The Steele Wolf (Iron Butterfly #2)(53)

Xiven was limp like a child and I grasped his head in my lap. He looked up at me and he smiled weakly; blood trickled slowly out of the corner of his mouth. “Well played, Thalia. I had never met my match before. I’ve never seen anyone do what you did.” He gazed adoringly at me. Hemi came and kneeled by both of us. I gave him a look that told him to be silent.

“Xiven, are you crazy? Why would you try and use so much power in Skyfell? You could have burnt yourself out or worse, died.” My gut clenched in pain at the thought of him dying because of me. I didn’t want to tell him he was in this state because I stole his life energy.

“I had to know,” he whispered weakly. “If you were worthy.”

I felt sick; I had no idea what he was talking about but the use of all of that power was making me feel dizzy and now that the adrenaline had worn off, pain was making it hard for me to speak.

“Thalia, I would be honored to be considered your friend.” Xiven grinned at me and I could see a little bit of color come back into his face. I was secretly relieved that the damage I had done to him wasn’t permanent. My stomach was cramping again in pain but I ignored it as I reached for Xiven’s hand and noticed it was covered it blood. My eyes searched Xiven for other injuries but found none.

Xiven started to choke and I looked at him. His eyes were filled with tears and his lips were whispering a phrase over and over again. “I’m so sorry...I’m so sorry…I’m sorry.” I was having problems concentrating as I followed his gaze. Xiven wasn’t bleeding, I was. I had blocked only three of the stakes. The fourth had imbedded itself into my stomach and the adrenaline and shock had kept me from feeling the pain. Xiven had seen the injury and had tried to heal it and couldn’t, which was why he was apologizing. He couldn’t because I had drained him of power, he was weakened from the mists and I wasn’t able to heal myself.

“OH!” I said and felt full force of the injury as if my mind had been waiting for my consciousness to fully acknowledge it before assaulting me. All I could do was stare at the stake and the blood pouring out around it and I felt a moment of relief as I realized my blood was still bright red.





Chapter 23



“Son of Light, save us,” Hemi howled. The drinks he had carried up the stairs fell from his hands, clattering and spilling their contents on the floor. He unceremoniously knocked Xiven’s hands away and picked me up. Turning, he ran towards the stairs yelling as loud as he could. “JESAI! Help!” Silence followed, no answering call came. The house was unusually quiet except for the sounds of Xiven apologizing. Joss must have left shortly after bringing me home. Otherwise he would have heard the fighting and would have come to investigate like Xiven did. Swearing under his breath, Hemi carefully hauled me down the winding steps and into the streets. Once there he picked up his pace and ran yelling for a healer, for anyone to come and help.

Despite the horrific display that Hemi portrayed, a giant man covered in furs, bruises and my blood carrying a small girl, someone was brave enough to approach him. A small copper haired woman called out to Hemi and he turned gratefully towards her as she motioned for him to follow her. The woman walked swiftly and Hemi had no problem keeping up with her short legs. Skirts didn’t hinder her because she wore a tan split dress with a brown apron and a leather tool belt around her waist. Turning abruptly down a side alley, she headed for a side door and entered into what appeared to be a workshop. Bee-lining into a back room, the woman stopped before a short wall. Pulling a drab tapestry to the side, she revealed a copper fitted door. Opening it, she motioned for Hemi to enter.

“Quickly, I can do nothing for her unless she is inside.” Hemi stared into the darkness through the open door and I felt his muscles tense. It was either fear or wariness, but the stoic warrior wasn’t about to bring his leader’s daughter into a trap.

“Oh, you big baby, it’s fine, honestly.” The little woman quickly grabbed a candle from a pocket in her belt and lit it. She went into the room first where she knelt on the wooden floor and pulled a solid ring handle to open up another hidden door in the floor. A quick glance downward revealed a flight of stone steps leading into more pitch-black nothingness. When Hemi didn’t budge, the petite copper-haired woman who barely came up to his elbow turned on him angrily. “Are you coming or not? I thought you were looking for a healer. If you are, then I have to get her properly shielded from the mists so I can use my power. If you don’t care a lick about her welfare, then you are just wasting my time and can leave.” Her brown eyes sparked with anger and I could see that she had spirit.

By this time, I was becoming more lightheaded and dizzy and I unconsciously clutched at Hemi’s vest. Looking down at me, his eyes widened in concern and he practically jumped into the small room after the woman. She stepped down the stone stairs first with the candle and led the way. Hemi followed close behind.

“Wait. I have to shut the door.” She pressed against the wall and walked back up the stairs and closed the copper door with a thud, encasing us in darkness except for the glow of her small candle. Sliding back in front, she led the way down another flight of stairs. The light caused our shadows to stretch and dance across the walls, mimicking our movement.

My eyes were getting heavy and I watched as the walls of the stairwell turned from dirt into the blackest stone similar to obsidian. The whole passageway was chiseled out of the rock. This must be the mineral that kept the city floating in the air and we were traveling down, deep into the heart of it, I thought.