Filed to story: The Chosen Saga Novel PDF Free
“No, I won’t leave her, not for you or for anyone,” Korine whispered to the other girl.
“Araiya, it’s me, tell her it’s okay to leave.” Araiya was pulled into Korine’s arms, and she faced the other woman.
“Shavon?” Araiya squinted, still pretending to be delirious. “Shavon, why are you here? Is Talon okay?”
“Zeph stole me away from him the day Donal took you. I hope he is okay. I miss him so much.” A tear fell from her eye. “Please, tell your sister to leave. You know what she did to me, to us, I can’t stand her.” Another tear fell from her eye, but the glint in her eye wasn’t sadness, or even anger, it was hate and darkness, and it wasn’t just for Korine either.
“Von,” Araiya used her endearment to play along. “Korine can’t leave. He will kill her. I know Korine was horrible to each of us, but she is the only reason I am alive. Even if she is using me, which we know she is,” Araiya felt Korine tense but Araiya squeezed her hand. “She has to stay. I swore the unbreakable vow with her, we Keep each other alive, and I can’t send her away.” Araiya made herself waiver, as if to fall.
Korine sneered, catching the lie Araiya told. “I made her swear to stay with me, when I withheld the medicine. My dear sister won’t be leaving me behind on this hell pit. I made sure of it.” Korine cackled like she won, playing the villain. “Nice try Shavon, always coming up short to me. First Ellis and now even Araiya picked me.”
“I only agreed because I was about to die. Shavon is my true sister, you just took advantage, as always.” Araiya swiped a thumb up and down Korines arm, praying that she didn’t believe the venom in her voice or the poison she was spitting. “She has me in a choke hold Shavon, please allow her to stay. If she doesn’t, I am dead anyways.”
“Fine,” Shavon spat. “Just stay out of my way, you whore.” Shavon made her way to Araiya’s back and lifted her hair and gasped. “I think I see bone.” She poked at her back and Araiya screeched; pain blocker or not, she felt that. The feeling of someone’s finger nail scraping her bone made her shudder. Shavon did it again and Araiya vomited on the ground.
“Stop,” Korine whispered.
“I am just trying to see the damage.” Shavon poked and prodded and scraped again and again. Araiya screamed and dry heaved every time.
“You are supposed to be healing her, you’re just playing with her insides like a sick fucking bitch. You say you’re her friend, but I see how you are enjoying her pain.” Korine leaned in and stared at Araiya. “Stay awake, Araiya. You have to stay awake.” Korine’s eye held worry, like if she didn’t stay awake, Shavon might do more damage.
“This is going to hurt; I don’t have a lot of experience as a healer, Araiya. My calling was teaching.” Shavon’s voice sounded almost perfect. The perfect amount of sympathy mixed with self-deprecation. Like she was sorry that she wasn’t good enough, but something was off, and Araiya didn’t know what.
“It’s okay. I can handle it.” Araiya gripped Korine’s arm that was out of sight of Shavon, and Korine squeezed back. As if to say, it’s alright, I am with you.
“Deep breath,” Shavon warned.
Araiya sucked in a deep breath and focused on her back. She pulled a tiny spark of power that her men gifted her, spread it under the damage on her back and held still. This way she could see in her mind exactly what was happening. Any pluck or scrape, any new damage at all, and Araiya would know. “I have to go slow to make sure it heals the best.” Shavon took one breath and then she placed her hands deep into the wounds on Araiya’s back.
The scream that ripped from Araiya was one from her soul. A sound so ragged that the men ran back into the tent. It was a call that echoed over the land, one that begged for protection.
“Stop whatever you’re doing, Shavon,” Zeph yelled.
“What?” Shavon yelled back.
“Shut that bitch up!” Donal covered his ears.
Araiya felt Shavon dig in deeper. She wasn’t even healing her. She was just digging into her flesh and plucking at her spine. She pulled back a little and Araiya stopped screeching. She sobbed and sagged onto Korine. She panted and did her best to clear her throat. The scream had hurt her throat.
“What did you say?” Shavon asked over the broken body of the woman in front of her.
“I said stop whatever you were doing. I told you to heal her, not cause more damage. You’re lucky her mates are nowhere near to us. If they were anywhere in Fire, they would have heard that call.” Zeph paced a little as he wiped his mouth. “I don’t even know how that is even possible.”
“What are you blathering about, dragon.” Donal spit the last word as a curse.
“She is not Dracoy, she shouldn’t have been able to make the call, but she was able to.” Zeph came closer.
“She was just screaming, there was no call. Your just being paranoid, boy.”
Zeph whipped around. “Listen, you shriveled little mole. You are not Dracoy, no matter what you want to believe. I have lived more lives than you will ever reach. No matter how long the darkness extends your precious little life, I was there at the beginning. I may look young, but remember, I am just as old as your master.”
“Zeph, I think Donal is correct. I didn’t hear anything extra, nor did she release any power. Maybe it was just your shattered bond reacting due to the level of pain and proximity.” Shavon stood and wiped the blood on a rag.
“Chosen, know your fucking place,” Zeph snarled.
Shavon trembled and dropped to her knees. “I apologize, Enforcer. Let me try to heal her again, and we can test the theory. We know the Enforcers went to Water after delivering the blow to Fire. They are nowhere near here.” Shavon gave Araiya a look of pity. “Plus, we have to know if she is actually calling out to her mates.” She bowed to the ground to appease him.
“Fine.” Zeph crouched down and looked at Araiya. “I hope it’s you calling to them. I will admit at first I was worried, but now it appeals to me.”
Araiya waited for him to continue, but she knew he was waiting for her. This was a play just for her, after all. “Why?”
“I want you to know that your mates have abandoned you. You know after I gutted Mac, I wasn’t sure he would make it back, I was hoping to feel his death. But I think he made it to them and blocked me from feeling the loss. I can only assume the ripple went out. Once his death happened it will be felt across the realm. It will be soon.”
“I see.” Araiya took in a deep breath. “Does your master talk in your mind, Zeph?”
Zeph jerked back. “What?”