Stomping over to where the phoenix circled the basilisk’s corpse, I pointed up at it, channeling every ounce of fury I possessed. “You and your damn eggs are the reason we’re in this mess!”

  And Frederick’s bleeding heart, but I’d agonize over that–and all the future trouble he was bound to drag me into–later. “You want me to save them? Fine! But you’re going to help me, too.”

  The phoenix eyed me warily, tilting its head. “What do you propose?”

  I jabbed my finger toward Frederick. “He’s dying because of that blasted snake’s venom. I can’t heal him until it’s cleared, and my cure doesn’t work on venoms this potent.” I’d be grinding that spell to perfection after this to avoid a repeat, but that was a concern for another day. “You clear the venom, and after I heal Frederick, I’ll cut open the snake and get your eggs.”

  Under any other circumstances, the thought of digging through a snake’s guts would make me lose my lunch. Now? With Frederick clinging to life barely five yards away?

  I’d damn well gut, skin, and butcher whatever monster it took. As long as he was safe.

  The phoenix’s sharp gaze pinned me, heavy with suspicion. “And why will you not retrieve my eggs first? The stomach acid weakens them by the minute.”

  Yeah and our arguing was draining away what little time Frederick had left. Fear clawed at my chest, but I forced it down, my expression hardening.

  “Because I don’t trust you.” My voice was sharp, unwavering. “Frederick’s spirit isn’t here to enforce any deal, and I’ve been burned before. There’s nothing stopping you from going back on your word once you have what you want.”

  I’d been naive once, and thousands had paid for it with their lives. Since then, I’d seen enough false smiles and whispered betrayals to know better. People were shifty, untrustworthy, and always looked out for themselves first.

  Except for Frederick. He wasn’t like them. He wasn’t like anyone.

  He was the man who loved his siblings more than his own life, who raged at anyone who dared suggest he leave them. The man who stopped to help a stranger find an herb with the promise of no reward.

  Frederick was good in ways I couldn’t fully fathom, and I wasn’t about to lose him because I foolishly trusted a bird’s promise.

  The phoenix studied me for a long moment before it finally nodded. “I will remove the venom from your mate’s veins, and in return, you will retrieve my eggs. Swear on it.”

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Relief flooded through me, but I didn’t let my guard down. I drew on my mana, speaking the words aloud. “I, Clover, will retrieve your eggs once you remove the venom from Frederick…and I heal him.”

  Every moment mattered now, and healing Frederick couldn’t wait. Dissecting the snake would happen after, or not at all.

  The phoenix inclined its head, accepting my stipulation. “So it is spoken. So it shall be.”

  Mana surged as the oath anchored itself deep in my core. The phoenix landed beside Frederick, towering over his prone form. My instincts screamed to shield him, but I forced them down and moved closer.

  The phoenix dipped its head, its beak hovering over the wound. A single tear fell, striking the bite.

  I held my breath as its eyes glowed, power building in a crescendo before bursting in a brilliant flash of light. When it faded, the phoenix’s eyes returned to normal.

  “It is done. Heal him quickly, then fulfill your promise.”

  I didn’t waste a second. Dropping to my knees, I ignored the blood soaking into my cloak and pressed both palms to Frederick’s wound. He was pale, frighteningly so. The sight twisted a knot of unease deep in my gut, but before it could overwhelm me, my Lady’s voice whispered in my mind.

  You are not alone, Clover. You never have been. Focus on the spell, you will have my aid, as you always have.

  Her reassurance washed over me, soothing my fear. Drawing on my determination, I channeled mana into the wound. He’ll be fine. He has to be fine.

  I wouldn’t let there be any other outcome.

  This time, the spell worked. Relief swelled in my chest as the wound knit itself together, raw edges smoothing into healed skin. When it was fully gone, I analyzed him.

  Frederick

  Level 4

  Hit Points: 10/70

  Mana: -10/70

  Status: Exhausted, Mana Exhaustion

  I exhaled a choked laugh, pressing my forehead to his. He was alright. The world wasn’t taking now–not today.

  A poisonous voice whispered at the back of my mind: He’ll leave when you tell him what happened a year ago.

  I shoved it away, refusing to let it sink its claws in me. That fear would haunt me later, especially now that I realized how deeply I was falling for him. But not now.

  Now was for relief. And for dissecting a snake.

  I rose on trembling legs, the leftover adrenaline leaving me weak. Frederick shivered, his body wracked from blood loss. Shrugging off my cloak, I draped it over him, bending to press a kiss to his head.

  “I’ll be right back, Darling,”

  He shouldn’t have been able to hear me, unconscious as he was, but he relaxed with a soft sigh. The sight tugged at something in my chest–something familiar, yet frighteningly new.

  I shook it off, grabbing his sword and keeping him in my periphery, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. The lingering jitters in my veins told me he wouldn’t leave my sight for weeks, maybe months.

  Oh well. It was a perfect excuse to share his bedroll from now on. Though something told me he wouldn’t need much convincing.

  I turned to the snake, forcing all thoughts of what came next–good or bad–to the back of my mind. There’d be time for them later.

  For now, I had a deal to keep.