Page 146 of Death of a Mortal

“They fear yourpowers. There is a difference. But that doesn’t make your powers bad, Naci. I need you to understand that. You pulled them back tonight. You can control them.”

I didn’t have the heart to tell him it wasn’t me, that the beast let go for a reason I was unaware of.

He walked in silence until we reached a building I hadn’t been inside yet. But immediately upon entering, I knew it was an infirmary. He laid me on a bed. All around us were shelves with salves, liquids, and herbs. A young female rushed in from the back as Drayce told her what they had done.

“I’d like to put her to sleep before I set to work on the facial injuries. Will that be alright?” the healer asked.

She had a kind face and a soothing voice. She was uniquely beautiful, with rosy cheeks on her porcelain skin and blue-gray eyes that were mesmerizing. I’d never seen blonde hair so light it was nearly white.

Drayce knelt beside the bed and squeezed my hand. “Elene will take good care of you, and I’ll be right here when you wake up.”

I despised being so vulnerable and relying on him so much, but I nodded.

Elene handed me a small green bottle. “Drink that, and you’ll fall right into a warm sleep. When you wake, you’ll be completely back to normal.”

I lifted my head and raised the bottle to my lips, drinking every last drop. It was bitter, tasting of unripe berries with a bit of spice. Instantly, I felt a drowsy warmth spreading through my limbs.

“Drayce, I don’t want you to be angry with me. I’m sorry,” I said as I fought to keep my eyes open.

“Don’t. You have nothing to apologize for.” He said something else that I didn’t fully register as the warmth turned to blissful weightlessness.

“Noxie, I’m…”

The last thing I heard before the world ceased around me was a bellow of rage, feral and terrifying.

* * *

When I woke,I opened my eyes to find Drayce sleeping in a chair nearby in the empty room of beds. His golden glow was calm and steady as sunlight poured through the window.

I touched my face where my nose and cheek had been bruised and bleeding to feel nothing, no pain. I laid there for a few minutes thinking through the events of the night before. More than the anger from what those males had done, I just felt confused by the shadows’ retreat.

And by the shift in Drayce’s demeanor.

“Jeez, Naci, I was worried sick! Are you okay?”As always, Noxie was there.

“I’m growing tired of worrying you and hearing you ask me if I’m okay…”

“Aerie told me what happened. I felt your pain while I was out hunting and you weren’t responding. By the time I got there, you were already here. We saw Drayce with those guys late last night. It wasn’t pretty.”

Was it twisted that Drayce punishing them for me gave me immense satisfaction? Most likely.

“I’m okay, Noxie.”

I wondered how many people knew about last night, if Aerie already knew.

“How do you feel?” Drayce was awake, eyes worried, boring into me.

“Like Garrick is gonna kick my ass for missing his workout this morning.”

He huffed a rare laugh, bringing a small smile to my face.

“Most likely.” He paused, looking at the open window above me. “I don’t want to talk about last night here. But I would like you totake combat and defensive lessons with Bramick. When you feel up to it.”

“I only took a couple of kicks to the face and vital organs. I’m not dying or anything. I can handle some fighting lessons.”

He laughed again.

“Where are they?” I asked tentatively.