Page 136 of Elysian

I ran with everything in me. I ran for Cassiel. For what could be.

Tears streamed from my eyes from the extent of pain wracking my frame. I would not last long.

I smacked branches and leaves from my path. I was still in The Barren. My heart would give in soon. I collided with something hard, and I choked on my cry.

Comforting cold rested at my breastbone.

Panic made it difficult to hear.

‘It is me!’

I went limp against Cassiel. “I killed him.” It was a rush of words that ran into each other. “I killed Vaner.” I could not stop trembling. His mouth moved, but I couldn’t hear a word over my harsh breathing.

He wound his arm around my waist and pulled me over his shoulder. I dangled, flopping against his back as he ran with a stilted gait.

“I killed Egan,” I said. Tears spilled from the corners of my eyes and dripped toward my temples. Another screech echoed. Danger continued to lurk, so I could not falter to my sadness.

Not with Cassiel so weakened.

Hollows screeched from behind us. He cursed and skidded to the side.

“What are you doing?” I whispered.

‘Wait.’ He inhaled audibly, then turned to the left. He fled from The Barren, moving toward where the horses had drunk from the pond. ‘Hold your breath.’ He pulled me into his arms so I no longer dangled. Walking into the pond, he dipped both of us under. ‘Hollows smell blood well.’

Cassiel stepped out, water dripping from both of us as he strode near the side of a mountain near the pond. He shoved foliage out of the way and entered a small cave.

As soon as we were inside, he staggered and carefully set me down. I landed on my feet. Cassiel’s knees buckled and he spat blood. Withering stretched up his neck, reaching his face.

“Cassiel,” I cried, dropping beside him. I could hardly see him under the moonlight spearing through the foliage.

He shivered and collapsed on his side. ‘I could not get to you sooner.’

“No,” I whispered, taking his wet face. I ran my fingertips over the dark lines crawling up his jaw.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Elysian Pair

Iyanked at his tunic and spaulder, but the leather did not budge under my weak grip. I searched his body until I touched the blade at his side. With it in hand, I slid it through the leather strap. Cutting downward from the collar of the shirt, I exposed bare flesh and a littering of seeping wounds.

Numbness spread to my fingers. He has to be well—he has to!

I sank my teeth into his flesh as hard as I could until I broke skin. The bitter, metal taste of his blood flooded my mouth. I bit him again. Another explosion of blood on my tongue.

I pulled back, swallowing another gulp. I shuddered, sitting back on my bottom. My vision wavered. Cassiel wrenched upright with a groan, head tipping forward.

Images flashed through my mind, as if I were seeing it through his eyes. I stared down at myself. Bound at the wrists, dirt staining my cheek. A rush jerked my shoulders, then I was inside the vision.

What an annoying girl.

Nothing special other than what she will become. I could not help but linger over the way her cheek curved. The Vessel was perfection.

I gasped, wrenched out of that memory. I hadn’t a moment before another memory seized me.

I stared at the image I had finished. It was as if I had been possessed by a Hollow entity if I drew such blasphemy. The girl had not ceased shuffling about, tugging and yanking upon the front of her corset, her breasts threatening to spill free.

“Stand,” I ordered.