Fin walked back down the corridor into the private suite—blood still dried on his hands and shirt. He didn't bother changing. Nothing mattered except reaching Nova.
When he stepped inside, the size of the room made the silence feel even heavier. The suite was expansive—fireplace glowing, chairs arranged in a sitting area, tall windows curtained against the dawn. But all of it seemed to shrink around the bed where Nova lay.
The bed itself was enormous—broad enough that no one could sit at her far side without climbing fully onto it. Because of that, everyone had gathered along the left, the only accessible edge.
Jax sat nearest to her, both hands wrapped around hers. His eyes were red, hollowed with exhaustion and fear.
Elle stood beside him, one hand resting on Nova's arm, her expression tight with worry.
Marra occupied the large armchair positioned on that same side of the bed—close enough to reach her if she stood, but still with several feet of mattress stretching beyond them to the opposite edge. Her eyes were swollen, her posture tense.
Across the room, in the sitting area near the foot of the bed, Rex sat rigid in another chair while an assistant drew blood from his arm. His jaw was clenched, his expression fixed and determined.
Light from the fireplace flickered across all of them. IV lines gleamed faintly. And Fin stood there for a moment, silently absorbing the scene—the people who loved her gathered in the wide, quiet room around the woman who held all of their worlds together.
Aeron was at the far table at the window, paging through old tomes, pretending to read but clearly trying to anchor his mind anywhere but the present. The air was thick with the smell of iron and magic, the faint hum of IV lines the only steady sound.
Fin exhaled heavily, forcing himself forward until he reached her side. He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead and kissed her there, his heart aching at how still she was. He could feel her pain still. It was growing again, a deep throb that made his chest tighten.
"Can we get her more antidote?" He said, holding his hand to his chest, gritting his teeth.
"On it." Elias said, leaving the room for a minute. He returned with a new vial of it, and hooked it into her IV line.
She was covered with a blanket, but her face was pale and damp with sweat. Her brows were drawn tight, her breathing shallow. Fin laid a hand against her forehead and felt the heat immediately. "She's burning up," he said sharply. "Can we also get her anything for the fever?"
Elias looked up from where he was adjusting the bloodline. "We've already given her the maximum dose," he said grimly. "Her body needs to stabilize first—more fluids, more blood—before we can give her anything else."
Fin nodded, swallowing the frustration burning at the back of his throat. He felt useless just standing there, watching her suffer. Every breath she took seemed to cost him one of his own.
Across the room, Rex muttered under his breath, "Where's a body of water when you need it…"
Jax's head snapped up instantly, his eyes narrowing. "How do you know that?" he demanded, his tone sharper than intended.
Rex looked up, blinking at him like he didn't understand the problem. "I took her to the Falls of Elaran's Veil," he said simply. "It can only be reached by dragon. It's where I go to clear my head." He shrugged, completely unaware of the tension in Jax's posture. "You should have her take you sometime—if you ever need it."
Jax was completely disarmed by the end of Rex's sentence. The irritation drained right out of him, replaced with reluctant admiration. He'd always thought dragon riders were the coolest bastards on the continent—and truth be told, flying Onyx had been one of the best damn things he'd ever done in his life. He couldn't hide the grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"I'll ask her," he said, smirking. "But if I die, I'm haunting both of you. I want that on record."
Rex snorted. "We don't usually get blown off our dragons mid flight, you know."
Then his expression shifted, growing thoughtful. "It was the day after that battle," he said. "She jumped off a cliff."
Both Jax and Fin froze.
Rex quickly lifted a hand, cutting off their alarm. "We do that with dragon warriors," he explained. "It's a test—meant to see if they can think when their instincts betray them. When you hit that water, your instinct is to fight, kick against the current and swim harder. But that's exactly how you drown. The only way out is to stop struggling, stay calm and let the current carry you through until you can break free."
He gave a small, almost proud smile. "She figured it out fast and passed. But even if she hadn't, I jumped with her. I've done that drill more times than I can count, so she was never in danger."
He then looked at Jax and grinned. "When we finally broke to the surface, the whole damn spring lit up like the sun—and every cut and bruise on me healed. I said something, and she just shrugged and went, 'Oh, yeah, that happens sometimes.'"
Rex laughed, shaking his head. "Like that's a standard Tuesday."
Fin's stomach tightened at that. She needed to clear her head because of me, he thought bitterly. And instead of resting, she'd jumped off a cliff into raging currents. Gods. She was not going anywhere alone with Rex ever again. He'd make damn sure of it.
Elle let out a small laugh, breaking the heavy silence. "That reminds me of the first time I saw her literally light up."
Elle grinned and shook her head. "She didn't notice."
Fin gave a faint smile at that while everyone else laughed quietly, loosening the tension in the room.
Jax grinned, rubbing the back of his neck. "What did Cael call her again?" he asked. "Oh right—Sparky the Death Witch."
"Oh gods, don't remind me." Fin said, now laughing.
That got a laugh out of everyone, even Aeron, who had been half-lost in thought.
Elle wiped a tear from her eye. "Does Cael know what happened?"
"No," Aeron said, straightening. "But we'll notify him."
Fin stood quietly for a moment, thinking. Then he looked to Aeron. "Can you make a portal to the Shadowclaw hot springs first?" he asked.
"Yes," Aeron said, already catching Fin's line of thought. "I think it's worth a try… Elias?"
Elias frowned, the crease between his brows deepening. As a doctor, his mind always favored logic, study, procedure—but medicine and magic had long since learned to coexist under his care. He hesitated, weighing reason against hope.
Finally, he exhaled and said cautiously, "We can try it. But I don't want her off these IVs for more than a few minutes. And even if she does heal—or wakes up—we continue with the transfusions and the antidote. Understood?"
He paused, his gaze flicking between Fin and Jax. "And she stays in this infirmary unit until I say otherwise. I'm only agreeing if those terms are met."
Fin nodded immediately. "Agreed," he said, no hesitation in his voice. He already would have insisted she did all of those things, even if she was fully healed. Elias didn't need to say it.
Elias gave a short nod to his assistants. They moved quickly, unhooking Nova's IV lines with careful hands.
Aeron lifted his hand and began tracing runes in the air. A soft shimmer unfolded beside them—an oval of light bending space into form. The portal glowed gold at its edges, warm and steady.
Without a word, Fin stepped forward, slid his arms beneath Nova, and lifted her gently, keeping the blanket on her. Her head fell against his chest.
Aeron glanced at him once. Fin gave a single nod.
Fin stepped through the portal and was hit with a rush of cold air. Snow drifted softly from the night sky, blanketing the ground in pale silver. It was supposed to be spring, but the season hadn't yet found its way to them.
He carried Nova toward a steaming pool just ahead, part of the Shadowclaw hot springs. The mist rose in gentle waves, catching the faint moonlight. Behind him, the others stepped through the portal, their breaths visible in the chill air.
Fin knelt at the edge and removed the blanket covering her. His jaw tightened. He hated that she was wearing so little in front of Rex and anyone for that matter outside of Jax and himself. Rex averted his eyes immediately out of respect, but it didn't matter; Fin's possessive instinct flared anyway. Jax's expression mirrored his own, his jaw ticking once, though neither said a word.
Fin eased into the spring slowly, the heat biting against the cold of the night. He cradled Nova close, careful not to let the water touch her yet. He adjusted her so her head rested against the crook of his neck, and lowered her foot into the water—nothing. No reaction.
He hesitated for a heartbeat, then drew her fully against him and sank lower into the spring. Not all the way, careful to not get her silk shorts wet.
Still, nothing.
No glow. No light. No hum of magic that had always answered her before. The moon was the only thing reflecting off its surface.
Until, a faint glow began to rise, soft and hesitant, curling beneath the surface of the water. But it wasn't coming from Nova.
Golden light pulsed from Fin's skin, spreading through the spring in rippling waves, like sunlight breaking through a storm. The glow wrapped around them both, swirling around Nova's still form, illuminating the steam that drifted into the cold night air.
On instinct, Fin sank lower into the spring until the water lapped at her shoulders. Immediately, he felt a rush of warmth flood through their matebond. The deep ache inside his chest—the pain that had been clawing at him for hours—began to fade. The throbbing behind his ribs eased until he could finally breathe again.
He stayed there, holding her, letting the minutes stretch. The light grew stronger, golden and alive, washing away the streaks of blood from her hair and skin until the water around them shimmered faintly.
Fin exhaled, the relief almost dizzying. Gods, the pain had been unbearable—and now, in its absence, he could barely comprehend how he'd endured it this long.
He pressed a trembling kiss to her forehead, his voice breaking into the silence. "Come on, baby," he whispered. "Come back to me."
Her scent—vanilla and moonlight—was faint but still there, and he breathed it in like it was air itself.
Then he saw it—a faint flicker of silver-white light, quick as a heartbeat, flashing from her hair. Just a whisper of it, but enough to make him freeze.
A moment later, a dim gold glow began to spread from her skin. Fragile, hesitant—nothing like the radiant force she'd once carried—but it was something. It pulsed faintly, growing slow and uncertain, as though her magic was searching for its way back.
Fin held her closer, his chest tightening with cautious hope. Her light grew, barely, inch by inch. Nowhere near as strong as his, but steady enough to make him believe she was still fighting.
The minutes stretched. Elias didn't speak, didn't move, didn't order them out. Fin barely noticed the others anymore. All he could think was how it should be just him and her—the quiet, the warmth, her heartbeat finding its rhythm against his. He would stay like this as long as it took.
The dim gold light began to strengthen, pulsing more evenly now, spreading from her chest to her hands, her hair, the edges of her skin. It grew until it nearly matched his own—still nowhere near the brilliance she usually carried, but enough to fill the water around them with a soft, living glow.
Time blurred. It had been far more than a few minutes, but Elias still said nothing, only watching in quiet awe, curiosity flickering behind his composed healer's gaze.
Then, something shifted. Her light quickened—brighter, steadier—like it was finally remembering what it was meant to be. The spring shimmered brighter, and Fin felt it. That familiar warmth tingled through every nerve in his body, rushing beneath his skin like sunlight chasing away the cold.
He exhaled a shaky breath, relief and wonder flooding through him all at once.
Then, her eyelids fluttered, attempting to open them. Like it took all her strength. She blinked slowly a few times, her dark lashes damp, her gaze struggling to focus.
For a moment, Fin couldn't breathe. It didn't feel real.
When she finally could make out his face, she looked at him with love in her eyes. Intense, pure, unguarded love. Deeper than anything. Fierce enough to make his chest ache. He felt it surge through their bond like fire under his skin, a wave of emotion that brought him to his knees inside.
She coughed softly, the faint taste of blood still lingering in her mouth. Every limb felt impossibly heavy, as if her body had forgotten how to move. It took all her strength just to lift her hand—to find his where it held her close—and rest her trembling fingers on top of his. The effort alone left her breathless.
"I love you so much, baby," Fin said, his voice breaking, raw and unguarded. He didn't bother to hide the emotion flooding through him; tears welled in his eyes, spilling freely as he looked at her like she was his entire world. Then he leaned forward and kissed her lips gently and reverent—not caring in the slightest who saw.
"Nova!" Jax's voice cracked through the air as he jumped straight into the spring, splashing water everywhere. He couldn't contain himself any longer. Rex followed a heartbeat later, wading in without hesitation.
The moment Jax hit the water, a golden light burst from his skin, mirroring Fin's glow. It spread like wildfire, mixing with Fin's and wrapping around Nova until the entire spring blazed with golden light—alive and shimmering.
"I'm not jumping in if that's what you're asking," Aeron said dryly from the edge. That earned a laugh from everyone—laughter heavy with relief, shaky but real.
Marra and Elle both were shivering with the blanket that had covered Nova earlier. Both eyes were glassy, faces pale.
Elias was already moving, lightning quick, with a glass of water in hand. His assistants followed right behind him, both wide-eyed and silent, watching the miracle unfold before them.
He knelt beside the spring, voice steady again, the physician reasserting himself. "She'll be parched," he said quietly. "She's severely dehydrated."
Nova saw the water and tried to reach for it, but her arm trembled, the motion weak and slow. Her fingers barely brushed the surface before falling back.
Fin caught the movement instantly. He could feel the weakness through their bond—the fatigue, the trembling strain in her muscles. He shifted, wrapping one arm around her and steadying the other.
Before he could lift the glass, Jax was already there. "Here, Nova," he said gently, taking the cup from Elias. Her arm shook as she attempted to take it from him. He shook his head and didn't let go of the glass, guiding it up to her lips.
She drank slowly at first then faster, like her body had just remembered how.
She coughed again, the sound weak but steady, and Elias immediately handed Jax a second glass. Jax held it to her lips with both hands, patient, careful not to spill. Nova drank again, slower this time, but didn't stop until it was empty.
"Nova…" Fin's voice cracked as he spoke. He shook his head, emotion breaking through the exhaustion. He couldn't say what was on his mind. That he had felt all of that with her. It was unbearable.
Elle, ever the practical one, spoke softly but firmly. "Can we take off her crown and get the rest of the blood off her?"
Jax nodded and carefully lifted the crown from her head, his touch reverent.
"I'll hold that," Rex offered, still in the spring himself watching all of this.
Jax met his eyes for a second, then handed it over. Rex took it gently, holding it as though it were made of glass.
Jax dipped his hands into the glowing water, cupping it carefully, and began rinsing the blood from the rest of Nova's hair. Fin leaned her back slightly against his arm, steadying her so Jax could work. He moved quickly but with care, washing the dried blood from her forehead, cheek, and hairline, letting the water run clean through her blondesilver strands.
The urge to lean forward and press a kiss to her forehead almost overtook him—but he stopped himself, jaw tightening. He kept his focus on the task, hands steady, expression hovering somewhere between relief and heartbreak.
"We'll grab her some clothes and a towel," Marra called out while this was happening. She and Elle jogged back toward the infirmary, leaving the men in the soft glow of the spring.
Fin adjusted his hold, pulling Nova upright again so her head rested in the crook of his neck. Jax carefully wrung the water from her thick blonde gold hair, letting it run back into the pool.
Nova tried to speak, but the moment she opened her mouth, a harsh cough tore through her.
Elias's voice was calm but firm. "Nova, this isn't like last time. Don't try to talk yet."
Nova couldn't nod, but she understood.
An assistant hurried over with another glass of water. Jax took it, holding it steady as she drank, slow and careful.
Gods, she felt awful. Every part of her ached; her insides still burned like fire, her limbs heavy as stone. Worse than that, there was a hollowness inside her—a quiet, aching emptiness she couldn't explain.
"I'm worried she'll catch a cold with her hair wet out here," Fin said, his protective tone cutting through the cold night air. He carefully transferred her into Jax's arms and stepped out of the spring, water streaming down his clothes as he jogged through the portal to grab a blanket.
Jax held her close, steady and sure. His eyes softened as he looked down at her—love written all over his face, raw and unguarded. Nova met his gaze, her expression mirroring his but tinged with sadness.
A single tear slid down her cheek. Jax saw it. Rex did too.
Fin came back a moment later, breath visible in the cold, a thick blanket clutched in his hands. Jax stood, carefully shifting Nova's weight and passing her back into Fin's arms. Together, they adjusted the blanket. Jax lifted the corner that slipped loose and tucking it gently over her shoulders.
Without another word, Fin turned and started toward the portal, holding Nova tight against his chest. Every step was slow, deliberate. He wanted nothing more than to take her straight to their room and cuddle with her.
Elle appeared just inside the doorway, silk shorts and camisole, slippers. She also had a silk robe, which fin was especially grateful for. Marra had towels.
"Elle, come with me," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Marra handed Elle towels, her eyes filled with concern for Nova.
Elias called after him, voice sharp with concern. "Where are you taking her?"
"I'll bring her right back," Fin answered without slowing. He didn't elaborate. No, she wasn't going to be naked in front of anyone outside of him and Jax who had already seen her.
He hesitated for a second, but followed his instincts which always seemed to be right with Nova. "Jax, come with us."
Jax hesitated—just a flicker of uncertainty—then followed without question, the three of them disappearing down the corridor into one of the guest suites.
"Thanks, Elle. We'll be out in a second," Fin said quietly.
Elle nodded, setting the clothes down before slipping out and shutting the door behind her.
Nova had already lost consciousness again, her eyes closed, her breathing shallow but steady.
Fin turned to Jax, voice low. "Can you help me?"
Jax blinked, caught off guard for a heartbeat.
Fin glanced at him, tone even but edged with exhaustion. "You've already seen her naked."
Jax blinked, then broke into a grin, his voice exaggeratedly scandalized. "I have never!"
Fin actually laughed, the sound rough but genuine—and just like that, the tension in the room eased.
Fin held Nova in his arms while Jax carefully began to pull off her soaked camisole and shorts. His breath hitched despite his best effort to stay composed. He tried to ignore the fact that she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen and just as he remembered.
He swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in his throat as memories surfaced—the times he'd held her naked in the bath and in their bed, how she'd always blush no matter how many times he'd seen her like that. He tried not to think about how much he'd missed her, how badly he wished he could hold her again.
Jax grabbed a towel and Fin wrapped her in it, drying her off with slow, careful movements. He held Nova while Jax helped guide her into the silk tank and shorts, each motion deliberate, reverent. Once she was dressed, Fin carefully passed Nova into Jax's arms.
He slipped the robe over her shoulders, gently guiding each arm through the sleeves. It was Elle's and entirely too short. Probably meant for Cael's eyes only, so far from ideal.
"Elle." Fin muttered, shaking his head.
Jax laughed, clearly thinking the same thing.
He crouched, sliding the slippers onto her feet that were too big and also Elle's.
Then he grabbed a fresh towel, from the stack Elle brought. Jax cradled Nova close while Fin gently dried her ears, then moved to her hair, his touch instinctive, tender. He worked slowly, careful not to tug at the strands, letting the towel soak up what the air hadn't.
Jax watched him, a faint ache settling behind his ribs. The motions were exactly how he used to dry Nova's hair—every careful press, every soft pass of the cloth. He found himself wondering if Fin had done this before, or if this kind of quiet intimacy was something born from this moment alone.
Strangely, there was no tension or feelings. No jealousy. Nothing. Just an understanding for one another.
And in that moment, Fin realized something. Nova would forever be his. But Jax… Jax was his brother by arms. He'd claimed her first and loved her as fiercely as he ever loved anything. Fin could feel it through his matebond with Nova. He hadn't fully understood what it was until now. She was connected to Jax.
Jax had gone quiet, lost in thought, his gaze fixed somewhere beyond the flicker of the lantern light. He didn't notice that Fin was watching him now—studying him, thinking his own thoughts just as deeply.
Fin finally broke the silence, his voice low but steady. It even surprised him, the peace he felt as he spoke—the calm of finally admitting what had been sitting heavy in his chest. Coming to terms with it, and strangely… feeling happy. Even grateful. It didn't have to make sense.
"Jax, I need to talk with you," Fin said quietly.
Jax looked up, brow lifting.
"Let's get her back, get ourselves into dry clothes," Fin continued. "I want to talk with you tonight."
Jax nodded slowly, his brows still drawn.
"Nothing bad," Fin added, giving a faint smile. "I'd bring it up now, but I'm more concerned about her being off those IVs too long."
Jax took a slow breath, then smirked. "Yeah, let's get her back. You look like shit, by the way."
Fin actually laughed—because it was true. They both looked like hell. Covered in blood, soaked through, eyes red, hair a wreck. They looked less like an Alpha and Gamma and more like two men who'd clawed their way out of a grave.
"Still better looking than you," Fin said flatly.
Jax barked a laugh at that, the first loud one of the night.
Fin carried Nova back into the private suite, laying her carefully on a fresh bed while Jax stayed close. Elias was waiting, already setting up new IV lines and checking her pulse.
"Which one of you can give her blood?" Elias asked briskly.
"I can," they both said at the exact same time.
Elias sighed under his breath but nodded once. "Both, then."
His assistants stepped forward with the equipment, drawing blood from each of them in practiced silence. The room filled with the soft hum of magic and the steady rhythm of three hearts still beating for the same woman.
"Rex, you look beat," Fin said, turning toward him. His tone was calm, steady, still carrying the weight of exhaustion but touched with genuine concern.
"We have a guest suite down the hall if you want to clean up and rest. Or, if you'd rather be back at camp, we can open a portal for you."
Rex blinked, clearly taken aback by the offer. For a moment, he just stared, surprised by how uncharacteristically kind—and composed—Fin sounded. Then he nodded.
"Yeah… yeah, that would be great, actually. I'll take the room, just in case Nova needs more blood."
Fin gave a short nod, already mindlinking an omegas. A moment later, she appeared at the door.
Fin gestured toward her. "She'll show you the way."
Rex offered a grateful nod before following her out, the fatigue settling into his shoulders the moment he stepped from the room.