Everwild (The Healer Series, #1) (24 page)

The Angont charged again, and this time,
blasted fire from his mouth. Declan whirled around his hiding place
and held out his palms, uttering a spell that exploded water from
his hands. It struck the fire and smoke flew out of the place of
impact covering the Angont and Declan in a smoky haze. “Declan!”
Willow called for him, but again saw green lightening through the
mist and knew that he was still alive. When the smoke cleared,
Declan was nowhere to be found, and the Angont was thrashing about
wildly, rearing its head back and sending flames shooting into the
sky and all around him. It was outraged.

Willow gasped when she felt water up to her
knees. Already? She pounded on the walls of box, which did
absolutely nothing. Her chains rattled and shook, which was a huge
mistake because the Angont heard her and turned his head in her
direction, spotting her. His big, black eyes narrowed in on her and
she screamed. The Angont was coming for her! He didn’t get far when
out of nowhere, Declan jumped on him from where he stood high up on
a pillar. Declan landed on the dragon’s back and yelled a spell
that created tar under the dragon’s feet. The Angont turned its
head just as Declan held up his hand and detonated a ball that
exploded with sticky tar straight into the dragon’s eye.

He roared and sent flames on Declan. Declan
blocked most of it when he jumped off his back, but his shirt
caught on fire! Declan yelled and quickly put the fire out, but his
shirt was burnt and he back was bright red and charred. He ducked
behind a boulder and out of Willow’s vision. He was hurt! NO!

The Angont shook his head and tried to rid
himself of the pain. He stomped his feet, which sent vibrations in
the earth that Willow could actually feel. The water was now waist
high. Her desperation increased and she tried to slip out of the
cuffs attached to the chain so she might be able to swim to the top
of the box if necessary. She twisted and wriggled her wrists to get
out of the chains, but it was useless. She cried when the metal cut
deep into her skin.

Suddenly, a loud roar bellowed over the
arena. She looked up to see ice shards shooting out of the sky like
arrows. Declan was behind a large statue and fired ice at the
dragon until he was panting with effort, but nothing seemed to be
penetrating the dragon’s thick skin. Declan would have to come up
with a different strategy, and soon, because the water in Willow’s
cage was filling up faster than imaginable.

Willow saw Declan running away as the Angont
continued to hunt him. Suddenly, the Angont shot out ten spikes
from his tail that went careening right for him! Declan ran and
dodged and jumped. He was sprinting to another boulder to hide. He
was almost there when
thwack
! A spike struck him right in
his arm! Declan howled in pain and toppled to the ground. The
venom! The Angont roared in pleasure at finally hitting its prey.
Willow cried out for him. Declan wasn’t moving. Several heartbeats
passed before she saw his arm twitch and move.

“Declan!” Willow screamed his name. The water
was up to her chest. “Declan get up! The Angont’s behind you!
DECLAN!!!!” Willow didn’t care about herself. She didn’t care that
the water was about to drown her, ending her own life. All she
cared about was Declan. He was burnt and hurt and now poisoned with
the Angont’s venom. Declan was her life. Declan was the one she
loved most. Her world was crashing down around her and all she
could do was watch helplessly as both their lives would end. She
wanted to be in his arms. She wanted him to hold her in the last
remaining breaths she would take. But fate would have it a
different way.

The Angont came up behind Declan, snaking his
long tongue out, licking Declan’s leg, testing to see if the venom
was working-paralyzing and stilling the flow of blood. The Angont
suddenly reared up on his hind legs, about to crush Declan and
roared the loudest it ever has. It was a roar of victory. The
Angont had won. And then Willow felt the water reach her neck. She
cried out one last time, sucking in air, but knew it wouldn’t be of
any use. Time was up. The water kept filling up the box and Willow
gulped in one last, deep breath. But she refused to take her eyes
off of Declan, even if the water was blurring her vision. He would
be the last person she ever saw, because he was the only one who
mattered to her.

Just when the Angont’s mouth was closing,
Declan awoke! He spun on the ground, ripping out the jagged spike
in his arm and shooting it straight into the Angont’s mouth, using
magic to send it soaring high and fast. A direct hit! The Angont
howled as the spike went through its mouth and came out of the
other side. Blood gushed out of the dragon’s neck and it toppled to
the ground writhing and squirming, until it finally lay limp.

He won! Declan won! Declan killed the beast!
Willow’s heart beat faster and faster. Oh God! She couldn’t
breathe! She looked up. The water stopped but was now over her head
and the chains held her down. There was space left if she could
only rise up enough to get it! Willow tried and tried but she
couldn’t get to the top. The chains held her down. She panicked!
Declan was halfway across the stadium. She pounded on the box for
him, her lungs were screaming in agony, compressing on her, trying
to breathe but there was nothing but water. She couldn’t fight! She
was drowning!

Willow’s vision was cloudy, her mind going
blank. She saw Declan running to her, screaming something. She saw
the Fey people standing and gasping, pointing to her. She saw black
spots in her vision. And then she saw Diazinon stretch out his hand
towards her and the walls of the box dissolved and she collapsed
right as Declan reached her, right into his arms. She inhaled
precious oxygen and then puked liquid. She rolled to the side
coughing and sputtering, breathing in air and trying to slow her
heartbeat. She was seconds away from drowning. Her lungs squeezed.
More water rushed to her throat. Her lungs burned with fire. In,
out, in, out, breathe. Her head buzzed as she spewed even more
water that she didn’t remember swallowing.

“Its okay, Willow,” Declan said hoarsely.
“I’ve got you, baby.” She looked up to Declan. His hazel eyes
loomed over her and it was the most beautiful face she’s ever seen.
He looked sickly, though. He was pale and drained and winced in
pain. She could tell it took tremendous effort to hold her. Willow
was nearly healed as her healing power responded within her.

Still feeling the burn at the back of her
throat, Willow said, “Let me heal, you, Dec. Don’t even say no or
I’ll kick your butt.”

Declan laughed softly. “I think this time I
actually need it.”

“You needed it before,” Willow groaned and
called upon her magic. Her fingers instinctively tingled as she
cupped Declan’s face above her and closed her eyes. He was
seriously injured. The Angont’s venom had slowed his heart and had
penetrated through most of his blood system. He would’ve been
paralyzed in minutes, dead within the hour. She called to the
venom, sucking and extracting it from his body. The blood and
charred skin on his back mended together. The healing process was
the longest she’s ever done before. Declan was on death’s doorstep.
Finally, when she felt confident he was okay, she released him and
collapsed, allowing her body to do its own rapid healing. Declan
sighed and hugged her, kissing her neck.

“My sweet Healer,” he said softly in her ear.
“You saved me.”

“No, Dec,” Willow said, “You saved me.”

“Congratulations, warlock,” a deep voice
behind them said in a sinister way. Willow twisted in Declan’s arm
to see King Diazinon walking up to them with his posse. Upon
further analysis, Willow saw that the entire stadium had evacuated
and the Fey people were nowhere to be seen. The Queen was
surrounded by several guards and had her arms crossed, looking
extremely put out. “It seems you’ve managed to slay our precious
Angont and win the challenge. A first in the history of Fey. It
also seems that Hekate has misjudged you, as have I.”

Declan stood up with Willow, but kept his
firm arms around her possessively. “Thank you, King Diazinon. Now
as the Fey are both a loyal and noble people, I ask for Willow’s
talisman, as was promised if I won.”

The King frowned and assessed Declan
strangely, as if trying to gage whether Declan’s comment was
sincere or an insult. Willow figured it was the latter since they
both really hated Fey, but Declan was also good at hiding his
emotions, so it was hard to tell.

Finally, the King waved his hand and
suddenly, Willow felt a small weight on her wrist. She looked down
and there on her wrist, in all its magical glory was her talisman!
She let out a gasp at the feeling of exuberance and wholeness the
talisman gave her. It was beautiful! She marveled at its beauty of
the delicate golden bracelet. It hooked to a ring on her middle
finger by a small link running along the back of her hand just as
she saw it when Queen Eclipsia wore it. This time, however, it lit
with a natural glow. Willow was in awe. This talisman was amazing
and it was finally hers! She would finally be able to control and
enhance her magic. Declan gave her a small squeeze in her waist,
and she looked up to him grinning.

“Yes, yes, we’re all happy here,” the King
huffed, not sounding pleased in the least. “As you’ve had such a
trying time today, may I suggest you stay in my kingdom tonight
before your journey home?” The King’s dark eyes sparked for just a
second before being hidden behind his bigoted smirk. “And don’t
worry, Healer, your warlock can stay with you this time.”

Willow was unsure of the King’s offer. Was he
really being genuine or did he have some hidden motive for asking
them to stay? “Thanks for your hospitality, King Diazinon,” she
looked at Declan quickly, “but I think we should probably be
getting back. You see, my sisters--”

“Please, please,” the King said interrupting
her hastily. “I insist. You really should get as much rest as you
can before going back into the Everwild. Now come. You have gained
my respect. Honor this last request.”

The King spun on his heel and went to his
wife, leaving no time for argument. They both disappeared in a
twirling vortex of wind leaving Declan and Willow with some of the
Fairy guards. They really had no choice but to stay. Knowing the
Fey, they would probably enchant the barriers of their land so they
couldn’t
leave until tomorrow. The guards led Willow and
Declan back to the mountain castle, through corridor upon corridor,
twisting turns and marbled halls. Declan twined his hand in hers as
they walked and Willow’s heart fluttered quietly in her chest from
the aftermath of the events. But he was here, he was alive, and
that was all that mattered.

The guards stopped at a door to a large
bedroom, a different room than what Willow was in before, and let
them in. There was a plush couch, television, a large four poster
bed and a balcony that had white gossamer curtains flowing in the
breeze. It was peaceful, at least it seemed that way. Somehow,
Willow felt she was being imprisoned again. She walked to the
balcony and hugged herself, looking out on the Fairy kingdom. Now
that she had her talisman, there was no point in staying here. As
far as she was concerned, the further away she was from the Fey the
better.

Declan came up behind her and wrapped his
long arms around her, pulling her into his stomach and resting his
head on her shoulder. “All the beauty of the Fairy kingdom is
nothing compared to how beautiful you are,” he said. “I would do
anything for you, Willow.”

Willow stiffened against him. “Anything?” she
said breathlessly.

“Yes.” She squirmed out of his embrace and
frowned. “Did I say something wrong?” he asked.

“Anything, as in, you would die for me,
Declan?”

“I think I proved that facing the Angont for
you, yes,” he said and smiled uneasily.

“Declan, you can’t say that. I don’t want you
to die for me! If anything ever happened to you because of me,
I
would die inside. A world without Declan Aldridge is not a
world at all! Don’t you get it? The very idea of you dying for me,
of you not existing, kills me.”

“Well, I’m glad I’m not the only one who
thinks that,” his smiled widened.

“I’m serious, Declan.”

“I am too Willow. Look, the only way someone
would ever remove me from your side…the only thing or person that
has the ability to do that…is you. You have my heart Willow. Just
don’t break it.”

“And how many hearts have you broken, Dec?”
Willow crossed her arms.

“What are you accusing me of, exactly?” He
matched her tone. “The fact that I love you so much I would die for
you, or the fact that you don’t think I’m telling the truth?”

“You’re the only boy—warlock—I’ve ever been
with. What happens when you realize I’m boring or you get tired of
me?”

“This is more than just some fling, Willow!”
Declan said frustrated. “You have no idea what you mean to me. And
you need to stop thinking you aren’t worthy of anyone! You are
beautiful, intelligent, loving, and willing to do anything for your
sisters. Your magic is unique, just like you. I wouldn’t change you
for anything in the world.”

Willow reeled and immediately stopped arguing
with him. His words made her feel like the luckiest girl in the
world. He was telling the truth. “Declan,” Willow said forcefully,
“Kiss me.”

“Ugh! Finally!” Declan exhaled and wrapped
her in his arms. When their lips collided, Willow let out all her
insecurities she felt about herself and her growing love for
Declan. This was right; this was what she desired above everything.
Declan fit her so well, it was like he was made for her. A part of
her felt guilty about indulging in these feelings with her sisters
held captive by Hekate, but when Declan kissed her with such
passionate fire, everything around her melted away until it was
just the two of them.