Shadowburn (2)

Chapter 20

His eyes flew open, his body radiating with energy. He sat up quickly, too quickly. Too quickly. And everything, every single image came back to him, flooded into him at that moment. He vaguely registered someone beside him, but he couldn't focus on the person as everything came back to him.

Andreas couldn't breathe. It had happened again. The thing he'd been most afraid of. He'd lost control and it had happened again. Suddenly, there was only one thought in his mind. Just one thing he could think of. Gods, gods, gods. She had been in the room! She had knelt down beside him! If he'd hurt her... if he'd killed her.

"Sin," he called, his gaze frantically searching the flattened area for one face, one set of eyes. Until he finally realized she was sitting right beside him. He nearly sagged in relief and pulled her into him before any other thought could enter his mind. "Sin," he breathed her name like it was a prayer, his only lifeline. He hugged her as closely to him as he could, trying to reassure himself she was real, that he wasn't dreaming. That he hadn't accidentally killed her. He pulled back just enough to look into her ocean blue eyes. The world stopped.

Tears were streaming down her face, but he couldn't stop to wonder at the reason. All that mattered was that she was alive and not hurt. "You're alive..." he stated, almost not believing himself. "You're alive..."

She nodded weakly, cupping his face in her hands. She crushed her lips to his and Andreas was lost. Everything that he was, everything he would ever be was in that moment, the feel of her lips on his, the simple reassurance that this was real. That she was alive. And that she hadn't left him. That she was still here. He pulled her closer.

After a moment, one that wasn't nearly long enough, she pulled away. Andreas unconsciously followed her, but she started pulling him away, getting to her feet. He stood on his own unsteadily. She led him to where another figure lay, unconscious. She glared at Andreas and pointed at the figure. Why wasn't she speaking?

Andreas studied her for a moment. Perhaps she was hurt after all. He sent of wave of healing magic through her and nearly collapsed at the effort. Andreas sunk to his knees, unable to keep himself up just as she snapped at him. "Not me, idiot, him," she said pointing at Thorn.

Andreas finally looked at the Faen man.

And he swallowed. It did not look good. His body was twisted at an odd angle, bruises, burns, wounds covering his body. It was a miracle he was still alive. Andreas placed a hand on the man, trying to summon the strength to heal him, but not coming up with much. A small flicker passed through Andreas and into Thorn, the surface wounds closing up, but the bruises not quite going away.

Andreas saw stars, but he continued to push, until everything went dark around him.

*****

Awareness came more slowly this time, starting with a sound. One that became many as he heard voices talking, indistinguishable from one another. Feeling was next. There was a hand in his hair, stroking him gently, absently. Slowly, very slowly, his eyes fluttered open, letting in light. He tried to sit up, but his body wouldn't permit it, so he continued to lay down. The hand in his hair pulled him closer, resting his head on its owner's lap.

Sin's lap.

He reached up to her, seeing her ocean eyes gaze down at him with relief and softness, with a hint of exasperation. He caressed her cheek. "Djin," he whispered so only she could hear.

She took his hand and laced her fingers with his, still pressing the back of his hand against her face. She smiled ever so slightly. "Scotty," she said, her voice but a soft breeze.