Fallen Academy: Year Four (Fallen Academy #4)(26)

We waited some more.

Finally, just when I thought it wasn’t going to work, Chloe took in a huge gasping breath. My knees gave out, and I yanked Luke and Donnie down with me. We all burst into tears. I didn’t have the strength to stand—I barely had the strength to be awake right now—but none of that mattered. Chloe was alive!

Her eyelids popped open, and my mom peeked over her, smiling. “Hey, sweetie. Welcome back.”

This was the test. If she talked like a robot or paused too long, and didn’t know who my mom was, then I’d officially created a zombie.

“The light,” Chloe said in a dreamy voice. “It was so… Donnie?” She searched the room.

Donnie shot up off the floor and went to her, grasping her face. “Tell me you’re okay. Tell me you’re you,” he begged her.

She grinned. “I’m me, but I died, didn’t I? I remember everything.”

My mom’s gaze met mine, and I mouthed, “Thank you.”

“You did,” Donnie told her the truth.

She looked up at my mom. “Kate?”

Mom leaned over her. “Yes, dear?”

“Can you make me some of your yummy waffles? I’m starved.”

The collective burst of laughter that filled the room reached down into my very soul.

Chloe was going to be just fine.





Ten





“Hey. How can I help?” I asked Lincoln as he stood over a male patient in the healing clinic.

He turned back to face me, looking tired but alert. “How’s Chloe?”

I nodded. “She’s back. Like fully back.”

The look of relief that crossed his face pinched my heart. I loved that he never questioned me; he always just went along with my crazy plans.

“Catia is in room three, with a broken collarbone, and in a lot of pain. You could help her,” he instructed.

“Of course.” I nodded and left the room. Could I fix a broken collarbone? Hell no. But I could take the pain until Noah could heal her.

For some reason, Sera popped into my head in that moment. It was the perfect timing for one of her ill-placed comments. My heart ached without her, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could go on without her with me.

“Knock-knock.” I peeked into the room, pushing thoughts of Sera away.

Scarlet was at Catia’s side, who lay in bed moaning and sweaty. “Brielle, don’t worry about me. Tend to the others first. This isn’t life threatening.”

Pulling up a chair, I sat before her. “I know, that’s why they sent me in here. I have no idea what I’m doing.”

That caused the Light Mage to smile. “Great, so they’re letting you train on me?” she joked.

I nodded, firing up the buttery orange glow that always seemed to flow in endless supply, even when I was dead tired. “You’re screwed,” I confirmed, giving her a wink.

She laughed, instantly wincing.

Scarlet was smiling too. “Glad to see you’re all right.”

A heavy sigh left me. “You too, girl. Thanks for all your help.”

What would I have done without her meat cleaver? I honestly had no idea. She nodded and something passed between us. We were no longer random acquaintances; we’d gone through war together, which made us lifelong friends.

“Thanks for keeping her safe,” Catia huffed between ragged breaths.

“Ha! Is that what she told you? She saved me.” I placed my hands on Catia’s neck, and let the healing go where it needed.

The relief in her face was immediate, her cheeks slackening as the sweat stopped dripping.

“I seem to remember hiding behind your shield,” Scarlet offered.

We talked easily for the next twenty or so minutes, until Lincoln came to pull me into another room. Room after room I moved through the clinic, staunching blood, and taking pain where I could.

For the first time ever, I worked alongside Raphael. It was incredible to see the Archangel of Healing at work. The entire room lit up when he healed someone, and just being near him gave me more energy.

When I was finally done for the night, Lincoln and I made our way out of the clinic, tired as hell and dragging our feet. The moment we stepped outside, I heard Grace’s angry voice off to the side, in the atrium, as she argued with Raphael. Lincoln pulled me into the shadows so we could listen and watch without being seen.

“The time is now! After tonight, it’s become abundantly clear that we can’t wait,” Grace told the archangel.

Raphael sighed. “I’m inclined to agree with you, but—”

“But nothing. When the new school year starts in a few weeks, I’m going to bring in human recruits, and start training them. We can work alongside each other. Angel blessed and demon gifted students working with human demon hunters. It’s the way of the future.”

Raphael rubbed his temples. “You can’t just start up a school in two weeks. There are rules, parental consent, funding and teaching staff to take care of first. So many things to figure out. In a year’s time would be better.”

Grace shrugged. “Watch me.”

Raphael smiled. “You are the most passionate woman I have ever met.”

Grace’s lips stretched into a perfect grin. “’Passionate’ is a kind way of calling me stubborn.”