Ember of Hope

“Shall we go back inside now?” Raegan asked Valiance impatiently and he knew how hard it had been for his mate to leave her friend at a time like this. But she’d done it for Damien and perhaps it was enough to ask of her so he nodded and like an arrow she shot towards the room with him hot on her heels… and then she stopped dead in the doorway so suddenly that he almost knocked her over when he collided with her back and a moment later he understood the reason.

There, standing in the middle of the room was Damien – mid shift – his face twisted with pain. Valiance remembered the pain from when his own curse broke. And then his eyes fell on Sarah and a gasp left his lips making Raegan look at her friend too. They rushed towards her still body and Raegan began shaking her. Valiance ran to call the healer.

When he came back with the healer in tow, he saw Damien; fully human, holding Sarah’s hand and calling her name frantically while Raegan still shook her.

“There is no need to panic” the healer said in a loud voice to make them all look at him, “it’s only because her body is still getting used to dragon blood. It is completely normal” the lack of surprise on the healer’s face gave them all a little peace.

Valiance put a reassuring hand on Damien’s shoulder and murmured, “She’ll be alright brother. She’ll come back to us”. How badly he wanted to give his best friend a bear hug only he knew. But time for that will come soon enough. Right now he needed to just be there for his brother and Raegan.

“I think you should go ask our host for some clothes before Sarah wakes up and finds you butt naked”

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Sitting on the opposite side of Sarah’s bed from Dimi, Raegan couldn’t wait for her best friend to wake up and spill the beans about what had happened in the mere 15 minutes she was out of the room. Holy shit, Damien was sitting in front of her – in his human form. His face haggard with worry and fear and his slightly long golden hair disheveled from constant pulling.

She had no idea when she’d fallen asleep but Sarah’s voice woke her up, “I’m in heaven”

When Raegan sat up from her sleeping position Sarah grinned at her broadly.

“You’re here too Ray” she rasped excitedly.

Sarah looked towards Damien and snickered. “Look there are angels too” she was clearly drunk off her ass on whatever the healer had given her. Raegan and Damien laughed at her silliness.

“Yeah, he is pretty, isn’t he?” Raegan said conspiratorially.

“How are you feeling?” Damien asked.

“Me?” Sarah mouthed while pointing towards herself.

Damien laughed again, “yes, you”. He looked so different now, all smiles and bright eyes. And it was then that Raegan realized that despite his sunny demeanor and easy laughs she had never once seen him truly happy.

“I’m feeling awesome” Sarah grinned.

Raegan got up to call the healer and Valiance when Sarah grabbed her arm, “where are you going? And why am I in a bed? We need to go party ASAP. Imagine what a party in heaven’s gonna be like”.

Raegan smiled, “sweetheart you were not feeling well so we put you in bed. Now if you please, I’m going to get my own angel” she winked at Damien, “I’ll be right back”.

“So, what’s your name handsome?” she was clearly flirting – like a drunk.

“I’m Damien” Dimi said in an amused tone.

“Damien” she said as if testing the name on her tongue for the first time, “I have a friend named Damien. He is a dragon you know”, she whispered like exposing a secret and snickered again, “a real dragon but he is sweet. And I like him sooo much” she pursed her lips, “Don’t tell him I said that okay?”

“Not a word, I promise” he made a zipping motion on his lips.

Raegan came back with Valiance and the healer. Valiance greeted her with a smile.

“Oh hey Val” Sarah slurred, “hey guys, meet Damien” she giggled, “he’s Damien too. There are two Damiens now”.

Valiance looked at Damien with raised eye brows and he chuckled, “nice to meet you guys. I’m Sarah’s angel here in heaven; Damien”. He got up and pulled Valiance in a hug.

“It’s good to see you again brother” Val said softly, “now stop breaking my ribs man” he clapped Damien on the back. Raegan was next to hug him, “see I told ya” she grinned up at him as he ruffled her hair.

The healer was mixing some concoction for Sarah so Raegan helped her in a sitting position and as if she couldn’t stop herself, hugged her best friend close.

“I love you Sarah… so much”.

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