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*****

RETH

Aymora looked at Elia on the furs and her face dragged for the floor.

"If we try to save her, it will take longer to get the cub out. I'm not even sure I have the skill-

"

"Aymora, why would you fight me on this? Why won't you TRY?!

"

Aymora's face went hard.

"Reth, I promised her I would save Elreth. That if it came to this, I wouldn't risk the cub trying to save her. You ask me to risk breaking my vow to my dying daughter!

"

"No, I'm asking you to help me save Elia. If we save her, we save Elreth! She was cut before, and we saved her. She healed—

"

"That was different! She wasn't so weak—and she wasn't already bleeding. And we didn't have a cub to save as well!

" Aymora's face was grim, but she dropped her voice, softening.

"Reth, if this goes wrong it could kill you too. We need you—especially if we lose Elia… She knew this moment would come, Reth. She chose Elreth's life over her own. She made me promise—

"

"And I made a vow to both of them!

" Reth roared.

"We're wasting precious seconds arguing about this. Do it, Aymora. Just do it! Do it because your pride leader—your King—tells you to! Let me share my blood with her while you save Elreth!

"

Aymora stared at him one moment longer, then flew into action, leaping for the door and calling for Jayah to come help her.

"

Breathing heavily, Reth watched as Aymora rushed to tell Jayah what was needed, and sent her to the City to gather the equipment.

Jayah's eyes lit on Reth for a moment and she gave him a beaming smile before she sprinted out of the room.

"You need to strip down and get on the bed, Reth,

" Aymora said through a tense jaw as she returned to Elia's side and began unwinding a long, white sheet alongside her.

"Jayah will return and we will have to begin immediately.

"

She raced around the room, gathering bottles, cloths, and tools Reth didn't recognize, as Reth took off his clothes and crawled up onto the furs. He lay himself down next to Elia and took her hand. Her eyes were closed, her eyelids blue. Her breath was even, but faster than it should have been for her resting.

"Don't give up, Love,

" he whispered, brushing her hair off her face.

"I'm coming to help. Stay here with me. Don't give up.

"

Did he imagine that her eyelids fluttered?

He continued to whisper, reminding her of his love, of the beautiful moments they'd shared, and reassuring her that he would keep both her and Elreth safe. But she didn't respond, and he feared her breathing was becoming more shallow.

"Lay on your back,

" Aymora snapped.

"I need to prepare you both. We will have to do this quickly. Too quickly,

" she growled. But she didn't say another word when Reth laid down as he'd been told. She only reached across Elia to wind a band around his upper arm, pulling it tight, so that his hand immediately began to tingle, then doing the same on Elia's arm that was next to his.

"Creator help us,

" Aymora whispered as she fiddled with the ties, and checked Elia's twice.

"Help us save your daughters.

"

Reth added his plea to the Creator, then lay his head back. But Aymora had laid Elia's arm flat, her palm up. Heart stuttering again, Reth slid his fingers between Elia's and left them there.

Aymora flew around the room, sighing with relief when Jayah returned, a bag slung around the neck of her beast that she'd taken to move more quickly.

"I sent a messenger for Huncer, as you asked. But they have to find her. And none of the healers there had done a blood sharing before. They'll send her as soon as they find her.

" Aymora shook her head. They both spoke in quick, quiet words as Aymora checked through the things Jayah had brought, but then they both moved to opposite sides of the sleeping platform.

Jayah brought a small, pointed contraption and a double-coil of something soft to Reth's side and reaching across him to the arm Aymora had tied that was now going numb.

"I honor my King,

" she said without meeting his eyes.

"I honor the mate of my Queen, my sister, Elia.

"

Reth swallowed.

"Thank you.

"

"The Creator will bless your sacrifice… there is no greater love than the man who would give up his life for his friends.

"

Reth spluttered a laugh.

"She takes my life with her if she goes. There is no sacrifice, I assure you,

" he muttered.

Jayah's lips turned up on one side.

"This will hurt because we cannot prepare you slowly. Bite down on this.

" She handed him a leather strap that Reth placed between his teeth with his free hand, then bellowed as it seemed his arm was cut in half with white-hot fire, then ground into dust.

He was sweaty and panting by the time Jayah straightened and looked at Aymora.

"He's ready.

"

Aymora nodded, her face pale, but she was still strapping Elia's arm. Then, finally, she took the end of the double-coil that Jayah had brought and attached it the same small, strange thing they'd inserted in Elia's arm.

"When I release the ties, the blood-sharing will begin,

" Aymora said to Reth, her eyes sharp and flashing.

"I will not be able to monitor it because I will need to begin cutting immediately. Jayah will not be able to monitor it once I have Elreth out. Pray that Huncer arrives. But regardless… this will strain your heart, Reth.

" She gave him a significant look, and he swallowed, almost broke eye contact.

"You will be beating for both of you—especially if Elia begins to bleed out. If at any time your chest hurts or your heart skips, you clamp the pipe. You do not continue to give her your blood—we cannot lose both of you.

"

Reth nodded, knowing he would do no such thing. But Aymora had already released the ties on his arm and turned back to do the same for Elia.

"Are you ready, Jayah?

" she asked a moment later, lifting up a long, razor sharp blade that flashed in the lantern light. It was trembling.

"Yes.

"

Yes, Reth thought. We are ready. As ready as we can be.

Then, with a muttered prayer, Aymora began to cut.