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The bleeding slowed a little, but that was the best I could do, and hed already lost so much blood. I sat back on my heels, wanting to scream in frustration. What was the point of having the powers of gods if you couldnt help the people you loved?
Shivering, Archer grasped one of my hands with his. "Lost cause, Mercer. "
"Dont say that!"I cried.
He shook his head. His teeth were chattering so hard he could barely speak, but he managed to say, "This was always going to happen. . . sooner or later. Wish. . . it had been. . . later. "
I wanted to tel him no again, that he would be fine, but there was no point. Even in the darkness I could see how white he was, and how scared his eyes were. The pool of blood under him was so huge it was hard to believe there was any blood left in his body.
He was dying, and we both knew it. There was nothing I could do.
But there was someone who could.
I leaned closer to him and whispered in his ear, "Cross, please, just hold on for a few more minutes, okay? You promised to make out with me in a castle, and Im holding you to it. "
He tried to laugh, but it just came out a weak gurgle. I pressed the back of my hand to my mouth to keep from crying out, and stood up.
His fingers grabbed for the hem of my robe. "Dont leave me,"he whispered.
It kil ed me to do it, but I stepped out of his reach. "Im coming right back, I swear. "
There was more I wanted to say, but we were wasting time. If he died before I got back. . . I couldnt think about that. Before I had time to second-guess myself or weigh the risks, I closed my eyes and vanished.
I reappeared in the hal way just outside my room, and dashed down to Cals room.
When he opened the door, he looked rumpled and sleepy, and pleasantly surprised to see me. That was the worst part.
As soon as he realized I was covered in blood, however, his smile faded, and he clutched my arm. "Sophie, what happened?"
"Its not my blood,"I said quickly. "Someone is hurt, and I need you to get to the mil as fast as you can. Dont tel anyone. Il meet you there. "
He frowned, confused, but I teleported back to the mil before he had a chance to ask any questions.
I didnt know if it was al the practicing Id been doing with Dad, or what, but it hardly took anything out of me to do such a huge spel . When I flashed back to the mil , I felt clearheaded and not even a little bit dizzy. But fear raced through me as I made my way back to Archer. Thank God his chest was stil rising and fal ing when I reached him, but he seemed to be breathing faster, and his eyes were closed.
"See, told you Id be back,"I said as I crouched at his side. I tried to keep my voice light, like if he thought I wasnt afraid, he wouldnt be either. Im not sure it worked, but he took my hand and, without opening his eyes, pressed my palm to his lips. I held his other wrist so I could feel his pulse.
I focused on that, each steady beat underneath my fingers, until at long last I heard Cal cal out, "Sophie?"
"Back here!"
I could hear him stepping over the loose rocks and fal en beams, and when he final y appeared in the doorway, I thought he might be the most beautiful thing Id ever seen. "Oh, thank you,"I breathed, but whether I was talking to Cal or to God, I couldnt have told you.
"What happened?"he asked, moving toward me.
And then he saw.
A mix of emotions crossed his face. He looked shocked at first, but that gave way to a cold, quiet anger. His eyes went hard and his mouth tightened.
"Cal,"I said, but it came out like a whimper.
"Move,"he said tersely. I scrambled to my feet, walking around to Archers other side as Cal knelt where Id been. He grabbed Archers arm with none of the gentleness Id seen him use healing other people, me included. It was like he was trying to touch him as little as possible. I had one horrible moment of doubt, but then Cal dropped his head, and little silver sparks started running over Archers skin.
So I sat on the grimy floor of an eighteenth-century corn mil and watched my fianceheal the guy I loved.
"Wow,"I muttered. "Im gonna have one messed-up How I Spent My Summer Vacationessay when I get back to Hex Hal . "I lowered my forehead onto my knees, debating whether I should burst into tears or hysterical laughter.
After a few minutes, I heard Cal say, "There. "
When I looked up, the blood underneath Archer was completely gone, and even though he was stil unconscious, his breathing was slow and regular. I scrambled over to them. "Thank you so much,"I said, laying my hand on Cals arm.
But he threw it off as he stood, and turned away from me. Fury was etched in every line of his body, from his tense shoulders to his clenched fists.
I fol owed him and started to say, "Im sorry,"but he cut me off.
"Dont. I knew you could be naive, but I never thought you were stupid. Hes an Eye, Sophie. They kil our kind. What part of that dont you understand?"
Al I could do was blink at him.
"And this one is worse than any of the others,"he continued, "because hes technical y one of us. Hes a traitor to his own race, and you just keep letting him in, and pushing. . . everyone else away. "He looked up at me, and what I saw in his eyes made me flinch. Cal was so good at hiding his emotions that Id never realized. . . God, how could I have been such an idiot?
"I am so sorry,"I said again. "I-I never meant to hurt you, Cal. "
As quickly as it had appeared, the flash of pain was gone. "This isnt just about me,"he said. "Youre supposed to be head of the Council one day.
Prodigium have to trust you, and thats never going to happen if you have one of them in your bed. "
A combination of anger and embarrassment rushed through me, burning my cheeks. "Okay, first of al , no one is in my bed. Second, Archer has saved my life more than once. Hes not what you think he is. "
Cal made a sound of disgust. "Oh, come on, Sophie. Dont you get it? Hes LOcchio di Dios ultimate weapon. They used him as a spy at Hecate for years, so what makes you think thats stopped now? This is probably just his new assignment, getting close to you so he can use you for information about the Council. "
"Actual y, I was just going to use her for her body, but thats a good idea, too. "
Cal and I whipped our heads around to see Archer sitting up against the back wal , his dark eyes glittering. He was stil pale, but other than that, there was no sign that hed been at deaths door only a few minutes ago.
"So if youre so convinced Im a spy, why did you heal me?"Archer asked, wincing as he pushed himself to his feet. "You couldve just let me bleed to death and saved yourself a lot of hassle. "
Cal scowled at him. "I did it for her. "
Archers smirk faded. "Fair enough,"he said softly. "Thank you. "
They stared each other down, and while the dorky eleven-year-old in my soul kind of hoped that two hot boys might fight over me, the rational, seventeen-year-old knew that Archer needed to get out of here, fast.
"Okay, look, we can talk this out later,"I said, walking over to Archer. He slipped his hand into mine and squeezed it.
Cals glance fel on our joined hands, and he turned away. "Im heading back to the house,"he muttered, but when he turned to go, the doorway was blocked.
Dad, Lara, and the other three members of the Council were standing there, staring at Archer and me.
My memories of everything after that are a little jumbled. I remember Kristopher storming forward and kicking Archers sword out of reach, before jerking his arms behind his back and securing them with that black cord that always hung from his waist.
I know that Lara grabbed Cals arm and shouted something at him, while Roderick crossed his arms and scowled at me, his black wings making him look like the angel of death.
But mostly I remember my dad standing there, staring at me with a completely unreadable look. And when I tried to talk to him, he abruptly raised his hand and said, "Do not even attempt to explain this, Sophia. "
Thorne Abbey was dark and silent as we marched inside. Only once wed been led al the way back to the main foyer did Dad final y say something.
"Were cal ing an emergency meeting of the Council for first thing in the morning. Sophie, Cal, the two of you are to go to your rooms and stay there until someone comes for you. Kristopher, secure Mr. Cross in one of the cel s downstairs. "
My gaze locked with Archers as Kristopher began dragging him away. "Its okay,"he mouthed, but it wasnt. It never would be.
After he was gone, I walked over to Dad. He stil wouldnt look at me, and was holding himself with that same rigidness Cal had shown in the mil .
"Dad, I know Im sorrydoesnt even begin to cut it. "
Breathing in deeply through his nose, Dad said, "Until your testimony is over, I cant speak to you. Please report to your chamber until tomorrow morning. "
My eyes flooded with tears. "Dad-"
"Go!"he shouted, and I clapped my hand over my mouth to keep from crying out loud.
He walked away without even glancing at me.
"Come on,"Cal said. "Theres nothing you can do right now. "
"Did you tel them?"I demanded. "Is that why they came to the mil ?"
Al of Cals earlier fury seemed to have completely drained out of him. "No,"he said. "I have no idea why they showed up when they did. Unless it has something to do with those tests theyve been running on me. Maybe they traced my magic. Who knows?"
He turned to go, and even though I wanted nothing more than to run after Dad, I fol owed Cal away from the foyer and up the back stairs to our rooms. Our footsteps were muffled by the thick carpet, and the dim light from the sconces made our shadows waver on the wal s. I felt the eyes of al the portraits lining the staircase, like they were judging me. Al those nameless Prodigium, hunted through the centuries by Eyes, and Brannicks, and God knows what else.
Chapter 19
I did it for a good reason, I wanted to tel the painted faces. And Archer isnt one of them, not really. Somehow, I didnt think the portraits would believe me.
"What do you think theyl do to us?"I asked Cal, my stomach icy with fear.
"It wont be as bad as you think,"he replied, but he didnt sound whol y convinced. "Youre Jamess daughter, and youre important to them. They arent going to throw you to the wolves over something like this. "
I wondered if being thrown to the wolves was a literal punishment in this case. I real y didnt want to know.
"They may stretch your sentence at Hecate by an extra year or so, but I think that would be the worst of it,"Cal continued. "With me-"
"You were just helping me,"I said as we turned down our hal . "Tel them that, okay? Tel them that you were, like, honoring our betrothal vow or something. Theyl go easy on you, I bet. "
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