Page 41 of The Sins of Silas (The Otacian Chronicles #2)

Chapter Forty-On e

MERRICK

A iming my bow, I released an arrow, the tip incasing in ice, before ripping through a man’s chest.

“I wish mine did that!” Erabella yelled, successfully impaling another.

We were perched exactly where Waylon told us to be, and he was right; this spot was excellent.

The battle beneath was in complete disorder, but I was impressed by the Mages’ will to fight. All their time without magic had their powers just begging to be released. Still, the army in Faltrun was substantial…triple that of the number of Mages fighting for their freedom.

I tried not to focus on the bodies that dropped.

Era shot her bow with precision, her nerves melting as we fought beside each other.

I was proud of her, but I’d tell her that later.

Things were going well…until they weren’t.

My eyes shot to the side at the sound of Era’s cry. A soldier within the castle had snuck up on her. I went to shoot a blast of ice through the guy’s skull, but Era grasped the dagger resting on her thigh, turning to shove it through the side of his neck.

He gurgled, hands flying to the wound before he ultimately fell to the ground.

That was all the strength she had. She fell to her knees.

“Fuck, Era!” I secured my bow against my back as I quickly rushed to her, her side profusely bleeding. The fucker stabbed her.

“I-I’m fine,” she rushed, but I could feel her fear, feel her panic.

“You’re not fine,” I gritted out, then scooped her into my arms. As Faltrunian soldiers began running toward me, I pushed a forcefield out with my mind, using nearly all my power in doing so. It was always easier using my hands—this took all my concentration.

Era wept in my arms, the screams of slaughter and slurs of hate a sick song playing around us.

I didn’t know the extent of her wound—how deep it was. I just knew there was a shit ton of blood…and that I was scared.

I was so scared.

If I had acquired fire, perhaps I could cauterize the wound. Though I didn't think I would have it in me to burn her.

Her weeping began to quiet, and when I nervously looked down at her, running as I did so to find us somewhere to hide, her eyes began to flutter shut.

“Era. Era! Don’t you dare close your eyes!”

She didn’t respond.

Fuck !

I stifled a cry as I made it into an unoccupied room, setting her down on the bed and shoving a dresser in front of the door. The howls of death and the clashing of swords a sound in the distance. Losing my shield, I exhaled sharply as I returned to Era’s side.

I needed to use my gift. I needed to be able to sense any emotions of those around me in case I felt someone sneaking up. But I needed to heal Era more. Needed as much power to use toward repairing her.

I placed a panicked hand on her rib cage, and my palms felt like fire. They burned so badly.

“C’mon, Princess…fight,” I breathed, a glow emitting from my hand. If Elowen were here, she could have done a much more efficient job. But I had no idea where my sister was. I had no idea if she was even alive.

Era’s skin had a bluish hue. Her breathing was shallow, but she was alive…she was still here with me.

I used my free hand to cup her cheek, forcing her head up. “Wake up, Era,” I whispered. I shook her chin softly, and her brown eyes began to open slowly. When her eyes focused, meeting mine, tears blurred her vision, her face crumpling.

“It hurts,” she cried, her voice hoarse from the wound. I could now tell he had pierced her lung.

“I know.” I brushed her falling tears with my thumb, my own lip trembling. “I know.”

“Am I going to die?” She coughed and then cried out in agony at the pain.

“No, Princess, you will live.” I ground my teeth, willing every ounce of power I had into my palm.

Her voice was quiet and helpless when she said, “Promise? ”

I knew I had no right promising such a thing. But I couldn’t take the strain in my chest looking at her panicked face, her pained eyes.

I held the side of her face with my free hand. “I promise, Era.”

Her eyes bounced between mine, her lips trembling, and she nodded.

I glanced nervously out the window, watching the battle from above. Dani was fighting alongside the Mages down below, shifting into a fly, then her normal form, slicing through soldier after soldier with a sword before shifting back.

It was remarkable, but I didn't know how long she could keep it up.

I still had no idea where Viola was.

The pain in my palm began to subside. Still present, but less severe, that was for sure.

They needed us out there, fighting from above. I knew that.

There was not enough fucking time.

“Merrick.”

My stomach plunged at the feel of Era’s hand on my cheek, angling me to face her. “You…you have to go.”

My eyebrows drew together. “What are you talking about?”

“It’s too dangerous, and they need you out there.”

"You need me.”

It was her thumb that now stroked my face, and I did my best to ignore the chills that spread across my body from it. “Yes. But I am but one person. They need you. Your power.”

Spoken like a true princess. Her value had always been to look pretty, please a prince, and birth heirs into the royal family. Her belief was that she wasn’t worth anything. I could feel it .

I knew my eyes were swirling dark as I read her, her eyes going half-lidded as I brought my lips to her ear.

“You need me,” I repeated in a low voice. “And we are gonna work on how little you value yourself after this.”

I drew back and stared at her pained expression, then quickly resumed scanning the battle from the window beside the bed. My palm was growing less and less painful, but I couldn't stitch up this wound as quickly as my sister. At this rate, it would take hours to heal her fully.

“Merrick, go,” she demanded with more bite in that sultry voice of hers.

“I will do no such thing,” I growled, my eyes breaking away from the window.

A scowl overcame her features. “What if something happens to Elowen? To Viola?” She scoffed. “Are you going to think I’m so valuable if they die because of me? Die because they had less help?”

Panic overtook me momentarily at the thought of losing either of them. My eyes flicked back outside to the increasing number of bodies that lay on the ground.

Era gripped my arm tightly, her gaze burning into mine. “Go. Please.”

My chest was rising and falling, my hands trembling with this nauseating fear. I should go; I should make sure both of them are safe. I should fight to protect all those innocent people down there. Era’s wound still needed healing, but she wouldn’t die from her injuries alone any longer.

But I couldn’t move. It was like my body had filled with lead the second I thought of leaving her here alone.

“I can’t,” I bit out, baring my teeth.

“Merrick— ”

“I can't leave you, Erabella. I can’t physically leave you…I…” I shook my head, and then my darkened eyes found hers. “You told me before you couldn't live if you'd have killed me in Forsmont.”

Her hand still held my face, her thumb running along my cheekbone. “This is different,” she whispered.

“You're right,” I agreed. “If I had died, it would've been in spite of you trying to save me.” I raised my hand to hold her face again, our hands on each other's cheek. “If I leave, you'd die because I tried to save others.” My thumb grazed her pouty bottom lip. “I will always save you.”

A cry slipped past her lips, and I didn't know what overcame me…perhaps fear of her death, fear of mine. Or maybe it was the feelings I kept trying to push down since the first moment I saw her. I leaned down, capturing her luscious lips with my own.

She stilled, her dainty hand that still held my face shaking.

I read her as I pulled her bottom lip into my mouth, finding confidence in the overwhelming desire that flooded through her body, heightening my own.

She withdrew slightly. “Merrick,” she rasped over my lips. “I…we can't—”

I captured her lips again. “Just let me kiss you,” I whispered. “Just a few more.”

Her heart thundered. I could feel her pulse as my hand slid down to hold the side of her neck. She gave me a rushed nod.

I continued to kiss her slowly, healing her with my other hand. Our tongues never touched—both of us too intimated to deepen our kiss. But when she sucked my lip gently, her tongue gliding against my lip ring, I felt myself losing control. I felt want, need, and desire unlike ever before in my life.

But before we could go any further, Era groaned, her wound spurting out more blood, coating my hand.

“Fuck,” I panicked, pulling away from her. I stopped reading her, focusing all my power on healing this wound.

My eyes hesitantly rose to meet her widened ones, noting the significant flush to her cheeks. She blinked rapidly, then averted her gaze, not wishing to look at me.

Clarity washed over me as I accepted that I had just kissed a married woman…and that she had kissed me back.