Chapter 23 : Am I a Disaster…?

The moment Ephraim vanishes into the treeline, I collapse beside Jay, my hands hovering helplessly over the blackened wound on his side.

The dark magic pulses beneath his skin like some horrible, living thing, spreading tendrils of corruption through his veins.

His face is ashen, lips pressed into a tight line as he fights to stay conscious.

"Jay," I whisper, my voice breaking. "Why would you do that? Why would you.."

His eyes flutter open, clouded with pain but still somehow managing to find mine. "Because... To me, you're worth protecting," he manages through gritted teeth, each word clearly costing him.

Evelyn kneels on his other side, her weathered hands already weaving healing spells I don't recognize.

Golden light flows from her fingertips into the wound, seeming to push back against the darkness, if only temporarily.

"That was reckless, child," she says, but her eyes are on me rather than Jay.