"Thank you all for coming." Elise lifted her hand to her lips and coughed a wet, weak cough.

"Of course, Elise. We came as soon as we heard what happened." I was feeling pretty guilty in that moment. Here, Elise and Davik had barely survived an assassination attempt. Meanwhile, Vral and I had fucked around all night. Literally and figuratively.

"I knew you would, my dear friends." The noblewoman was sitting up in her bed, a large, bloodied bandage wrapped around her shoulder. To her right, Amira was standing beside the bed, fully strapped and looking furious. On her other side, Davik was beside her in bed, unconscious, breathing heavily, and so covered in bandages he looked like a mummy.

On the edge of the bed, Tristan was sitting, brows knitted, the light from her hands sinking into his bandages. "Elise..."

The blonde shook her head. "Don't tell me anything I don't want to hear." Her eyes grew wet, and her jaw tensed. "I trust in your skills and know you'll do everything in your power to help him. So please, trust in yourself."

Tristan's eyes darkened, and the light increased. "I will."

Vral was pacing beside me, her face screwed up and eyes aflame. "I told you we shouldn't have taken time off!"

"I know!" She was right. My priorities had been all fucked up lately. "We won't do it again."

Elise held her good arm up and shook her head. "You can't only work, and you certainly can't be everywhere at once. This isn't your fault."

"But, if we'd been here—"

"Even with Amira here in the manor, they still snuck their way to our chambers. And this could have just as easily happened when you were in the mines or the dungeon, and then what?" She tried to shift, but when she used her wounded arm, she gasped and fell to her side.

Amira's hands shot outward to help her. "Don't overdo it, El."

"Thank you, Ami..." She reached out and helped Amira resituate her. When she was comfortable, she took a breath, reached out, and took Davik's bandaged hand. "The only one who was capable of saving me did so..." Her eyes welled with tears. Looking toward the ceiling, she continued. "And now, we're left with seven bodies, a prisoner, and questions that need answers."

Vral's head shot up. "You have a prisoner?"

"I do."

"What have you learned?" If we had any leads, then maybe...

"Nothing. Nothing at all. She's no one. Doesn't even know how she got here."

"And you believe her?!" Vral stomped up to the side of the bed, causing Amira to posture up. When she saw the guard captain's hand move to her sword, the goblin backed off. "Why don't you let me work on her for a while? I'm sure I can get a thing or three out of those lips or hers."

"There's no use. They were enspelled. Greta's sure of it."

"Greta? Is she here?" She better be. Or Faye. Damn it! It was about damn time a real hero stepped in to help us for once!

"No." She pointed to a sheet of paper on her nightstand, which her guard captain retrieved for her. "She's been with Faye and Kasimir. They've been fighting off a monster incursion in the northern cleft for over a month. Apparently, it's the worst Evron has seen for over a century.'

"Of course it is," I muttered. They were never there when you needed them.

Her sky blue eyes met mine. I got the impression she understood my heart. "The heroes have duties that reach far beyond our petty needs, Alex. And they know well that they can't be everywhere all the time. They go where they need to be, not where we want them to be."

"Yeah, well, maybe they'll need to be where we are for fucking once." I didn't realize I had so much resentment I'd built, but now that it was bubbling up, I could feel it in my bones.

Tristan looked at me and shook her head. "Greta was in the forest when we were in Goodfield. She was where we were, and right when we needed her. We wouldn't have made it without her."

"I guess." She should have done more.

Before she could respond, a booming voice shook the manor outside Elise's chambers: "Where are they?!" I heard a familiar booming dwarf's voice outside of Elise's half-finished chambers. There was a soft response. That was Elena. Then, the doors swung open, and Khadrel walked in limping, and his eye was bandaged. Behind him, Kalnari was glowering at everything. "There you are!" He marched up to the side of the bed and dropped to one knee beside Amira. "I'm here, dear one."

Elise smiled. "I'm so glad, Khadrel." She tried to reach her hand out to him, but the pain was clear on her face. She'd used the wrong arm again.

"Don't move." He reached out and took her hand in his. "Are you well?"

She nodded. "I'm alive."

They began speaking to one another in hushed tones.

Kalnari's massive frame stopped next to mine. She cleared her throat, then said, "Sentinel..." Kalnari's voice was violence turned into sound. "Kill all fools harmed Counts, yes?"

"Yes." My voice was hard. Far harder than I'd meant for it to be. "We will."

"Kalnari will fight at Sentinel's side. Ask, and will fight. Always fight with Sentinel."

Kalnari was a true friend. "I'll call when the time comes, Kalnari."

"Do." Her gold predator's eyes fixed on mine. "Restore honor, Kalnari will. Avenge Davik. Good human. Did not deserve..." Her eyes grew dark as they shifted to his bandaged body.

As I looked at him, Davik's body shook, and a wet, wracking cough escaped his lips.

Elise shot toward him. "Davik! Are you awake?!"

Another wet cough escaped his lips. A moment later, his eyes opened, fixed on her, and his lips formed soundless words. Then, he fell limp once again.

"No!" She fell on him and began weeping, her whole body shaking with every sob.

I felt my heart clench. Elise was always composed. Always put together. But in that moment, she looked exactly like what she was: a nineteen-year-old girl whose heart was breaking. Once again, I heard His words rattling in my head: WHEN YOU GROW TIRED OF WATCHING THOSE YOU LOVE SUFFER IN THE GODDESS'S LIGHT, WHEN YOU LONG TO SAVE THEM FROM THEIR FATES, REMEMBER THAT I OFFER ANOTHER PATH.

Tristan looked up at me. "Alex..." Two tears fell down her cheeks. "I don't... I can't..."

She was doubting herself. Meeting her gaze, I said, "You've got this, Tristan. Don't give up." I remembered how she'd healed that peasant's child in Goodfield. And she'd healed me. She was incredible. "I believe in you."

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Slowly, she nodded. Wiping her cheeks, she said, "Goddess, guide my light..." and began whispering a chant I'd never heard before. Her light grew even brighter. So bright that the room itself began to glow.

When Elise gathered herself again, she wiped her cheeks and said, "I'll be okay."

Khadrel exhaled. "I'm glad." He looked over at Davik. "Did he fight well?"

"He did," she sobbed. "He fought six and only fell when the black dagger entered his chest. By then, Amira arrived and took on the rest."

"A worthy warrior." He bowed his head to the knight. "I am honored to be in his presence."

"He is worthy..." Elise breathed deeply. "I've chosen well."

"That you have." Clearly realizing he'd interrupted, he stood, looked to us, and said, "Sentinel. Slasher. Tristan. I apologize. I've butted into your meeting."

Holding my hands up, I said, "Don't worry about it."

He tried to stand up, fell, then stood on the second attempt. "By the stone..."

"Are you okay? You're limping, and your eye..."

"They set a broodmaw on us down in the lower manor." He huffed. "I always wondered after your fight if I'd be able to stand up to one." Pointing to his eye, he added, "I did, and almost as well as you, I'd dare say."

"A broodmaw?" The memories of my fight with one in the Pit flooded into my head. That's where I'd met Davik. "How'd they get a broodmaw into the manor?"

He frowned. "Some magic of some sort." Pointing to his leg, he said, "Got me good. Nasty thing."

"What happened?"

"I was alone when it appeared. Fought for a good half hour before Kalnari arrived. By then, I lost this eye of mine. But it was worth it."

"Not worth. From now on, will not leave Count's side." Kalnari's eyes were blazing.

"I appreciate it, my friend." Khadrel sighed. "I'm not as young as I was."

"Too old. You will lean on Kalnari now, yes?"

"Yes."

"Kalnari would accept no other answer."

He chuckled. "Thank you." Looking at the rest of us, then the paper in Elise's lap, he stood up and said, "I'm sorry. I interrupted. Continue what you were doing."

Elise sighed. "I'm glad we're all here. That makes it easier." She held the paper up. "Greta left me with a message scroll last time she was here, which allowed me to reach out to her quickly." Her eyes returned to the page. "And she sent a message back within the hour."

"What's it say?" I tried to hold off the bitter voice in my head, but it filled my head all the same. "Probably some vague bullshit like always."

Clearing her throat, she read, "Dearest Elise, The news of what's befallen you weighs heavily on my heart. I wish that none would come to harm in this world, least of all you and yours. That said, I trust that you will endure through this tragedy. You are strong, noble, and proud. No assassin's blade will fell you this day." A tear fell from Elise's eye. She swallowed hard and continued, "However, I understand that you wish to know whether your loved one will survive. This, I do not know. I cannot see the path that lies before him. Despite that, I can see his connection to you. Though you have been together a short time, your hearts are entwined, and I believe his path has cleaved itself to yours. Trust that the Goddess's light, and your friends' love, will bring him back to your side." A soft sob escaped her lips as tears trickled from her eyes. "From there, I believe your friends will do their best to find the black dagger's true wielder. Until then, trust."

"Who's him?" Khadrel asked.

"I think it's Alex," Tristan groaned.

I thought she might have groaned due to us getting embroiled in more shit, but when I looked up at her, I saw that she was coated in sweat and straining. "Is it?"

"Yes..." Her eyes fixed on mine.

"I see." I looked her over. "Are you okay?"

"I... I don't..."

She wasn't.

"I can't do it alone."

I had no idea what that meant, and I had no idea how to help, so I did what came first to my heart. "Everyone. Touch Davik." Walking to Tristan's side, I reached out and put my hand next to hers on Davik's chest. "He needs us." Looking over, I saw that her pupils were glowing a bright golden white.

"I... Can I...?" She looked at me. I saw her cheeks were streaked with tears.

"You can do anything." I put my hand on hers. She didn't know if she could heal him. But I knew she could. She was incredible.

Her shining golden eyes found mine. "Do you... do mean that?"

"You're amazing." I felt every ounce of love I had for her wash over me. I almost got swept away in the feeling.

She smiled. "I can feel that." Her eyes swam. "You've been hiding so much from me..." She breathed deeply. "I wanted to know why... but I wanted to give you space... wanted you to find your voice..." Her breath hitched. "But... when you didn't open up... I wondered if... if you... still... if you wanted... us to..."

Silly woman. Didn't you know? "I love you, Tristan. And I know what you're capable of. This is nothing for you." She'd healed me after everything I went through. And she'd do it again. This couldn't be shit compared to her.

Vral appeared on her other side. Putting her hand on ours, she said, "I have no idea what you're going through right now, but I know you, girlie!" She grinned. "You're the hottest, most beautiful, most incredible woman I've ever met." She squeezed our hands. "So don't you dare give up. Otherwise, I'll..." She left her threat unsaid.

With the brightest smile I'd ever seen on her face, Tristan said, "Thank you." She kissed my cheek, then Vral's. Then, breathing deeply, she said, "Don't move, okay? I need you both now."

"I'm not going anywhere," I said.

"Me neither," Vral added.

Tristan gritted her teeth, then spoke in words that I could understand for the first time since I'd heard her do her chants: "Great Goddess, hear your daughter's call..." Her voice wavered, then grew stronger. "By golden light and sacred flame, I speak your great power, invoke your nameless name!" The light surrounding her hands doubled, then began surrounding her whole body. "Break the barriers, seen unseen, Cleanse what was, what is, what has ever been."

I felt a tingling in my skin where our hands met.

"Through flesh and bone, through heart and mind, Let healing flow, leave pain behind."

A pulse of white light shot from her hands and cascaded through the room before entering into Davik's chest.

"That itches." Vral looked at me. "Is that normal?"

"Yeah. Keep going."

"Okay..."

"Goddess." Tristan breathed. "I am your vessel, strong and true, My loves beside me, we are you."

Another wave of light cascaded through the room, rippling through all of us.

"Alex..."

"Keep going!" I felt pulling from where her hand met mine. It almost felt like she was pulling my essence from me.

"Their love flows through me, pure and bright, Transform this darkness into light!" Tristan's voice was growing louder with each word.

"Do it, love..." I knew she had this. I didn't know exactly what she was doing, but I did know she was invoking the Goddess directly. I had to support her.

"C'mon, girlie... Don't fuck up..." Vral voice was half whimper, half growl.

With that verse, the pulling increased fourfold. I could feel my energy streaming into her... no, into Davik. Tristan was siphoning both of our power into him.

"I can take it..." Vral whispered. "Keep going..."

"Do what you have to..." I squeezed her hand. "You can do it..."

Tristan shifted her hand so that it was on top of hers. When she spoke again, the pulling sensation became a funnel from our spirits to hers. "By sacred touch and willing heart, Let death and life be set apart. What's worthy lives, what's broken mends, through bonds that time and trial transcends!"

The light emanating from the priestess grew brighter, the room flickered... then it felt like every single drop of energy was ripped from me as glowing balls of light began floating out of my skin. "Oh shit..."

"Ugh!" Vral whimpered. "What's... Happening...?"

"I'm using... your essence..." Tristan's face was growing whiter by the second. "Let me have it all!' Tristan screamed. "I can... do it... if you just... give me more!" Her voice was strained and feverish.

"Do it!" Vral yelled back.

"Take it all!" I tried to ready myself, tried to focus, but before I could brace for whatever was coming next, my energy was ripped from my soul, and the world went black.

***

"He's waking up." A familiar voice said next to me.

Opening my eyes, I saw Tristan's sapphire orbs looking down at me. She was smiling.

"Good morning, love." She stroked my hair.

I yawned. "What..." Looking around, I saw that we were back in our room in the manor in Khozad'Thar. How the hell did we get here, again? I searched my memories. "What happened?" Reaching out, my fingers brushed the familiar soft sheets. "Did we go to bed?"

Vral groaned on the other side of Tristan. "That... sucked..."

Tristan giggled. "We did it. All three of us."

"Did what...?" I tried to shake the fatigue off, but it was everything.

"We saved him."

"I'm... glad..." Vral yawned. "I'm going back to bed, though... Too tired..."

Davik! "He's alive?!"I shot up, felt my head spin, and slumped back into the bed.

Tristan nodded. "Yeah, thanks to you two. I didn't have the essence to pull that spell off."

Smiling, I reached up and took her hand in mine. "Good."

She wrapped her fingers around mine. "Thank you."

"Of course..." I tightened my fingers. "Is there anything else to do? Is everyone safe?"

"They have the manor surrounded. We're safe."

"Good..." I wrapped my fingers around her wrist and pulled.

"Wait—"

"No." When she thumped into the pillow next to me, I wrapped my arm around her waist. "Let's rest."

"But—"

"Shhh..." Vral's arm wrapped around her shoulder, pulling her down to her pillow. "You heard the noble lady. We can't be everywhere. Time to rest." When Tristan hit the pillow, Vral snuggled against her back.

"Sleepy time." I wrapped her fingers into mine and pulled close. Then, when she tried to protest, I kissed her forehead. "You're amazing."

"You mean it?"

"Yeah. I do." Within a minute, darkness took me in, her body fell into mine, and I was sound asleep.

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