The scratches on her back burned, like her skin had been set on fire, and she screamed. Not for help or mercy, but simply because she couldn’t help herself. Her veins started burning, sending a searing sensation through her entire body. The beast had venom in its claws, and it was sending poison through her.
Her mind started feeling hazy, so she couldn’t be sure of what was happening at first. A gust of wind blew over her, and she craned her neck back, surprised to find the beast missing from her back. The pain blotted out most of her other senses, but her fear gave her some amount of clarity. She struggled to sit up and saw one of the beasts fly into a tree, as if it had been thrown.
Then she saw him clearly. Lux stood in front of the dogs, and he didn’t look the slightest bit ruffled. He held a giant stick in his hand, so long and thick it looked almost too heavy for Lily too hold. Three of the beasts growled and crouched in front of him, looking as if they wanted to rip his head off. The fourth one had been thrown into the tree, and he hurried to get back on his feet.
The dog charged and hurled itself at Lux, but he raised the stick and impaled the dog in the side. It yelped, and then fell to the ground. It lay a few feet away from Lily, twitching and whimpering on the ground, and even through her fiery pain, she felt sorry for the beast.
The other three dogs snarled and looked uncertainly at Lux. Since he no longer had a weapon, she expected them to tear him to shreds, but they did nothing more than look at him. He held his hand up, his palm facing them, and the beasts all began to whine, as if in pain. One of them yelped, then turned tail and started running away, and the other two quickly followed.
The dog Lux had impaled struggled to get to his feet, whimpering sadly. Lux walked over to it, and the beast cowered before him. Lux grabbed the stick and yanked it out, making the dog howl in pain. He raised the branch, meaning to finish the job, but Lily stopped him.
“Wait!” Lily held out her hand and tried to push herself up more. It hurt to breathe, and a weakening paralysis had started setting in her body. It wouldn’t be much longer before she’d be unable to move at all. “Don’t hurt him!”
“He’s a canu!” Lux said incredulously.
He wanted to argue with her about the merits of saving a demon dog, but when he saw the stricken look on her face, he knew she didn’t have the strength to argue. His stomach twisted up when he realized how much pain she had to be in, and it made it even harder for him not to destroy the beast that had done it.
Reluctantly, Lux dropped the stick and pointed away, signaling the canu to leave before he changed his mind. The dog slowly got to his feet and gave them both a confused look, unsure why it had been spared. Lux had already turned his attention fully to Lily, and the dog hobbled away without any more notice.
“Don’t move,” Lux said, rushing to her side. He reached out, wiping the mud from her face, and the warm electricity he got from her was still there, although it was dampened by his anxiety. She could barely breathe, and he found it hard to swallow, knowing the agony she had to be in.
“What are you doing here?” Lily stared up at him, and her arm gave out, so she fell backwards. Before she hit the ground, she felt his arm around her, holding her safe.
“Don’t worry about it.” He held her in his arms and moved the cloak, so he could see the gashes down her back from the canu. “You’re infected with canu venom.” He looked past her, his mind racing. “I can fix this.”
Lily tried to say something, but she’d already grown too weak to speak clearly. He got to his feet, still cradling her in his arms, and hurried towards the creek. He wanted to relish the weight of her body, the feel of her with him, but he couldn’t.
On his way to find her, he’d passed a babbling brook, and that would be his only way to save her. Clean the wound to get out as much venom as possible, then burn it to destroy the rest, and pack it with cool blue moss to ease the pain. It was a rather easy cure, but he had to get it in time.
The venom was only beginning to spread through her, and once it hit her full force, she would be in unbearable agony.
She mumbled something into his chest, and Lux ran faster, listening for the sounds of the brook. His heart pounded painfully in his chest, and he didn’t know what he’d do if something happened to her.
Relief washed over him when he saw the brook, the water reflecting the moon in the night. He skidded down the embankment, holding Lily carefully in his arms so she wouldn’t get hurt further. Gingerly, he laid her on her stomach on the soft mud and reeds next to the water. He took of her cloak and opened the back of her dress so he could have better access to the claw marks.
Lux cupped his hands, filling them with ice-cold water before spilling it onto her back. She twitched and made some kind of moaning sound, but he hadn’t even started cleaning the wounds yet. Using the edge of the cloak and the water, he scrubbed at the scratches, making the venom burn deeper, and Lily screamed.
The poison glowed in her wounds, so at least he could see it. He mumbled apologies, but he doubted she heard him over her cries. When he was certain he’d got out as much as he could, he ran his fingers down her gashes. Flames licked out from the tips of his fingers, one of the few tricks Lux had. The air smelled of burning flesh as the fire seared and cauterized her wounds, and Lily shrieked even louder.
Her cuts were cleaned and sealed, but between the venom and the fire, she was in incredible pain. Lily stopped screaming, but she sobbed loudly, her whole body shaking from the intensity of it.
Lux scrambled to his feet and looked around, knowing that blue moss had to be nearby. It loved water and death, and this area of the Necrosilvam was full of both. Lily lay on her stomach with the back of her dress torn open, and he didn’t want to leave her exposed like that, but he couldn’t leave her in that much pain either.
He jogged a short ways down the brook, still close enough to hear and see her, and thankfully, he found blue moss growing on the underside of a log lying across the stream. He had to wade through the water to get it, soaking his new shoes and pants on the way, but he barely even cared. Lily was in pain, and he’d do anything stop it.
“This will be over soon,” Lux promised her when he reached her. He knelt on the ground next to her and smeared her wounds with the moss.
Almost instantly, the burning stopped, replaced with a cool numbness. The haze in her mind started ebbing, and most of the aches in her body dissipated. Not entirely, but she felt much better. Sniffling, Lily wiped at her tears and sat up. The night air felt cold on her bare back, and she tried straightening out her dress, but the back had been shredded. Lux handed her the cloak, which held up much better because it was stronger, and Lily wrapped it around herself.
“Thank you,” Lily said, feeling embarrassed about crying so hard. She wiped at her face with the cloth, trying to get rid of the mud and tears that stained her skin.
“You're welcome.” Lux sat next to her on the embankment, watching her with an unbridled fascination. Even with dirt on her cheeks and twigs in her hair, he doubted he’d ever seen anyone more beautiful.
“What are you doing out here?” Lily asked.
She stared down at her hands, playing with a loose thread on her dress. She wanted to look at him, to make sure he was real and really there with her, but she felt too ashamed to look at him fully.
“I was looking for you,” Lux said honestly.
“Why?” Lily asked, her forehead wrinkling in confusion, although her heart quickened happily.
“I never should’ve left you alone in these woods.” Guilt washed over him, and he looked down at the water. She’d nearly been killed because he hadn’t stayed with her. He thought she’d be better without him, but the only way he could protect her was if he was with her.
“How did you find me?” Lily asked, daring to look at him from the corner of her eyes.
“I heard the canu.” Lux only half-lied.
He tracked the canu using another one of his tricks. A benefit of his job was being
able to use the canu, and he could psychically link with them. He could see what they saw, but so could any of the other peccati or even Valefor, if they chose to check in with this pack. Anyone of them could find out that he’d intervened to save Lily.
They really ought to start moving, but she was too exhausted to go on the run right now. She needed to rest, and he’d worry about what Valefor made of everything when the time came. For now, her safety was his top priority.
“What are the canu?” Lily looked at him curiously.
“Demon dogs,” Lux replied vaguely. He didn’t want to explain them to her, how they served his master, and even Lux himself. The canu tracked and hunted anything the peccati or Valefor wanted, and canu protected them from their enemies.
“How did you chase them away?” Lily asked.
“Magic,” Lux smiled at her, hoping to distract her from realizing he hadn’t really answered the question. “How are you feeling?”
“Much, much better. Thank you.” She smiled then looked away. “I must look frightful.”
“No, you look beautiful,” Lux said seriously.
“I doubt that!” Lily laughed, a wonderful sound that sent warm shivers all through him. She knelt down at the brook’s edge, splashing cold water on her face to clean herself up.
“Do you feel well enough to walk?” Lux asked once she’d finished washing her face and arms.
“I think so,” she nodded.
Lux stood up first and held his hand out to her to help her up. As soon as she touched him, that same wonderful feeling rolled through him. She stood in front of him, staring up at him with her dark blue eyes. Her skin always felt so cool against his warm hands. A strand of hair stuck to her damp cheek, and he brushed it back, letting his hand linger there. He wanted to kiss her more than anything, but he was afraid if he started, he’d never stop.
“We should get going.” He dropped his hand from her cheek and stepped away from her. He still held her hand so he could help her up the embankment, but he had to put some distance between the two of them. He’d never utilized restraint before, and he didn’t know how well he’d do with it.
“Yes, of course,” Lily said, like she understood what he meant.
She slipped a few times climbing up the embankment, but Lux blamed it on the muddy incline. When she got to the top, he started walking forward, and she nearly collapsed, falling heavily into his arms. Her knees just gave out underneath her.
“Sorry,” Lily whispered, leaning against him. She smelled of flowers and fresh spring water, and Lux held her in his arms for a moment before steadying her and helping her stand on her own.
“You need to rest,” Lux said, and looked up.
The moon sat high in the sky, so it was still several hours before dawn. He’d bought them some time by chasing the canu away. It’d be a few hours before they got back to Valefor, and then he’d have to mount a counterattack. They could use the time to get a jumpstart, but Lily was too weak, and he had to do what was best for her.
“Come on.” Lux kept his arm around her waist and led her over to a massive tree. “You need to get some sleep before we can continue.”
“Are you sure that’s safe?” Lily looked around.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” Lux assured her, and he meant it.
“I know.” Lily smiled at him in a way that melted his heart. Sleeping in the Necrosilvam in the middle of the night sounded deadly, but somehow, she felt safe with Lux.
The roots of the tree sprung out of the ground, creating a perfect little nook. Lux took off Lily’s cloak and spread it over the dirt like a blanket. He slipped off his jacket, then sat down on the ground, leaning back against the trunk of the tree. Lily curled up next to him, laying her head on his chest and draping her arm over him. He took his jacket and covered her up with it. When he wrapped his arm around her, she nestled into him.
In that moment, Lux felt complete for the first time. He hadn’t even realized anything was missing until he met her, but now, with her curled up in his arms, her hair tickling against his chin, he couldn’t imagine existing without her.
Within moments, Lily fell sound asleep, comforted and content in the safety of his embrace. Lux forced himself to stay awake for much longer, savoring every second with her.
9
His neck hurt from the way he’d been sleeping, and he yawned and stretched out his arms. It wasn’t until he felt the empty space beside him that he realized something terribly important was missing. Lux opened his eyes to the morning sun, and she was gone.
“Lily?” His heart had already beat itself into a frenzy. He jumped to his feet and looked around, but he didn’t see anything. No sign of her, of canu, of anything. “Lily?”
His mouth felt dry, and his stomach twisted in knots. He ran a hand through his hair and tried not to think the worst. He never should’ve slept. He never should’ve closed his eyes. Lily had become the most important thing in his life, and he fell asleep while Valefor had come and stolen her.
“Lily!” Lux didn’t even trying to hide the panic in his voice.
“I’m right here,” Lily said, sounding like a beautiful melody to his ears.
Her head appeared over the embankment as she climbed up it, her arms full of red berries. As soon as he saw her, Lux started to run toward her, but realizing he looked like a maniac, he settled for a brisk walk. She wore his jacket, with the sleeves rolled up to keep them from drowning her hands. She had tied her long dark waves in a loose braid and wound small white flowers through it.
“I went to collect berries for breakfast.” Lily gave him a perplexed look when he reached her. “Why do you look so frightened?”
“I don’t know.” He smiled, breathing a sigh of relief. He put his hand on her shoulder, just to make sure she was real. “I couldn’t find you.”
“Well, I’m right here.” She smiled at his concern, looking so beautiful and sweet and happy, his heart seemed to swell and grow.
“So you are,” Lux said quietly, and she laughed.
He couldn’t contain himself any longer. He put his hand on her waist and pulled her to him, then pressed his lips to hers. Her mouth tasted of cold berries, and her body felt soft against his. She dropped the fruit and wrapped her arms around his neck. He kissed her hungrily, fighting to keep himself in check.
Lily could actually feel his restraint, the way his muscles tensed, but she felt no control herself. She kissed him fervently, standing on her tiptoes to taste him more deeply. A fire burned inside, spreading a fresh wonderful heat all through her.
Her hand found the curls on the back of his neck, and she wrapped them around her finger. It was something she did, almost without thought. She just wanted to pull herself closer to him, but it made Lux weak. It was like he felt too much – too much happiness, too much pleasure – and he could hardly stand.
Lux stopped kissing her, but he held her in his arms still. She untwined her fingers from his hair and rested her hands against his chest, staring up at him as they both struggled to catch their breath. His skin trembled.
“You’re shaking,” Lily said, sounding concerned.
“So I am.” Lux smiled at her.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m better than I’ve ever been,” he assured her, and she smiled up at him.
He pulled away from her before he couldn’t resist kissing her again. They had wasted enough time sleeping. She had needed it, but he had to get her somewhere safe soon, not that he even knew where somewhere safe might be. But keeping her on the move was his best for now. He didn’t know of anywhere that Valefor couldn’t go if he wanted to, but Lux knew staying in the same place would make them easy targets.
“I’ve dropped all the berries.” Lily’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she bent to pick them up.
“It’s alright. I’m not very hungry anyway,” Lux said. He surveyed the area around them, trying to decide which way to go, but it was hard to think clearly after that kiss
.
“Are you certain?” Still crouched on the ground, she looked up at him. “Because I could find something other than berries, if you don’t want any of them.”
“No, I’m fine, but we need to get moving.”
“Oh.” Lily looked hurt, afraid she’d done something to offend him, so he held out his hand to her. She took it, and he helped her to her feet, but he didn’t let go of her hand.
“This way.” Lux gestured to the west. The palace lay to the east of them, and Valefor’s lair to the south.
“Are we going somewhere?” Lily asked as they started walking, and then realizing how silly her question sounded, fumbled to clarify. “I know that we’re going somewhere, but is it somewhere in particular?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Lux said honestly.
“Because I have a friend in the woods, or at least I think I still do.” Her face crumpled when she thought about Wick. “I don’t know what became of her last night.”
“What happened?” Lux asked, looking over at her.
“Wick sensed something coming. She’s a witch, but a good witch, and she knew something was after me. So I left out the window, and she stayed behind. Then the canu chased after me, and you found me.” Things started occurring to Lily, and she stopped walking so she could look at Lux straight on. “What are we running from? Why didn’t you want me to go back to the palace?”
Lux avoided her gaze. “It was just a gut feeling I had.”
“No, it wasn’t. It was more than that,” Lily insisted. “You were trying to protect me. From what?”
“I don’t know.” He swallowed hard and wouldn’t look at her.
He couldn’t tell Lily what he knew because he’d have to tell her how he knew. And it was more than just being a part of her kidnapping. He’d have to explain exactly what he was, and he knew he’d lose her forever. She’d be disgusted and hate him.
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