“Oh my god, what happened to you?”
She proceeded to lift up his shirt to get a better look at the wound but gasped at the sight of the ghastly cut. He'd been cut clear from hip to hip. The wound was so deep the skin had separated creating a gap where she could see inside of him. He looked awfully pale like he hadn't fed in days. Panic faded. She needed to help him. She could do this, she coached herself.
In methodical movements, she stripped off his shirt and pants. For modesty's sake, she left his briefs on. She grabbed a basket full of supplies from the workroom then came back to him.
She started creating a poultice first with a mixture of healing herbs then some oils. Using her pestle, she mushed the ingredients together until they formed together in a nice clump. She hesitated over the wound then closed her eyes and gently pushed the oily herbs into the wound. The wound was so big she had to make even more until finally she had it covered.
With a wet cloth, she cleaned the blood from his waist. The area around the wound beat bright red with inflammation. She nibbled on her lip as the wound was still spread open. She'd never taken a needle to someone before.
Maybe I should take him to the hospital?
She cringed at the thought. Not only would they ask questions she surely didn't have answers to, but whoever attacked him might be coming for him. Cursing, she went around to the front and back door making sure they were locked, all the windows sealed tight. Then she opened her spell book to the page on warding off energies. In the next hour, she cast a spell around the building that would ward off any visitors with negative doings. It would need to be reapplied every day to last but at least they'd have some protection for now. Until he woke up.
She hated seeing him lying on the floor like this but she knew he was way too big for her to attempt to pull him into the bedroom. And even if she managed to get him there, he had to be at least two and fifty pounds of muscle; no way could she lift him onto the bed.
With that in mind, she grabbed a sheet and pillow from her bed. After tucking the pillow under his head and covering him with the sheet she felt only slightly better.
Her chest felt way too tight. As the hours passed and she sat over his breathing form, watching the rise and fall of his chest, she came to a rocky realization. It didn't hit her like a bolt of electricity but settled inside her in a warm melting feeling.
She cupped his cheek, leaned down, and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Do not die, Kearnyn. I care too much.”
Care might not have been a strong enough word for what she felt but she couldn't bring herself to say the other. In a surprisingly short amount of time, he'd brought out feelings she hadn't felt in a long time. She'd forgotten what it was like to care for a man. To be with him simply because you enjoyed his company.
Rosa lay out beside him, careful not to get too close and rested her head on his shoulder.
“I'll be here when you wake up, okay?”
He didn't answer; didn't even blink. But that was okay. As she closed her eyes, her senses flared to life. Natural instincts, which couldn't be hindered or ignored. It came as a thought as if someone spoke the words in her mind, but they were not words so much as a thought.
Something awful was coming.
A shiver raked over her and she scooted as close as she could. Then she waited.
CHAPTER 33
Lily came to with a startled cry on her throat. It registered that what she'd seen had been a dream. No, not a dream, but a vision. But she couldn't recall it. As soon as she came into consciousness the vision faded from her like an ocean's wave swept it away. She squeezed her eyes shut. Fuck, she had to remember it! It was important.
She punched the mattress beneath her and the bitter scent of dust reached her nose making her sneeze. AT once, the muscles in her stomach tensed at the sneeze and then everything came to her in a rush, her dream forgotten as the all the aches in her body awakened.
“God,” she groaned.
She inspected the damage. Her stomach had a vicious bruise the size of a grapefruit and was multicolored with yellows, reds, and blues. She rolled her shoulder back and winced at the sharp pain. Well, that arm was useless for now. Everything else seemed in working order so she got off the bed and stopped dead.
“Telal!”
His body was on the floor, his face flat on it, his arms and legs sprawled. He looked like a murder victim lying there just waiting to have chalk drawn around his body.
“Telal?” She pushed the hair out of his face. When his lashes fluttered a sob left her and she realized just how scared she'd been.
It took some effort but eventually she got him rolled over onto his back so she could assess his injuries. He looked battered and pale but no obvious bleeding anywhere. She made quick work of opening his shirt and found she was wrong about the blood. He had two wounds on his chest. One near the center that looked as though it'd barely missed his heart and the other in the meat of his shoulder. What startled her most about the wounds was the greenish tint surrounding the outlying skin from the wound.
Lily sat back and tried to figure out what to do. She had no clue where she was but the place smelled heavily of mildew and dust. Moving quickly, she found a bathroom and rummaged through it for any kind of medical supplies. She cursed, finding nothing. She went to the kitchen, slamming open every cabinet and drawer until she was almost shaking by time she finished. Nothing, not even so much as a band aid.
She heard a deep groan and ran into the bedroom. Telal's eyes were slowly opening, his lips pulling to a tight grimace.
“Telal! Are you okay?” Her voice shook and she realized that wasn't the only thing. Her hands trembled and even her stomach felt like it was vibrating. Fear and panic threatened to overwhelm her and she wished like hell she had her herbs with her to make her special juice. Just to calm her nerves.
“Lily?” His voice was a mere croak.
“I'll be right back.” She darted for the kitchen and poured a glass of water, thankful the water didn't come out brown or sludgy. She took it back to him and lifted his head, pressing the glass to his lips. He took in a good five sips before he jerked his head away.
His eyes opened all the way and he scanned the room and sighed. “God, I feel like shit.”
A choking laugh left her and a stupid tear slid down her cheek. He looked up at her and his eyes narrowed on the betraying tear. His hand slid up and a finger caught it.
“You cry for me?”
She nodded because she was afraid if she tried to speak she'd sound like a horse. “What can I do to help?”
He grunted and started to sit up. “There's nothing you can do. I just need time.”
“What's happened to your skin? It's green.”
He looked down at his chest. “Oh that? It's poison.” He stood and rocked on his feet. She immediately stood and wrapped an arm around his waist to brace him.
“What kind of poison?” Please don't say the killing kind.
“It removes my magic from me. I'm pretty sure I'm completely depleted.” He closed his eyes and sighed. “Yes, I am.”
“How do you know? What did you try to do just now?”
“Port us to Tyrian's castle. It looks like we'll have to travel the old-fashioned way.” He started to the bathroom adjoining the bedroom and with each step he seemed to grow stronger, steadier.
“How long will it last?” she asked, following him.
He reached into the shower and turned it on. When steam billowed out from the stall something like a smile curled his mouth. “I knew there was a reason I kept this place.”
“How long?” she insisted.
He shrugged. “Could be as long as week. I don't know. I got two darts shot in me and they stayed long enough to release all the poison.” He pulled off his suit shirt with a fierce grimace and started unbuttoning his pants.