33 Periculae Marigold (1/2)

When he woke again, James checked on Lilly. He ran his fingers over her lips to check if she was still breathing. She was. Her eyes started to flutter open and James rested his heavy head on her shoulder.

'Lilly, are you okay?'

'I should….'

'Lilly?' he asked not quite hearing her.

She forced him off her and rolled to her feet.

'Lilly what...?'

She lifted him on her back and jumped out of the tree. The moment her feet touched the ground she was running.

'Lilly...'

'James can you hear my words?'

'They are soft; barely audible.'

Lilly shook her head and kept running. After she ran a good distance, she set him down. Briar came out of the trees. He looked sick.

'Lilly, my friend, will you bear my replacement?'

'It is Forbidden, Briar.'

'Forbidden because you've married a Human?! You're Adremedian! Your duty is to your people!'

'It's Forbidden because you are sick.'

'But Lilly I love you!'

James watched the exchange. Though he understood more about Adremedian creation—knew how it worked, how it felt—he wasn't sure if she would maintain her fidelity to him over helping her people.

'Sorry, Briar, we cannot.' She turned her back to him and he got angry.

'But I need this!'

'Other Adremedians can create your replacement because you are ill.'

Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

'I want you to do it because you're my truest friend.' He moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. 'Please, Lilly. Please grant me this one last wish.'

She pulled her healer's blade from her belt as turned in Briar's arms. She looked up at him.

He leaned down to kiss her, but stopped as she buried her knife in his body.

'Release,' she said.

James watched in horror as Briar aged then turned to ash. Lilly's knife fell to the ground and she fell to her knees.

'Lilly!' James yelled, still too weak to move.

'I'll be… fine, James.… Help is….'

'Rosae Lilly!' Patientiam called. 'Rosae Lilly, are you all right?'

'Patientiam. James needs… help.'

'As do you, Rosae Lilly,' Sapientiis said, following Patientiam.

She gave a small nod and he helped her stand. Patientiam picked up her knife then helped James to stand. They moved to a safer location before the healing began.

'Wait Sapientiis,' Lilly said before he started healing her. 'Briar must be….'

'It is done, Rosae Lilly. …Willow and Ithamar have taken care of it.'

'Okay.'

The twins worked extensively to make sure two were whole then they left them by each other in a healing tree. Branches grew and twisted around the top so the others would be sure to leave them alone.

James was the first to wake and he sat watching Lilly. He ran his fingers through her hair. A soft smile crossed his lips. Her skin was still a light yellowish color, but the horrible black bruising was gone.

Lilly opened her eyes. 'James?'

'I hear you, Lilly.'

'I'm sorry about Briar.'