Chapter 12 - A Child’s Warmth
"Mia, no!" Elena called out, running after her.
"Hold your fire! Hold your fire!" an agent yelled.
Mia didn't stop until she collided with Adrian’s good leg, throwing her small arms around his knee. She looked up, her face streaked with tears and charcoal soot, terrified by the blood soaking his henley.
"Uncle Ade! You're leaking!" she cried, pulling the smooth quartz stone from her corduroy pocket and desperately pressing it against his side, as if the magic stone could plug the wound. "The dragon egg will fix it! Don't go to sleep!"
Adrian slowly sank down into the dirt, ignoring the searing agony in his flesh, so he could be at eye level with her. He lifted his trembling, soot-stained hand and gently wiped a tear from her cheek.
"I’m not going anywhere, little bird," he whispered, his voice faint as a breath through autumn leaves. "I promised you."
Elena dropped to her knees beside them, her hands applying immediate pressure to the wounds. "Stay with us, Adrian! Medics! Get the trauma kit over here now!"
Adrian looked past Mia’s curls into Elena’s eyes. He saw no fear there anymore—only fierce devotion and profound gratitude.
"You saved her," Elena whispered, her forehead touching Adrian's shoulder as tears streamed down her cheeks. "You saved both of us."
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"Julian... did," Adrian managed to say, his head lolling back against the cool earth as paramedics swarmed around him with oxygen masks and trauma shears. "Tell Julian... the debt is paid."
As the oxygen mask was strapped over his face and the world finally slipped into welcome darkness, the last thing he felt was the small, warm hand of a little girl clinging fiercely to his thumb, refusing to let him go.
