A Queen of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 4)

I pushed on his chest in the correct rhythm, then breathed into his mouth. Back to his chest.

“Vemar,” I yelled, before breathing for Hannon again. “Vemar!”

“I’m here.” He ran and slid to the ground on the other side of Hannon. “I’m here. Oh fu— What do you need?”

“Do you know how to—”

“Yes, yes. Go make the potion. The magical worker is coming. She can probably help, right? She can help.”

“Yes, thank you. He needs a pulse. Just keep him alive, Vemar. Keep him alive.”

Hadriel had curled up into himself, covered in blood. Leala sprinted down the path and toward us. Behind her ran some of the gardeners. The magical worker wasn’t as spry. She’d take a little longer.

“It’s fine,” I said, running back into the tent, scooping up the canister as I did so. “This is fine. He’ll be okay. We have time.”

Remember to breathe, my dragon thought softly. Sadness welled within her.

“He’ll be fine,” I yelled at her, knowing what her feelings meant. Knowing what I’d seen.

I couldn’t believe it. Not yet. I had to try to save him. I had to do something!

I opened the canister with shaking hands. Steam issued from within it. I poured the water into the mortar and then swore at myself. I needed it in a fucking mug.

Mug in hand, I poured the contents of the mortar into it and rushed out as the gardeners and other faeries reached us.

“Can we help?” the first asked, and I was surprised to see it was Eris.

“I need the magical worker. I’m not sure what she can do, but…” I hurried just as fast as I could without spilling the contents. “If you have any lifesaving remedies, I’m happy to try them.”

“She’s on her way. We’ll get what we have.”

Vemar kept up a steady pace, the sweat on his brow catching the light. He breathed into Hannon’s mouth and then went back to his chest, eyeing me for directions. Leala sat at his head, watching, likely ready to jump in if she needed to.

I felt for a pulse. Nothing.

“Fuck, Hannon, come on.” I pushed in close. “Lift him up, Leala. He needs to drink this. We just need to get it down his throat.”

“He’s not bleeding anymore, love,” Hadriel said so quietly I almost couldn’t hear him.

I wished I hadn’t heard him.

“It’s okay. The everlass will help him.” I tried not to look at the deep red bloodstains down his front. His gaping neck. “Oh, Hannon,” I said through a tight throat, putting the lip of the mug to his mouth. “Oh, Hannon, please.”

The liquid, too hot, dribbled in and then down. Some flowed over. He didn’t gag. He didn’t fight for breath.

He’s not unconscious, my dragon thought delicately.

He was not unconscious. He was dead. That was what she was saying.

Tears blurred my vision. I couldn’t stand to think that. I couldn’t allow myself to think it.

“Where’s that magical worker?” I hollered, feeding him more, then pausing for Vemar to breathe into his mouth. Then more.

I stared at Hannon’s white face. I waited for a sign that the elixir would help him cling to life. That was all I needed. I just needed him to cling to life. If he did that, I could save him, I knew I could.

Guards ran into the space, forming a large circle around the garden.

“You’re too fucking late, assholes,” I ground out, still staring at Hannon, looking for some sign of life. “Hadriel, get up and make sure none of those guards are demons. Do it in wolf form.”

Hadriel didn’t say a word, moving slowly.

“Go!” I barked, power infusing my words, tears dripping from my chin.

“Here.” One of the faeries knelt beside me. I recognized her from the other tent. She held out a syringe. “This is the strongest medicine we have. It is designed to magically kick-start the heart. If you get the heart working, we have a chance.”

I took it immediately, my hand shaking. I wasn’t good at this. Hannon was always in charge of this part.

Sobs racked my body.

“In his vein?” I asked with a trembling voice.

“Yes.”

I nodded and attempted to see through watery eyes. After a deep breath, I found the vein and injected the potion or whatever it was. Then waited.

“How long should it take?” I asked as more wings beat at the sky.

“If nothing happens after two minutes, it hasn’t worked,” she said quietly.

“Do you want me to jump in?” Leala asked Vemar as he started pumping Hannon’s chest again.

“No, it’s okay. I’ve got it.”

The wait was agonizing. I kept my fingers on his wrist, feeling for a pulse, hoping it worked. Needing it to work.

Dragons landed all around us, shifting back into human form. Wolves raced into the area. I didn’t look at any of them, so intent was I on watching Hannon, feeling for signs of life.