The hole in her abdomen sealed shut.
She gasped and her big blue eyes flew open.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Riah
I sighed and sat back on my heels.
Tegan dove for her. With blood-stained hands, she checked Savannah’s body in search of a wound. It was no longer there. I’d healed it. But I understood her shock. Everyone who witnessed my gift reacted the same way.
Cooper sat back and shoved his trembling bloody hands into his hair.
Tegan looked up at me with wide pale green eyes. “You healed her.”
I exhaled and nodded.
The rest of The Coven just stood there staring at me.
Tegan blinked down at Savannah, then looked back to me. “She was dead.”
I nodded.
Tennessee walked up, still carrying Michael’s sword with his gold wings fluttering in the breeze. He narrowed his mismatched eyes on Savannah and then back up at me. “You healed her.”
I nodded.
Savannah sat up and wobbled, but Tegan and Cooper steadied her. Then her blue eyes turned to me. She blinked, then licked her lips and nodded. “You…still deserved that punch.”
I grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Okay,” she said on an exhale and started to fall forward.
And then Saraphina was there, catching her in her arms. “Savannah.”
The two held each other tight as the rest of The Coven crowded around. I glanced behind us and saw all the Crones standing there. Myrtle moved through the crowd, making her way to us.
Saraphina pulled back and sniffled. “I thought I lost you.”
“I think you did,” Savannah whispered back. “I heard you yelling at me, saying this wasn’t the hill I was gon’ die on.”
“I tried to save you, but I wasn’t enough—”
“It wasn’t your fault, Safferella.”
“No, it was mine,” Gigi cried and dropped to her knees beside her, tears streaking down her face. “Savannah—”
“It’s over now,” she whispered and put her hand on Gigi’s shoulder. Savannah cleared her throat and then looked back to me. She smiled. “I don’t know what you did…but thank you, Riah.”
I smiled. Truth be told, I wasn’t really sure what I did either. It was merely a gift I’d had since birth. “Could hardly let a right hook like that go so soon.”
Saraphina spun around to face me with wide, tear-filled lavender eyes. “Oh, Riah.” She tackled me, coiling her arms around my neck with force. “Thank you. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I wrapped my arms around her waist and just held her to my chest. I would have saved Savannah whether she was my Saraphina’s friend or not, but it still felt good to give her her friend back.
“Bugger, we are definitely bloody keeping him,” Jackson said with a sigh.
“Remind me to always fight near him in the future.” Easton chuckled.
Deacon scoffed. “You’ve got metal body armor, you don’t need to be that close. Let the rest of us get in there.”
Saraphina pulled back and her breaths hitched. “Thank you for saving her, however you did it.”
“So…am I okay now?”
I leaned around Saraphina to meet Savannah’s worried gaze and nodded. “You will live now.”
“That’s not exactly the same thing, but dammit I will take it.”
Saraphina looked over my shoulder. “Mother? Will she be okay now?”
Myrtle moved in beside us and crouched down. She pressed her palm to Savannah’s forehead and closed her eyes, then she sighed and smiled. “You will be okay.”
“Riah.”
I glanced up at the sound of Tennessee’s voice. “Yes, Emperor?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Are you all right?”
His question took me by surprise. It wasn’t but an hour ago they were questioning my allegiance. I smiled and nodded. “I will be fine.”
“Good. Good.” He nodded and tapped the gold bands on his arms. Michael’s sword vanished. “Mind explaining to us what the hell you just did and how?”
Everyone turned to me.
I cleared my throat. “The how I am honestly not sure.”
Jackson’s eyes dropped to my chin, then he nodded. “And the what?”
“I hold the gift of a healing touch.” I looked down at my hands. “I am able to bring souls back to life but only until it gets to a certain point. Only while life is still viable in the body. Once the soul has lifted it is beyond me.”
“Excuse me?”
“Say what now?”
“Did he just say…?”
“Bloody hell.”
Tegan frowned. “This is not a typical fae gift, is it?”
“I am the only one with this gift…though I am unsure as to why I have this ability.” I shrugged. “I try not to use it unless fully necessary.”
“Yep, that’s gonna be my new motto,” Savannah grumbled. “Fully necessary.”
“Savannah,” Cooper whispered and shook his head.
She smiled up at him and her cheeks flushed.
Myrtle stood and turned to me. “Riah, that was remarkable.”
“It was nothing.”
“It was everything,” Saraphina whisper-shouted.
“But before anything else is said, we need to do a ritual on Savannah to ensure her safety.” Myrtle rubbed her hands together. “Kessler, would you be a dear and carry her for me? I don’t want her exerting any energy until we do the ritual.”
Kessler nodded and stepped up beside Savannah, then paused. “May I?”
“Such a southern gentlemen.” Savannah grinned. “Yes, you may, sir.”
Kessler chuckled as he reached down and lifted her into the cradle of his arms like she weighed no more than a feather. “All right, Myrtle. We’re following you.”
Myrtle waved for them and hurried off the sand and toward the stone building close by.
“Umm…” Willow said in a small voice once they were gone. “Are we safe here?”
“You’re safe,” Keltie answered firmly.
We all turned toward her voice.
She stood at the water’s edge with her arms crossed over her chest. “It should not have been triggered to come here.”
Leyka had his arm wrapped around her shoulders. “Can’t be a good sign.”
“Riah?”
I blinked down at Saraphina. “Yes?”
“Are you okay?”
“He’s tapped.” Tegan got to her feet. “That was…something.”
Leyka was suddenly crouched in front of me. He put his hand on my shoulder and nodded. Don’t worry about the why and how just yet. It’ll make sense soon, I promise, He said into my head using telepathy. Then he grinned. “Is it weird that you’re older than an angel, old man?”
I snorted and rolled my neck. “Is it weird I know vampires older than you, young man?”
“Does that make Keltie the biggest cougar ever or….”
“Easton,” Lily hissed and shook her head.
“He’s not wrong.” Keltie winked. “Leyka, come, let us go check on the reborn.”