Chapter 79: WHEN MAGIC DIES
Chapter 79: When Magic Dies
Three days had passed since the traditional circle, and Liana hadn’t slept once. She sat beside Kael’s bed, dabbing a cool cloth against his fevered face.
In the next room, Jace tossed restlessly, mumbling words she couldn’t understand. Down the hall, Rowan stared out his window, silent as stone.
They were living. But barely. "You need rest," Talia whispered from the doorway. Dark rings shadowed her friend’s eyes too. "You can’t help them if you collapse." "I’m fine," Liana lied, her hands shaking as she wrung out the cloth.
"They gave everything for me. The least I can do is—" "Is what? Kill yourself watching them sleep?" Talia stepped closer. "This isn’t your fault." "Isn’t it?" Liana’s voice cracked. "If I hadn’t challenged Lyra, if I’d just walked away—" "Then Rowan would be dead." Kael’s voice was barely a whisper, but it made both girls jump.
His gray eyes opened slowly, focusing on her face. "And she would have killed you anyway." "Kael!" Liana grabbed his hand, relief rushing through her. "How do you feel?" He tried to sit up, then fell back with a groan. "Like I got crushed by a herd of buffalo. And they all had iron shoes."
Despite everything, Liana smiled. "That’s the most Kael thing you’ve said in days."
"How are my brothers?" " Jace woke up yesterday but went back to sleep. Rowan..." She glanced toward the hallway. "He’s been awake, but he won’t talk to anyone." Kael’s face darkened. "He blames himself."
"For what?" "For being the reason we had to break the link. For being too weak to fight Mother’s magic." Kael fought to sit up again, and this time Liana helped him. "He’s a psychic. He feels everyone’s pain like it’s his own."