. "Get this thing off."
The hair on my skin stands on end. His eye is glossy, but he gallantly holds back his anguish. Celosia whimpers empathetically beside me. She and Alekos must wish the same.
Ruby inspects the fiendish device. From her profile, I spy the deep set of a frown.
"I can take it off him," Adrian confesses. Ruby's frown shifts to a look of determination.
"Can you elongate your neck, Jax?" He does so with a grimace, and Ruby takes hold of the collar as best she can before pulling. It splits in half. Jax gasps. His eye grows wide, and his back bends. Ruby places a hand on his chest, her victorious spirit vanishing at his unexpected outcry. "Jax? Jax! Are you okay?"
He sucks in lungful after lungful, his hands groping the freed flesh of his neck. "I'm—I..."
"Shh." Ruby brushes back his hair from his face. "Just breathe. You're okay now. Just breathe."
"Hurts," he hisses as his hands move to his chest.
"What does?"
Jax peers at Ruby, face blotchy with red spots. "The magic." Face grim, she takes hold of one of his hands. He latches onto it like a lifeline, squirming and wrenching his body in discomfort until he is able to calm himself.
"Please," Celosia whispers. "Please take ours off."
Nova approaches and removes the collar from Celosia's neck, while Adrian does the same for Alekos. As soon as the collars are gone, each buckle. I barely catch Celosia's full weight in time, but with Nova's help, we guide her to her knees. Celosia gulps at the air. Her skin is swift to regain its golden luster, and her wings their infamous glitter. Celosia cries softly, one hand pressed against her neck, the other anchoring her to the ground as she bends over. I hold her in my arms tightly, offering comfort in softly spoken words.
“We’re safe, now,” I chant. “You’re safe.”
I glance at Alekos. He is much the same. Ryatt acts as a pillar for Alekos to find his footing as his powers return. Before my eyes, his skin regains its rich coloring bit by bit.
"Thank you," Alekos says, his gold and green eyes looking up to Adrian. "Again."
A door opens from the other end of the room and Zoelle comes rushing through. The mere sight of her brings happy tears to my eyes, and I hug Celosia tighter to me. Zoelle carries with her a wicker basket loaded with an assortment of bottles, towels, and more.
"Who needs help—oh." Zoelle stops at the base of the couch Deval lays motionless on. She sets down her basket and goes to his side. "What happened to him—besides the obvious?"
Her face is somber as she studies the fallen lycan, though her attention drifts to Jax every now and then who seems to be more in control of himself as the seconds pass.
"Don't worry about me," Jax croaks as he catches her study. "Some God or Goddess will see fit to restore me. Unfortunately, the process isn't exactly pain-free." His jaw clenches as he fights back a loud groan. "You wouldn't happen to have anything to dull the pain, would you?"
"Luna, there's a round blue glass bottle in the bottom of the basket. Let Jax take a few sips of it," Zoelle instructs.
I extract myself from Celosia, and glance at Quinn meaningfully.
“I’ll take care of them,” Quinn answers my wordless request.
I scour the basket for the bottle, scattering the top contents out on the long coffee table between the couches. A victorious feeling alights my chest as I hand off the medicine to Ruby, who in turn, offers it speedily to Jax. I glimpse at Zoelle, a belated greeting on my lips that stops halfway up my tongue. She hovers over Deval's prone body. A curious green light engulfs them that pulses serenely as she whispers some spell under her breath.
I linger awkwardly between the two couches and glance around the room. Quinn and Ryatt are leading Celosia and Alekos upstairs. Adrian and Nova stand near each other, faces solemn with their arms crossed over their chests. A tension mounts in the air, filled with static that itches my skin. Zoelle's chanting ends, and the magic dissipates. She sighs, and gestures for me to follow her. We walk only to the nearest wall a few yards away. My friend is bleak, but she wears a watery smile.
"I’m so happy to see you safe," Zoelle says, taking my hands. I return it and fling myself at her.
“I’m so happy you're safe.” We stay locked in each other’s arms until the cuts across my back force me to retreat with a wince. Zoelle watches me carefully. She is clearly unsure of what to make of my reaction. With a measured breath, she takes my hands once more and rolls back her shoulders. "I'm not a healer by trade, Luna, but from what I can gather, your companion’s injuries are fatal. He's lost too much blood, and his injuries aren't healing. The most I can do is make his passing more comfortable. I'm so sorry."
My head moves slowly from side to side.
"Can't you use your magic to help him?"
"No magic I know of can revive him."
Angry tears corrupt my vision. Fed up with the night’s highs and lows, my foot stomps the ground. “But it’s not fair. He risked everything for us!"
The unfairness of it all makes it difficult to breathe. Zoelle tugs me in for another hug. Her arms coil around me tight, and this time, she grazes my injury. I let out a startled cry and she jerks back, eyes wide.
“Luna? What is it?” Zoelle spins me around without waiting for my response. Her gasp is followed by a feather-light touch across my lesions.
"I need to tend to this right away. They're already inflamed, and if we don't treat them soon they'll become infected."
"No."
Zoelle spins me back around, lips parted in astonishment. "Luna—"
"I'll be fine, just, please, help him!” Zoelle’s face crumples. “There must be some kind of magic you know. Some potion that can heal him."
Her lips pinch together and numbness spreads across my body. She is either unwilling or unable to give me a satisfactory response, and I can’t decide which would be worse.
"There is something we could do, but it's a long shot." My heart skips a beat as Nova's careful tenor pierces the quiet room.
"What?" I ask.
Nova clears her throat. "I don't know if it will be possible—" her eyes dart to Jax, "—but if he's going to die, then we can attempt to turn him into a hybrid."
The silence that follows is deafening. My heartbeat pounds in my ear until I can hear nothing else, and then Ruby replies.
"Absolutely not," she snaps, her voice cutting through the silence. She strides to Nova side.
"We did it for Irina," Nova argues.
"That was different," Ruby counters, "and you know it. Irina is Jakob’s soulmark."
Nova flushes. "It was just a suggestion."
"Does Jax look like he can perform that kind of magic?" Ruby thrusts her arm back and points at Jax. He makes a mildly offended sound and props himself up on one elbow.
"Rude," Jax interjects before flopping back down.
Ruby visibly tries to calm herself, smoothing her hands over her clothing. "I know you mean well, but turning Deval into a hybrid would cause a whole new world of problems. Say it works, what then? Where would he go? What life would he have here as an outcast?"
My eyes dart between the two women before I clear my throat and step in their direction.
"I'm sure Deval would be welcome in the Hollow Woods," I suggest, hoping to sway Ruby's opposition.
She scrunches her nose. "I highly doubt he would survive wherever your Hollow Woods is, especially if it's filled with sunshine and daisies, which I suspect is the case."
I flinch back at her callous tone. "Sunshine, yes, although it does rain at times. Daisies are not native to the Hollow, but that does not mean our plant life is lacking."
"Oh my God," Ruby mutters and heaves an unnecessary sigh. Her hand flops back down to her side. "That is not what I meant," she growls, "and it’s not the point. Say we successfully turn him, and he becomes a hybrid. If any of the high courts catch wind of his existence, they'll call for his head. Then he’ll die twice. We're not doing it. The consequences far outweigh the gains."
"All right, all right!" Nova huffs and backs down. "It was just a sug—"
"But he saved me," I interrupt, walking stiffly to Ruby. "He helped us escape and risked his life for us."
Ruby shrugs, the gesture caked in indifference. "This is war, Luna," she replies sternly. "Casualties are bound to happen at some point."
My intraflora knows not whether to strike or wither at her cruelty. They choose the latter as my shoulders slump in defeat.
"Can I speak with you? In private?" Nova asks, looking pointedly at Ruby.
"Ugh, fine." Ruby follows Nova out of the room. I stare after them in desperate longing. A hand settles on my shoulder, warm and heavy, and I look up into Adrian’s eyes.
“You need rest,” he says softly. “We both do.”
I shake my head. “I can’t. I can’t leave him to die alone.”
Adrian’s hand moves to cup my cheek, his thumb coasting over my chilled skin. “Soon?”
I nod my head at the compromise, happy not to argue further, then shuffle over to Jax to check on him.
"Jax?" He rests peacefully with his hands laced across his stomach.
He doesn't open his eye. "Yes, gorgeous?"
"Will you help if Ruby changes her mind, and save Deval?"
I swear I can see the wheels in his mind turning. His nose and forehead scrunch together while his lips seal together in concentration.
"I don't know, gorgeous." Jax winces as he readjusts, and cracks open his eye. "The Gods who favor me aren't too pleased with me at the moment."
"I thought you said they were helping to heal you?"
"Some of them are," he corrects. "Whatever vile magic was used to create that abomination—" he flicks his wrist absently to the remnants of the collar now on the floor, "—cut off my communication with the Gods, and I used to speak with them daily."
My jaw hangs open, bottom lip jutting out farther than normal in my awe. "You spoke with Gods?"
The corners of his eye crinkle as he smiles. "Well, ‘spoke’ to them is a loose term. I prayed to them. Paid homage and gave thanks to them. I carried out their tasks and served in their names. To cut yourself off from your patron—no matter the reason, is considered a grave offense. Over half of my cohort has abandoned me. I don't know if those left will take kindly to me calling on them for such immense power.
"As it is, the few that help me now by healing my greater wounds, do so as a parting gift for my services. The Gods... they don't invest in the weak or those they view to have snubbed them."
"But—"
"They don't care for 'buts' either, I'm afraid," Jax interrupts smoothly.
"Deval killed for me," I confess, heart breaking. "Shouldn't that count for something to them?"
"It’s not that it shouldn’t count, gorgeous. It does… but Ruby isn't wrong," Jax tells me delicately. "There are always casualties in war, and let's not forget, you killed for us too. Nobody will forget your contribution or his sacrifice. Don't think any of us will forget."
I shuffle back to Adrian and rest my head against his chest. His hands rest on my hips and pull me in closer. Though my connection to Deval is little more than a few conversations, I cannot help but defend him. If not for him, I’d be dead. If not for him, the man who attacked us would have thwarted our escape. My empathy for the fallen lycan is no less potent than it is for any of my friends. He didn't deserve this fate.
Footsteps tread back into the room a few minutes later. Ruby and Nova stride past us straight to Jax. He props an arm under his head and gives them his attention.
"Have a nice chat?" He inquires as Ruby takes a knee beside him. Nova goes to his other side, planting her forearms on the back of the plush couch.
"We spoke with Jakob," Nova replies.
"You what?" Jax brows pull furiously together. "Why?"
Ruby shifts her intense regard to Nova. "Go on then. Tell him. This was all your idea after all.”
Nova shrugs. "I argued for permission to turn Deval. We could use a little more muscle in the family."
"You can’t be serious."
"I am,” Nova deadpans. “We’re one of the smallest families at court. We need more numbers to protect our new status, and I’m not going to be the only one fighting for it.”
“Ruby loves bloodshed,” Jax looks to Ruby, “Don’t you?”
She offers a dainty shrug. “Torture’s more my thing,”—I squeak in dismay, but it goes unnoticed—"and could you imagine Sebastian getting his hands dirty?”
Jax grumbles and passes the pair a sour look. “No, I can’t… how exactly did she get you on her side?” he asks, the accusation in his voice unquestionable.
“I’m just following orders,” Ruby offers dryly.
“He didn’t agree, did he?”
Ruby’s lips tug down. “He did.”
My hands grip the fabric of Adrian’s shirt as I process the information. He squeezes my hip gently in response, a flood of affection bridging our bond.
Jax’s jaw hangs open at the news, but snaps it shut with a huff seconds later. Aggravation coats his voice as he responds, “Did you consider my state at all when you argued for this man—this stranger, Nova? I've lost favor with almost every God I once worshiped. How exactly do you expect me to help? I'm no sorcerer at all if I don't have their gift of magic to supply me."
Nova entertains his one-eyed scrutiny for a heartbeat before sweeping her gaze across the room to Zoelle. Jax follows her line of sight with a groan, his protest quick to roll off his tongue.
"She can't help. It doesn't work that way," he gets out through gritted teeth as he sits up. Nova moves around the couch to stand behind Ruby as Jax rests his head in his hands and elbows on his knees.
"Isn't it?" Nova asks, the challenge in her voice undeniable. "Not even with her blood?"
Jax grinds his jaw, leveling a glare at Nova. A little vein appears at his temple and begins to throb as he contemplates her.
"How do you know about that?" he asks. His voice is dangerously soft and laced with venom.
"The Wardens of Starlight boasts a vast library," Nova replies, her voice level. "As children, my sisters and I often went to see who could find the most interesting facts. My youngest sister, Naomi, once discovered a passage that stated a sorcerer deprived of their god or goddesses' blessing may use the blood of a witch to reignite what sorcery lingered in their body. I can attest that the wardens don't always keep accurate knowledge of other supernatural creatures, but this text was different. It was written by a collection of sorcerers."
"And how did your precious wardens come to possess this text?"
Nova shrugs. "They recovered the text long before I entered this world, and what does it matter? They have it, along with hundreds of other supernatural artifacts and volumes. Is what Naomi found true? Can you jump start your magic with Zoelle’s blood? Would it be enough for you to guide the transition?"
Jax pinches the bridge of his nose as he thinks. Ruby and Nova exchange a string of silent expressions toward one another. Their body language stiffens with each passing second and downward turn of their lips. I find myself reacting in kind. My nails threaten to pierce Adrian’s shirt and my joints lock up.
