Deadly Attraction

hilt and rolled onto his back. The move was lightning-fast. It hardly registered in Jade’s mind. But Darien took a full swing at the wraith in the process and the ghost’s eerie screech stung her ears as half of his skeletal forearm and hand flew into the air, severed by Darien’s sword.

The wraith blew over Darien to his restless steed and they leaped from the top of the steps to the ground below.

Or perhaps she’d imagined that. Jade’s vision was as fuzzy as her brain.

No matter. Darien got to his feet and the threat against him was over. She let out a short breath, the most she could muster.

Now she could surrender to the pain…

Chapter Ten

Darien wanted to pursue the fire wraith. But he couldn’t leave Jade. He stalked across the church and knelt before her, trying to process all of her visible injuries and wondering how many more there were that he couldn’t see.

Her shoulder was propped against the ledge, her head resting atop the exposed mortar. Her eyes rolled in the sockets.

She was covered in blood and tattered clothing. The cuts on her face were deep, but her gaping chest wound alarmed him the most. He slipped out of his full-length jacket and gently draped it over her. Then he cradled the base of her skull with his hand to guide her toward him, only to pull away when a sticky fluid coated his fingers. She bled there too.

“Jade,” he said before swallowing down a lump of fear and emotion. “You’ve got a nasty cut on the back of your head. And one above your left breast. Which do you heal first?”

She shook her head, though it was a slight movement. “Neither.”

His gaze narrowed on her. “You have to focus on the worst one, you told me that.”

“I can’t,” she said, her voice weak and raspy. “I don’t want to.”

Panic besieged him. “You must.” He tried to lock his gaze with hers, but she was obviously having difficulty seeing him. “Jade.” His plea was full of consternation. “You can’t give up.”

“I’m tired,” she whispered. “Tired of always fighting this ugliness.” She licked what appeared to be dry lips and then added, “It’s okay. I had some happy times.”

Tears slid down her bloodied cheeks. Darien’s gut twisted and his heart constricted. She was a mess. Barely breathing. Clearly in a huge amount of pain. And there was nothing he could do for her? He was the king, for fuck’s sake. And he couldn’t do anything to save her?

He stared at her a moment more, then a thought clicked in his brain.

“The necklace. Jade, where is it?”

A far-off look flitted in her eyes. “I had it on earlier.”

“It’s not around your neck now.” He needed it in order to make her immortal. If he invoked the gift this very moment, she might survive all the physical damage.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice growing weaker. “I must’ve lost it in the woods.”

His eyes squeezed shut. Damn it! There was no time to search for it. He needed to get her to the cottage where it was warm and dry. Then convince her to heal herself. But he wanted her to start with her head, so she could think more clearly.

“Just stay with me, sweetheart. Don’t give up.”

“It’s too much.”

“You’re still alive. Still conscious. You need to concentrate. Think about the cut right here.” He gently brushed his finger along the edge of the wound. She winced. “It stings, doesn’t it? You can feel exactly where it hurts, right?”

“Yes. Now I can.”

He lightly touched the laceration again and this seemed to help her to register the precise spot.

“Keep at it,” he said in an encouraging voice.

“The throbbing,” she told him, “it’s as though he’s pounding my head against the wall.”

“He’s gone. It’s just you and me now. Focus.”