Page 76 of Prince of the Phantom Sky

“Easy, Huntress.”

“Get out of my head.”

Raiden blinked as Kora stared him down, her features twisting into something beyond feral. A primal instinct clearly propelled her, and he frowned as darkness shrouded her, the faintest of wisps brushing over her skin.

“You just spoke into my mind.”

“No, I didn’t.” Kora wiped at the glowing tears leaking from her eyes, and her lip wobbled as she faced Erick. She gently took his palms, placing them across his stomach as she stroked his peppered hair from his shut eyes. Her tears splashed onto his pale skin, her shoulders hunching with each sob.

“Kora! I heard—” Aryn rounded into the room, his cheeks flushed, and a ring of gold surrounded his hazel eyes. He choked at Kora weeping over Erick’s body. Rushing into Aryn’s arms, he crushed her into his chest, his stare wide at Erick’s unbreathing chest. Raiden smothered the pang of jealously as he hung back by the spare cot, feeling as useful as a spoon.

“I’m so sorry,” Aryn whispered, his hands tightening on Kora’s shoulders. “What happened?”

“They said he stopped breathing.” Kora bit her lip. “Just like that . . . gone.”

Aryn’s stare swivelled to Raiden. “Just like that.”

Gold leaked into his irises, and for the first time in a while, fear sank into Raiden’s back. A chill swept in as Aryn guided Kora to Erick and they sat either side of him. Aryn placed one hand on Erick’s, and Kora did the same.

A family. One that Raiden could only watch from the outside.

“I hope he’s with Agatha now,” she spoke faintly. “He protected her for me, and I owe him so much.”

Who was Agatha? But Raiden didn’t dare to ask the question.

“He always put his life before yours,” Aryn replied. “Kora, he nearly tore that castle apart when Barron put you in the dungeons. He’d destroy Umbra to get to you.”

The tension in Raiden’s chest exploded. “I’m sorry,” he whispered to no one as he let Kora grieve. Before he had to move the body.

Kora wiped her nose. “I’m cursed by Death.”

Aryn glanced at her in surprise. “I highly doubt that. You’ve had a second chance at life.”

A bitter laugh emanated from Kora’s lips and Raiden’s hair prickled. It sounded eerily like Kordelia’s, and if he closed his eyes, he would’ve thought she were in the room. “A second chance of hell. A second chance of everyone dying around me, and it always being my fault.”

“This isn’t your fault.” Raiden neared, determined to burn the darkness hovering nearby, threatening to steal her away.

“No?” Kora stood, glaring at him. “If I hadn’t lost my nerve in Mossfell, I could’ve saved him! If I was stronger, I could’ve—” She stopped herself. “He could be alive right now. No, he will be alive.”

With a frustrated sigh, Kora flexed her hands, peering at them. Raiden watched her curiously as her tears stopped and she steeled herself. Wrapping her arms around Erick’s limp shoulders, she exhaled a singular sharp breath, her face scrunched in concentration.

In the dark of the night, a surprising pulse of light bloomed from Kora’s chest. Her eyes snapped open as it trickled down onto Erick’s body, bathing him in a white glow.

“I hope this works.” She stepped back and Aryn appeared behind her, supporting her as Raiden gaped.

“What?” Aryn whispered.

The light settled into Erick’s body like a second skin, and within mere moments, he sucked in a breath, his pallor warming as his fingers twitched.

“Kora,” Aryn warned, his hands clenching her arms. She glanced between the two males, her cheeks heating. “What did you just do?”

Raiden’s world spun as Erick continued breathing—in fact better than before. Strong and steady, and some of his lighter bruises had disappeared completely, the wound to his head advancing its healing, the stitches popping out of his skin.

“What the fuck!” Sirona screeched, appearing in the doorway as she dropped a tray holding a maroon burial robe.

“I . . . I can . . .” Kora’s relief was intoxicating, barrelling down the open bond. Raiden swayed, nearing her as she shone, brighter than the stars in the sky.

“That’s not possible!” Sirona yelled, backing away. “You cannot be! You . . . you’re . . .”