A Touch of Death

Chapter 31

Tarran was still asleep when Aoife arrived at his room, but she didn't think he'd mind if she let herself in. He hadn't even bothered to change out of his formal attire, though the hood of his robe was down and his long hair fell over his shoulders in tangles.

She perched on the edge of the mattress where he slept propped against pillows. With his robes in disarray, she could just see the skin below his collarbone, making out where his silver Mark had turned black and dangerous. His breathing was shallow, and he did not wake when her weight shifted the mattress under them.

Slowly and carefully, Aoife brushed her fingertips across the space between his collarbones. She tried to feel for him, to listen for his heartbeat and feel the magic in his veins as she closed her eyes. With the rose, it wasn't so complicated. The plants and flowers knew what to do with the energy, but she refused to take chances with Tarran.

Reaching out with her senses, Aoife felt nothing calling back to her for a long moment. It was a dark and cold void, only separated by the gentle pulse of his heartbeat, so she did her best to follow that heartbeat deeper, probing for some hint of his magic.

There was something there, she realized. It was something black and sticky, like oil or tar or both, and it chased the white streaks of his magic through his body as though it was trying to consume it. The very presence of it made her own magic flare in her abdomen, lighting up like a fire.

It was like it was angry.

Go take care of it, she thought. Clean it up. He needs us.

No sooner had she thought it than her magic surged down her arms and into her fingertips, burning hot as the sparks made Tarran's body briefly glow. There was a slight head rush as her hand grew warm, a little feeling of dizziness, but it passed quickly, and only a moment later Tarran's eyes opened as he sat bolt upright, gasping for air.

Aoife pulled her hand away instinctually, but the magic inside her still seemed to be growling, jumping, moving around. It was agitated. Whatever was inside Tarran had not only made her magic activate, but it wanted to chase down whatever it was inside him, like a hunter chasing prey.

"What did you do?" he asked, one hand on his chest where his skin had been glowing gold only moments before.

"I... I pushed. Sort of," Aoife said helplessly. "I thought it might be possible, and so I asked Camilla if she could help, and we... Well, we did some experiments in the garden last night."

"What kind of experiments?"

"Remember when I kept trying to bring dead plants back to life?" she asked hesitantly. "I... um... figured it out."

Tarran's eyes went wide as realization dawned. He looked from Aoife to himself, pulling the neckline of his tunic to the side and running his hand over the black and silver lightning marks on his skin.

"It receded..." he murmured. "You... You transferred your life energy to me?"

"We've already covered that I clearly have plenty to spare." She placed her bare hand on his shoulder. "You said the black marks receded? That's amazing! How are you feeling?"

Aoife was over the moon, a happy laugh bubbling in her chest, but it died as soon as she saw the look on his face.

"Never do that again," Tarran almost yelled, frantic. "Not to me. You can't."

"But it helped you-"

"And I'm grateful," he said gently, "but this death curse will eat away at your magic faster than you can regenerate your energy, in the end. You can't counteract it forever."

"I can try."

"You can't-"

"I will!" Aoife yelled, voice echoing off the stone walls.

"Why? Why are you doing this? Is it just to prove a point, to let me know that you're far more stubborn than I could ever imagine? There is no point in risking your life-"

"I love you," she blurted out.

Tarran went dead silent.

"I love you like I have never loved anyone else before, and I don't care if I have to risk my life. There's not a point to me staying here if you're not here with me."

"You... you love...?" Tarran stiffened awkwardly, moving his arms as though he wasn't quite sure what to do with them. "P- platonically?" he squeaked out.

Aoife sighed.

"For a smart man, you are very stupid sometimes."

"What?!"

"I said. You are. An idiot." Swallowing her nervousness, she moved closer and put her arms around Tarran, burying her face against the soft red fabric of his robe.

"What... are you doing?" he asked quietly, going stiff under her touch.

"I'm hugging you."

"Why?"

"Because I can do that now. I can touch people, remember?"

"I'm well aware of that."

"Isn't hugging something that people do for comfort?"

"I... wouldn't know much from personal experience," Tarran admitted. Aoife blinked, making to pull away, but he suddenly wrapped his arms around her in return. "But I admit it isn't unpleasant," he mumbled.

"The least I can do for you is keep you safe while I can. I owe you so much."

"You don't owe me a single thing. You know that," he sighed. "I didn't help you for a reward."

"I owe you everything," Aoife insisted, "but that has nothing to do with why I want you alive. I fully intend to keep you alive, as well, even if you're grumpy about it."

"Aoife... I..." he trailed off, mouth hanging open like he couldn't decide how to proceed.

"You don't have to say anything," she said gently. "I don't expect you to reciprocate. I just... want you to understand what you mean to me."

She adored Tarran beyond belief. In fact, Aoife hadn't been sure that love was even in the cards for her, but after she met him... Well, he was annoying. He got on her last nerve.

He was also kind and caring and wonderful, though, and she wanted him in her life forever. She wanted to hold him close and feel his touch and- Well, perhaps one day, maybe more, but she couldn't allow herself to think about that just yet.

And then, rather than face whatever he might have to say to her confession, she quietly walked from the room and shut the door behind her. As much as she wanted to spend every waking moment with him until there were no more moments left, there was work to be done, and right now she didn't have the heart to hear whatever he had to say to her.