I shot up in bed, jolted awake by the nightmare I suddenly had.

The Hellhounds had caught up, grabbed me, pinned me to the ground and right before their massive jaws tore into me, I woke up.

I grabbed the pitcher of water next to the bed and poured myself a glass. I took it down quickly, at least my throat didn't hurt - no screaming in my dreams this time. Which was a relief.

No Damien, no parents.

I took a deep breath and pulled myself from the bed running a hand through my hair as I did.

Another night of no sleep. I looked at the clock next to my bed and sighed.

Too early or too late, depending on who you'd ask.

I needed a walk, needed fresh air.

I placed my slippers on my feet and made it outside by the light of the moonlight through the curtain drawn windows of the halls and rooms. I opened the back door as quietly as I could and walked out onto the patio breathing in the fresh air.

I wasn't sure how long I was outside, how long I sat on the patio mesmerized by the different colored lights. Eventually, I walked out to the grounds and listened to the sounds of the night, letting it wash over me and willing it to take away the continued nightmares I had.

The sprites flew to me, sitting on my waiting hands then my arms as I held them out.

I was with Oren the first time I saw the sprites - I wondered how he was. I hadn't thought about him since I left.

The sprites hummed as they neared me with a new small tune carried on the wind.

I smiled, humming back.

They trilled in response as they approached my waiting cupped hands. As they rested I felt something new - it was invigorating, a slight tingle as they touched my skin.

They dispersed as Julian spoke behind me.

"Still here, I see." I could hear the relief in his voice.

I smiled as I watched the sprites leave. "I couldn't sleep - another nightmare."

"Damien?"

I shook my head. "No. Hellhounds caught up to me. I woke up before I could see what was going to happen."

"Hmm," Julian responded. "Interesting. The Hellhounds caught up to me too."

I turned frowning then gasped. "Julian, what the hell happened?"

The black coat that he had been wearing was torn open, from his right shoulder across to his left hip. The black shirt underneath was ripped as well and beneath it all, I could see blood and the shining green paste. His black hair was a mess and a large scratch ran from under his right eye down his jaw, chin and neck, the bloody trail ended at the base of his neck.

I ran to him to try and catch him as he fell on his knees on the gravel path of the garden.

I barely caught him on time, his full weight on my arms as I cushioned his fall.

"What happened?" I asked as I looked at the scratches. "Did the Hellhounds do this to you?"

He nodded weakly. "Yes, one of them got loose as we tried to imprison them in a cell - a rookie guard. He was careless. It was about to attack a lesser faerie. I was able to stop it."

"Jeez, Julian," I hissed. "With what? Your body?"

He chuckled hoarsely. "I'll be fine. The lesser faerie wouldn't have been if the Hellhound reached him. I just need to rest."

"You're bleeding."

He shook his head. "Not anymore, the salve helped. It should expel the Hellhound poison from the wounds. Slows down healing but..." He trailed off.

I touched the green sticky substance around the scratches. Faeries heal faster than humans, I reminded myself. "Will it scar?"

"Yes."

I cursed.

I heard him chuckle. "Mad that the Hellhound marred my perfect face?"

I scoffed in annoyance. "Clearly, you're fine-" I moved to get up.

He reached for my hand. "No, don't leave." I heard the pain in his voice.

I swallowed, blushing as he held my hand in his. "At least let me get Naida, she deserves to know."

He shook his head. "No. Promise me you won't. I'll be fine, I just need to get to bed and sleep this off."

"I can't do that, Julian."

"No," this time his tone held absolutely no room for argument. "She can't know. She will blame herself for what happened--even if it's not her fault."

I sighed. "Fine but at least give me a little help to get you into your room."

Before I finished the sentence we'd spectered to a room I'd never been in before. It was as large as mine was, with an equally impressive fireplace. The soft light of the chandelier overhead illuminated the space. Unlike the bed in my room, it wasn't a four post bed - it was a large platform bed with a wooden headboard and footrest.

He'd spectered us to the middle of the room, laying on a large area rug in front of the unlit fireplace. "This works too, I guess. Your room?"

He nodded his eyes closing slowly. A smile played on his lips. "I'm sure you've wanted to come in here from the start."

I scoffed again. "I can leave you right here on the floor if you're going to continue to insult me."

He laughed.

Good. That meant he was getting some strength back.

"You should have spectered to your room as soon as you were back," I scolded as I tried to get up.

"I couldn't find you," he coughed. "You weren't in your room. I was afraid you left."

I rolled my eyes and placed his arm over my shoulders. "You're ridiculous. Of course, I'm not leaving."

He moved with me, somehow not placing all of his weight on me as we hobbled together to his bed. "After what I learned--that I'd essentially switched one prison for another for you, I began to worry."

I shook my head. "This is nothing like that. If anything you're less of a mother hen than the rest of them."

He laughed as he sat on the bed. As soon as he straightened up, I kneeled in front of him and started to help him with his boots.

He moved his foot away.

I slapped his shin. "Stay still or I won't help you."

"You don't have to do that."

I shrugged as I started to undo the laces. "It's least I could do. You did save my life earlier."

He didn't protest afterward, even when I started to help him with his coat and shirt. He winced as I started to remove the shirt.

"Sorry," I mumbled. I cleared my throat. "I'm sorry for going to the party. I shouldn't have been there. I should have stayed put."

He shook his head. "You should have been there."

I paused and watched him.

He gave a semblance of a shrug. "You should have been out with everyone having a good time. It was wrong of me to try and keep you on the grounds only." He winced as I continued with the shirt. "And I know Naida. I know she doesn't leave much room for arguments. Once she sets her mind on something - the gods will be the only ones to stop her."

I choked out a laugh. "I barely put up a fight."

He chuckled. "You wanted to leave, explore--I would do the same in your shoes."

As soon as I was able to pull the shirt off and see the extent of the damage, I hissed.

"I've had worse," he said as he struggled to take the sleeve off his right arm. "It looks worse than what it really is."

"Liar," I breathed.

It looked so much worse with his shirt off. The scratches were deep and seemed to cut through the large tattoo he had across his chest and the chiseled muscle and sinew beneath. The green salve that was on it was oozing but at least there was no new blood.

It didn't look painful.

It looked agonizing.

I touched it slightly and he recoiled under the small pressure.

"Ow," I could hear the annoyance in his tone. "That hurts."

My heart squeezed as I watched the wound on his face and chest. He said he would be fine but he looked anything but - he was pale, his face and skin on his chest was clammy and cold. He looked like he was at death's door.

When my eyes met his again, I realized I had tears in them.

No more death, no more people I knew dying - no more pain. I couldn't keep getting close to people just to lose them.

I couldn't keep doing this vicious cycle.

"Emylin," he breathed. "It's all right-"

"What can I do?" I asked resolutely. "Tell me, show me. I don't want to lose another friend."

A small smile tugged his lips as he looked away. "A friend, am I?"

"Yes," I closed the small space between us, not caring that it was the closest we'd ever been. He seemed to jump slightly at my action, watched me a bit more. "Now tell me how to help you."

He shook his head with a small smile."There's nothing to be done." He took my hand and put it on his marred cheek. He didn't wince like he had before as my palm touched his cheek. He let out a long deep sigh. "For right now, this is enough."

I wanted to help him, do something, anything that would help.

If anyone deserved it - it was Julian. The person that had delivered me from darkness twice- if it weren't for him and Kymra I'd be in Hell ...

A small light flickered in front of me. First, it was small then grew brighter. I watched perplexed as my hand, the one that Julian held in place on his cheek, began to glow and the wounds that slashed across his face began to vanish.

I smiled and gave a small laugh and amazingly, the hand glowed brighter. I looked at my other hand and smiled. It was glowing too.

I took it and placed it on his chest right where the damage was the worst.

Pain shot through me making me gasp. Instantly, I realized that I was feeling what he felt. He was in so much more pain than he let on.

I pushed the pain away, trying to will some of my own strength to him. I could feel it in me, building - I imagined I could see it, hold it, make it tangible. I imagined it light as air, as bright as a star, pure.

And as I pushed forward, willing it from me to him, I felt something new.

I felt warm. Like something was embracing me - keeping me safe.

And I knew right then, whatever concerns I had of him were unfounded. Somehow, I felt no malice, no ill intentions.

Julian wasn't going to use me like Robyn had. He wasn't keeping me locked away on purpose. He wasn't hiding me for any other reason than he needed me to be safe.

And he cared. He cared so deeply for me that it scared me. How could he feel so strongly about me when we hardly knew each other?

I opened my eyes and watched as the worst of the damage on his chest vanished.

Julian opened his eyes and furrowed his brows in confusion. "What is it?"

I couldn't let him know what I just learned. It felt like an invasion of privacy. I only whispered, "I think I'm healing you."

He looked down at his stomach and watched with a small chuckle as the scratches began to disappear and only dried blood and sticky green balm was left on the unmarred skin.

I let him go and stepped back, gripping the dresser behind me tightly as a dizziness began to sweep over me.

"Not so fast." Julian was on me at once and in one movement, picked me up, an arm under my knees, the other behind my back.

It was miraculous how fast he looked to be back to normal. I could see the color back in his cheeks and tan skin.

I could barely keep the dizziness away. My eyes began to droop, my limbs heavier than before. "What's happening?"

He cradled me close. "I think you've exhausted yourself in healing me." He sighed. "That was careless, Emylin."

I could feel a small flame of fury. My voice was barely above a whisper. "Oh, just shut up and thank me."

I heard his chuckle just as the darkness took over. "Thank you, Emylin."