DEVON
A blur of colors was what I saw as soon as I was roused from my unconscious state. I blinked, my vision slowly becoming more focused and clearer. Golden eyes were staring at me. Golden eyes that held nothing but concern for me. I blinked again, realizing that I was lying in Theo's bed with him hovering above me. He slowly brushed my hair away from my face, still looking very worried. I didn't have the faintest idea of what had happened. I didn't know why I was lying in Theo's bed feeling like I was floating. But then, I noticed the way his eyes glowed-- they glowed like they were actually living and breathing. It was enchanting to watch how his eyes would grow dim and then brighten so steadily--like a heartbeat.
His eyes were warm, they made me feel all mushy on the inside. His dark hair was glowing in the light-- black strands with fewer blue strands amongst them. My goodness, he's beautiful.
"Devon?" He said, his eyes still holding my gaze. He said something else but I didn't hear him. I was distracted by the curve of his sensual lips, as well as the mole beside it.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Those words snapped me out of whatever daze I was in. My cheeks burned a bright pink as I buried my head in the crook of his neck, inhaling his spicy scent.
"Sorry, I got carried away" I muttered and he grinned, brushing my hair out of my eyes.
"I was worried Amyra had damaged your brain" he sighed. I narrowed my eyes.
In a split second, the memory of everything that had happened came back to me. Amyra, that sneaky bitch. I made to sit up but Theo tsked and made me lay back down.
"How's your head?" He asked. "Still feels like I'm floating on cloud nine. Have you always been so shiny?" I asked, tilting my head slightly. The smile on Theo's lips vanished.
"I think you have a concussion" he said, stroking my cheek with the pad of his thumb. "I do?" I blinked. He bit his lower lip, trying to hold back his laughter.
"What?" I frowned.
"It's really hard to keep a straight face when you keep your face like that" he said, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Are you saying I look like a clown? Daeron Zrēlyen, I will not have you making fun of me" I said, giving him the meanest glare I could muster.
"Stop that" he said, laughing.
"How are you still laughing even when I'm giving you the 'classic Devon glare'?" I huffed.
"You call that a glare? You were more like making silly faces. You're hilarious, really" he said, getting out of the bed.
"What time is it?" I asked, when he pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Five-ish. I've got to go find Luke. I just needed to make sure you're okay. I called Karla. She'll be keeping you company while I'm out-"
"Theo, I want to come with you" I whined. "No, darling. You need to get some rest" he said, leaning over his boots as he laced them up.
His half braided hair (courtesy of me) hung over the sides of his attractive face and over his shoulder. He'd gotten his hair cut a bit. It was no longer waist-length like the first time I'd seen him at the school dance. It was presently just past his broad shoulders.
"Look, I'm fine!" I said, pushing myself to a sitting position.
Uh-oh, bad idea.
The room spun faster than any ferris wheel I've ever seen before. My stomach churned as bile threatened to push it's way up my throat. Gentle hands grasped my shoulders and gently laid me back down.
"I told you, you need to rest. Amyra did quite a number on you. The reason why you're not feeling any pain is because I took your pain away and I'll appreciate it if-"
Theo was interrupted by the door bell. "I'll be right back. Don't move" he said and left the room.
I rolled my eyes and let out a frustrated sigh. I'm pretty sure he wasn't serious about me not moving. I mean, what if I have a stubborn itch? Okay, I must be really banged up if I'm thinking about itches.
The door opened and Karla walked in with Theo following behind her.
"I have to go, okay?" He said, placing a chaste kiss on my lips. "Okay" I mumbled.
He smiled and I watched him leave the room.
Through the window, I caught a glimpse of him soaring high into the sky with his gold wings stretched wide.
"Theo told me what happened. Are you okay?" Karla asked, taking my hand in hers."I don't know. It's still very hard to believe that Amyra is one of the enemy" I said.
"I knew there was something not right about her. She did quite a great job masking her true nature" Karla said. "She did" I agreed. "I just hope Luke's okay"
"Me too" I sighed.
...
THEO
It wasn't so hard to trace Luke all the way to the park but what I wasn't expecting was to find him lying half-dead by the fountain. He was too pale and limp, I started to panic. His shirt was mostly stained with blood. So much blood.
I bit my lip, heart racing in my chest as I brushed his hair away from his face. Even while unconscious, he didn't look peaceful. I moved him to a half sitting position with his head resting on my chest. I could feel it. He was slipping. His life was slipping. I needed to know how bad his wound was but still, there was a part of me that didn't want to know that. I was worried that I wouldn't like what I would see. With shaky fingers, I lifted the hem of his bloody shirt. More panic invaded my senses. He was badly hurt. His flesh was torn and he looked like he'd been mauled viciously by an animal. Amyra did this to him. It wasn't fair. He didn't deserve that. He was going to die on the way back home, I could feel it in my bones. I wasn't ready, I wasn't ready to let him go just like that. He let out a weak groan with his eyes still closed. "Luke?" I whispered. He coughed, blood pouring down the corners of his lips.
"Dae?" He rasped, chest heaving painfully.
"I'm here" I said and he gripped my hand with a strength I didn't know he possessed.
"How bad is it?" He gasped, lifting his eyelids with difficulty.
"Bad" I said.
"I'm going to die?" I swallowed hard, tears filling my eyes.
"You're not going to die. I'm not- I'm not letting you die" I rasped.
"It hurts, Dae and I-I want to die" he croaked, coughing up more blood.
"Is this how it felt like? Dying, I mean"
"Luke, stop it. You're not dying" I said. He smiled. "Love you too, buddy"
"I can't heal myself and I'm really weak. She's draining me" he choked out.
"What?"
"There's-" he broke into a painful coughing fit.
"I'll heal you-" I said.
"N-no. You need your full strength to face the silver beast, I'll only weaken you and there's no guarantee that I'll survive this. I'm not just bleeding physically, Dae. My heart is bleeding"
I could imagine what he was feeling. He got betrayed by his own soulmate. I knew he was in pain and letting him die is probably the best way to end his pain. Call me selfish, but I can't loose him. He's my bestfriend, my brother. He's the only family I have left. I couldn't loose him.
"You're not dying, Luke. Not today. I need you, remember?" I said.
He smiled, gazing into my eyes. "You don't. You are stronger than you think, Dae"
"I don't care"
His eyes slipped close, his breathing shallow.
"She drew a rune on my back. It connects me to her true nature. She's draining me.... She wants me to die a painful death" He said, letting out a weak chuckle.
I clenched my jaw and moved him to his side. I could see the rune on his back. It was glowing dully.
"You can't get it off" he croaked.
"Watch me" I said.He smiled.
"Go ahead, do it. I'm already hurting. Pain is nothing new to me at this point"
I took out a silver knife and pressed it to the rune, damaging it instantly. He was passing out.
"Stay with me, Luke" I said but he was already drifting. I placed my hand over his heart, transferring some of my energy into him. I looked up when I noticed the bird-like creature flying towards us.
Lucy.
I realized that she'd known that this would happen.
' I'm not just here as Fate's Messenger, there is a very important role I must play in your friend's life' she'd said.
She descended slowly, bright aqua blue wings flapping soundlessly. As soon as she landed, she shifted back to her human form and crouched beside Luke with something akin to passion in her blue eyes.
She stroked his hair, humming softly to herself.
"It's not his time" she said, her voice soft. "Give me your hand, your majesty" she whispered, holding out a hand towards me. I slowly put my hand in hers while she placed her other hand on his chest.
Then, she closed her eyes and let out a long exhale. Luke's skin began to glow. I watched his wound begin to heal. When she was done, she gave me a smile and said, "Come on, let's take him somewhere he can rest" she said and I took Luke in my arms and dived into the sky with Lucy following steadily behind me.
...
"Is he alright?" Karla asked as Devon wiped away the blood stains on Luke's pale skin with a damp towel.
"He'll be fine" Lucy replied, still stroking Luke's hair.
She began to hum again. Karla stared at her with a look of curiosity on her face.
When Devon had finished cleaning him up, she heaved a sigh and rose to her feet. I followed her into the kitchen and watched her pour herself a glass of water.
"How are you feeling?" I asked. She let out another sigh as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"I don't know. I guess I'm tired and angry. I just want to get my hands on Amyra for what she did to Luke. She could've killed him. Heck, she could've killed you too. I'm tired of letting people mess with the ones I love. I hate her. I really hate her" Devon said, angry tears filling her blue eyes. I embraced her, stroking her hair gently as she broke down into tears.
"I just hate feeling so weak" she said, relaxing in my embrace.
The door of the kitchen opened and Lucy walked in with an empty bowl.
"Um....Lucy?" Devon said and she looked up.
"Yes, your highness?"
"Stop calling me that" Devon said, letting out an exasperated sigh.
"You're the queen, so it's necessary"
"Thank you for saving Luke"
"You don't have to thank me. He's important to me too" Lucy said with a smile.
"What do you mean?" I asked. She gave me another smile."The Fates knew what was going to happen, so did I. I am Luke's mate"