Page 56 of City of Promise and Light (Mates of Gods and Fae #1)
Samian
“ F uck,” I whispered, my stomach dropping at the sight of Sybil lying so still on the cold stone beneath her.
The moment the guards told me to take her to the medical wing, I wasted no time using my magic to sift through shadow and space to get to her.
My heart raced as I quickly pulled the cell key from my pocket and unlocked the door.
I shoved open the door, rushing to her side, fear gnawing at my mind.
Kneeling beside her, I felt the frigid water soaked through my pants as I noted of the blood and lacerations that covered her body.
My magic rippled under my skin, responding to the fiery wrath that burned in my veins.
Checking Sybil’s pulse, relief partly cooled that flame at the feel of its steady beat, though her breathing was labored.
A sheen of sweat gathered along her brow.
The cold air, the dirt of the floor, and the freezing water were festering her wounds.
I moved the hair away from her face, my blood boiling at my inability to protect her from this world. I fucking knew as soon as Ambrose found out about her that he would hurt her, just to reach his insufferable goals. But I never thought it would be to this degree.
“Samian?” Ezra’s rough voice called out from a dark cell behind me.
My head whirled and I inhaled sharply, taking in his battered face. The skin around his left eye was inflamed and puffy, though the gash along his brow was beginning to close. His eyes were tired and full of anger, but a sadness lingered behind them.
“Is she okay?” He whispered, his eyes glued to Sybil.
“She’s alive,” I said, feeling the heat radiating from her body. “The cold is making her sick.”
Ezra cursed into the darkness, though he stood, gripping the bars of the cell.
He watched me pick Sybil up from the cold, wet floor as gently as I could, sweeping my arm underneath her legs.
A silent whimper came from Sybil, her brows furrowing from the sudden movement.
Taking a steadying breath, I pushed down my rage so I could focus on getting her to Aster.
Stepping out of her cell, I brought her over to Ezra to let him check on her himself. I couldn’t imagine what he felt, watching her suffer. I couldn’t even imagine what I would have done if I were in the cell instead. I swallowed, pushing away the thought.
“I’m sorry,” Ezra breathed, brushing a knuckle softly down her face. His face pinched with guilt, seeing the damage to her body. “I was supposed to protect her in your stead. I failed you and I failed her. For that, I am tremendously sorry.”
Letting his hand drop, Ezra rested his head on the iron bars, his gaze settling on the floor. His body shook, the air growing heavy. I narrowed my eyes, zeroing in on the tension in his body, how he kept his eyes from meeting mine .
“Tell me,” I murmured.
Ezra’s shoulders dipped. “I was found guilty of aiding a rebel by our future queen,” Ezra spat, the muscle in his jaw feathering.
“My execution is set for the day after tomorrow and,” he paused, his hands tightening around the bars.
“And Sybil will be the one to do it,” Ezra finally said, still avoiding my stare.
“What do you mean Sybil will be the one to do it?” I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady.
“Ambrose will be making her his personal executioner, though her official title will be something different. And with her bargain, she must do as he commands. But,” Ezra’s sharp gaze finally met mine, “there’s something going on that doesn’t make sense.
He brought her here as punishment for not following his command, but according to their bargain, she must follow his will or else she will die.
It doesn’t make sense. Why bring her here for disobeying if she must follow his will? ”
My blood pulsed, my magic thrumming under my skin. Ezra was right. It didn’t make sense. Sybil whimpered again, pulling us both out of our thoughts. Shifting my weight, I lifted Sybil closer to me, cradling her so that her head could rest more comfortably against my shoulder.
Looking back to Ezra, I tugged on our bond. Ezra jerked at the feel of my magic as I spoke, “ Tomorrow night, I will help you escape. I ’ m not going to say how for your protection, but I will not allow you to die. Keep to yourself but be ready. ”
Ezra loosed a breath, his eyes gleaming with gratitude.
I looked down to Sybil, my heart and mind in complete chaos.
I knew Ambrose vied for the throne, but to make Sybil his own personal assassin didn’t make sense.
He had Arianna for that. Unless he knew more than he was letting on about Sybil, about what she was.
I clenched Sybil closer. The need to protect her surged, warming my blood.
I swallowed it down, allowing Ezra one last look and then let the world fall away until I stood in Aster’s office.
Aster gasped, jumping up from her chair, her hand clutching her chest at my sudden arrival, but her shock shifted into a whispered curse when she saw Sybil in my arms. Sybil groaned from the effects of transferring to the medical wing.
Luckily, her bleeding had stopped, a sign that her seelie blood was continually growing, but she was still unconscious, her body turning sickly pale from her fever.
“Does she have a death wish?” Aster muttered furiously. “Didn’t I just heal her last night? What did she get herself into this time?”
“Ambrose,” I said, my tone flat. My mouth felt dry as I eyed Aster, noticing the way her face paled at his name.
“I see,” she said, her mouth thinning. Her throat bobbed at the memories brought up by his name and by seeing Sybil in this state. “Follow me to the back room.”
We made our way to the rear of the medical wing, Aster eyeing the other healers as we went, her pointed gaze filled with warning to keep silent. As soon as we entered the space, I gently laid Sybil on the bed in the corner of the room.
Aster closed the door behind us, locking it and looking out the small window, checking to see if anyone followed before moving a tall cabinet in front of the door.
“Looks like someone is a little paranoid,” I quipped, earning an icy glare.
Ignoring me, Aster came to Sybil’s side, pushing her healing magic into Sybil. A soft glow wrapped around her body, the gashes on her face and body stitching together. With the pain and fever now healed, Sybil’s body relaxed, though she continued to slumber.
“What did he do to her?” Aster’s voice was meek as she watched Sybil sleep.
Having once been in Sybil’s place, Aster knew all too well what Ambrose was capable of, though their time together was long ago and long since forgotten by Ambrose.
It was what had made Aster march up to me, demanding to be included in whatever I was planning to bring Ambrose down.
The memory of me spluttering like a fish while denying what I was doing, the connections I had with the rebels, flashed through my mind.
She had grabbed my face, pulling me down to her level to continue her demands.
She was so unruly. So different from her normal cool indifference.
“She defied his command,” I admitted softly. I eyed the bands cuffing Sybil’s wrists.
Aster followed my gaze, her brows bunching. “I knew something was odd about them,” she said, carefully picking up Sybil’s wrist. “They’re not fully connected like other markings I’ve seen.”
I wondered about that too when I noticed the sliver of skin unmarked. “Do you know what it could mean?”
Aster frowned, shaking her head. She gently set Sybil’s hand back down. “I don’t, but I have a feeling it’s tied to her blood. Maybe it’s something the queen would know about?”
I considered her words. I had been wanting to ask the queen myself, but part of me was too afraid to ask. “She may, though?—”
Sybil lurched forward, gasping for air, her frantic eyes widening as she slammed herself back into the wall behind her.
I stayed still, holding out my hand, gesturing for Aster to do the same.
Sybil’s eyes wildly searched the room as the realization slowly set in that she wasn’t in the cell.
Sybil’s chest was rising and falling too fast, and her magic began to hum.
Her hands started glowing with a warm light, but she cried out, the light ebbing when she doubled over .
I cursed quietly, taking a step closer to Sybil.
“You’re okay,” I said gently, raising my hands to show her we meant her no harm.
“You’re safe here. We’re not going to hurt you, I promise.
Aster healed your wounds.” Sybil’s eyes met mine, her breathing still too fast. I motioned this to Aster, and she gave Sybil a small wave.
“Where’s Ezra?” Sybil asked, her voice timid and skeptical.
My heart clenched at the sound, wanting nothing more than to wrap her in my arms. But I shut that thought down. It was too soon after what she had gone through. “He is still in the dungeons,” I said carefully. “But I’ll make sure he is safe.”
“You will?” Sybil’s voice was cold, edged. Her wary eyes narrowed on me. “Don’t you work for Ambrose? Have a bond with him?”
I swallowed at her tone, at what she was implying.
My jaw clenched tight, my teeth feeling like they were ready to break.
“No, I don’t,” I growled. Aster snorted and I cut her a glare, but sighed and looked back to Sybil.
“I may have formed a bond with him, but that was under the queen’s orders, not because I wanted to.
The queen needed me to keep an eye on him while she was gone and that was the only way to gain his trust. I did it for her . ”
“Not that it stopped anything from happening,” Aster muttered under her breath, looking at a spot on the wall.
I sent another glare her way, though she didn’t see it. “No, it didn’t. But I have a plan to get Ezra out without Ambrose knowing.”