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Marian lifts her hand, placing the necklace in it and closing Elora’s hand around it.

“Come on, Lora, you need to take the magic before it kills Abbie,” I tell her.

“Abbie,” she breathes. Looking at Abigail, she starts chanting louder, her voice sounding pained and she is starting to sway. Dragus rushes over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders, keeping her upright. Abigail’s eyes fly open turning red and I can feel Dragus being hit with the same wave I was, as Abigail starts channeling him.

“Abbie, you can’t hold that much power!” Marian screams frantically at her as the black wounds of my bite lose color and Elora’s eyes fly open again.

“Abbie!” she gasps, and Marian shakes her hand. Elora opens it, seeing her mother’s necklace. Her hand glows purple and eyes start burning brightly, her skin regaining color. Abigail on the other hand, is sweating profusely when Elora sits up gripping Abigail tightly, absorbing back what Abigail took from her. Abigail fights against her, not realizing Elora is conscious and has absorbed her magic.

“Abigail, let it go,” Elora screams at her.

“Elora,” Abigail gasps. She stops channeling us. It is like a vacuum suddenly gets turned on and Elora is knocked back with force as the black veins running up Abigail’s arms return to her. It zaps back into Elora fast like the flick of a rubber band. Abigail collapses on top of Elora and they both lay there panting, trying to catch their breaths.

Marian sits back, a relieved look on her face and she sighs. Seconds later, relief washes over me from Dragus and Matitus. Reaching over, I grab Abigail, who freezes as I pick her up, moving her off to the side of me. I lean her against Dragus. Abigail looks a little shocked for some reason. However, I am more shocked at what she did; she saved my mate.

Grabbing Elora, I pull her breathless body onto my lap. Biting into my wrist I offer it to Abigail. She stares at me like I am deranged.

“What? It will heal you,” I protest.

“Please Abbie, let him help,” breathes Elora. She looks at me warily then shakes her head. Matitus grabs a glass of scotch I was drinking earlier that I left on the hall stand. He takes my wrist, biting into it again, turning it over and letting my blood drip into the glass. He hands it to Abigail. Her skin is white as snow and her hair damp with sweat.

“Drink it,” Marian urges, Abigail looks at the glass disgusted.

“For God’s sake, Abbie, drink it. It won’t hurt you,” Elora says, grabbing my wrist between her shaky hands showing Abigail, she bites into my flesh. Elora’s neck suddenly closes completely. Her skin glows subtly, and her hands stop shaking. Elora’s tattoos and her Fae markings slowly reform across her face, burning brighter the way they were before I took her magic. She lets go and Abigail brings the cup to her lips only Marian tips it up further, forcing her to drink it.

When she drops the cup, she starts coughing and spluttering on the alcohol, making me wonder if she has ever drank. “God that shit burns,” she chokes out.

“Thank you,” Elora says to Abigail. I stare at her. I can tell how much Elora deeply cares for the woman. Abigail nods and Marian helps her up. They both hesitate, looking toward the door. And I realize they are waiting to see if I am going to let them leave.

“You can go,” Matitus tells them and they both head for the door. Elora shifts her weight, trying to get off my lap, and I pull her back down. My hands still tremble slightly at almost losing her.

“Abigail,” I call out, just as she goes to walk out the door. She freezes and I can smell her fear filling the air. Abigail glances back at me nervously and Marian’s eyes dart to Matitus.

“Thank you,” I tell her. The words sound strange rolling off my tongue, but I truly mean them. She saved her, saved my mate, and I will never be able to pay back what she just did. Elora gazes up at me, her shock hitting me. Abigail nods, quickly ducking out of the room, leaving us.