“I’ve never seen this much soul damage before.” Obie’s voice is low. “Not inflicted over such a short period, anyway.”
Cass attempts a grin. It feels more like a grimace. “Well, you know how much I like making history.”
Obie’s lips twist into a bitter smile. “I’d really prefer if you did it in less life-threatening ways.”
“Never.”
The mattress on Cass’s other side dips down. JJ sits close next to Cass, threading their fingers together. “But we can fix him, right?” he asks, a hint of panic in his voice. “We can make him better?”
Ez’s narrowed eyes are locked on Cass’s chest. “Usually, soul damage fixes itself. It takes time and energy, but given sufficient rest, souls will naturally heal themselves.” She lets out her breath in a hiss. “But thislevelof soul damage is a different story. If that were his only issue, it would still take weeks to heal. But couple that with his corrosion burns and other injuries—” She cuts herself off. “It’s going to be dicey.”
Cass’s chest hurts at JJ’s scared expression. Gently, he squeezes JJ’s hand. “Sounds like a challenge fit for a million-year-old demon and the best spellcaster on the East Coast,” he says pointedly, looking at Obie and Ez. “Thoughts?”
Obie looks affronted. “I’m notthatold, Chin.”
Ez hums noncommittally. “I have a few ideas, actually. Some unconventional spells I can try. But, uh.” She winces. “Most of them will work better if you’re unconscious, Cass. I think I can heal some of your injuries, but since they’re mostly tainted with corrosion burns, it’ll be excruciatingly painful. And the other spells won’t be a walk in the park, either.”
Despite the ominous words, a wave of relief unfurls in Cass’s chest. Leave it to Ez to already have a list of obscure spells lined up. Obie will be just as helpful, of course—even though spellcasting is more Ez’s game, he’s collected an impressive library of spell books over the millennia—and JJ might even have some ideas from his human spellcasting experience.
They’ll keep Cass safe. He knows they will. For now, he’s just?—
He’s just so tired. “Sleep sounds great,” he admits, and he ruffles Desi’s hair. “See? Auntie Ez is going to make me all better.”
Desi hugs his arm tightly. “Okay. Thanks, Auntie Ez.”
“Of course, sweetie.”
Cass turns his head to the other side, looking up at JJ. “I love you,” he repeats, because it seems important to say again. To say as often as possible, preferably. “You know that, right?”
JJ’s eyes soften. Gently, he pulls Cass’s hand to his lips, pressing a light kiss to his bruised knuckles. “I love you, too.”
“Gag me with a spoon,” Obie says.
“Piss off, Obie,” Cass says, and he takes a deep breath, looking up at Ez. “All right. Knock me out.”
And he gives JJ what he hopes is a comforting smile before Ez snaps her fingers and everything fades into peaceful darkness.
43
Okay, so I was lying,” Ez says without preamble. “‘Dicey’ was a vast understatement. With this level of damage, there isn’t enough of his soul left to knit itself back together. Couple that with the amount of energy he’ll need to heal all his injuries, and he has less than a five percent chance of surviving the next few hours.”
Obie winces. “I was afraid you were going to say that.”
JJ’s stomach bottoms out.“What?But you said you could heal him!”
“I can healsomeof his physical injuries,” Ez says emphatically, and she hovers a glowing hand over Cass’s still form. Within seconds, the worst of his bruising starts to fade, lacerations weaving themselves back together. Cass grunts and stiffens in his sleep, trembling as his corrosion burns stretch and warp together, before falling silent again. “But that’s barely enough to decrease the workload on his soul.”
JJ’s pulse is roaring in his ears.Less than a five percent chance of surviving?After everything he and Cass have been through, everything they’ve fought past and overcome, everything they’ve accomplished and everything they’ve sacrificed?—
This can’t be the end, can it?
“But there has to be something you can do, right?” It sounds like he’s begging. He can’t even bring himself to care. “You—you mentioned some unconventional spells. There has to be one that can help, right? There has to be?—”
“Oh, there is,” she says, and she presses her lips together. “But it’s not something I wanted Cass to hear.”
Suddenly, Obie goes still. “Ez. You’re not thinking?—?”
“It would jump-start the healing process,” Ez argues. “Look at him, Obie. Theyshreddedhis soul. Extraordinary problems require extraordinary solutions.”
