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He schooled his features. “Then I will come with you.”

Six more healers joined us on the platform.The oldest, a tall and wiry man, stepped forward to speak to Octavian. “You may come with us, but you may not get in our way or interfere until we’ve assessed them.”

Octavian scowled but didn’t stop them as the healers led us all off the platform and into the healer’s wing.

Kiera stayed by me, linking her arm through mine while Luka took my other side. She had no idea what had happened, but she knew to protect me, and I’d never be able to thank her enough for that. I had nothing left to give anyone. I was too raw. While the other healers fussed over Nyx, she got me alone in a room.

“What happened?” She searched my face.

“We went to the outpost…” My voice trembled. “To help Kol.” I didn’t know if I could get through the retelling. I hadn’t even processed it myself.

Her brows knit, and I saw her put the pieces together. “The outpost… Kol?”

Tears started streaming down my face as I nodded. I tried to speak but choked back a sob. Luka sat on the edge of the bed rubbing a hand down my back like we’d never been apart.

She wrapped her arms around me, hugging me to her. “Goddess, please don’t let it be real.”

I sobbed harder into her shoulder. “He’s dead.”

We cried together like that for a long time.

She finally pulled away from me. “I really need to get myself together and check you out.” She wiped her eyes with her thumbs. “I’m not doing my job. I need to check you for Dragon’s Bane poisoning again. And…who is he?” She nodded at Luka, though she didn’t take her eyes from me.

I let a laugh out through the tears. “Kiera, this is my childhood friend, Luka.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Luka,” she said, using the magic to listen to my chest. “And who is your dragon friend” she asked him.

“Oh, that’s Jaxus. We just met, actually, but he gave me a ride,” Luka told her.

Kiera frowned. “I see.” Then she turned her attention back to me.

“I’m fine,” I resisted. “I promise. If I thought you needed to do something, I would have spoken up.”

She gave me a half glare. “Would you even know something was wrong with you?”

I lifted my shoulders. I didn’t now anything in that moment. “You should go to Nyx. Who is with him?”

“My father—he’s the head healer. He often travels to educate and share knowledge with other healers, which is why you didn’t meet him before. Nyx is in good hands, I promise. That’s why I stayed with you.” She went through a full examination before she spoke again. “I do think you’ve built a tolerance, living around it for so long, which helped you, but I want to give you some fluids and a potion mixture to strengthen your lungs in case it brings on an attack later.”

“Before you do any of that, please check on Nyx. I need to know he’s okay.” My anxiety over losing him, too, clouded everything else. I couldn’t stand the thought of him alone. He might go mad with grief.

“Come with me. We can check together.”

Luka and I followed her down the hall. Octavian paced the corridor and glared us down as we slipped inside.

“How’s he doing?” Kiera asked her father once the door had closed.

I glanced at the door, concerned that Octavian was listening. I didn’t trust him.

Kiera caught my concern. “It’s okay. Everything we say in here is protected. Healers’ work is confidential. Magic prevents prying ears.”

I relaxed a little. The older healer glanced at Nyx for permission to share his diagnosis.

Nyx nodded, then stared blankly into space.

“He’s fatigued and dehydrated. He’s got mild Dragon’s Bane poisoning symptoms. I was told by this young man”—he gestured at Jaxus—“that he was just getting over a bad case of poisoning that nearly killed him, which is probably exacerbating the symptoms. But he’s awake and alert and responding, so I don’t think he got much. How is his ryder?”

“She is also fatigued and dehydrated. I’m going to treat her with a preventative for breathing attacks she is prone to and more fluids. I think after a good night’s rest, they will both be much better.”