AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The woman who emerged from the back room was surprisingly young, but she had an air of serenity around her that was surprisingly reassuring.
“What’s the problem?” she asked calmly.
“It’s my uncle. He’s been stabbed.”
Her serene expression didn’t change, but he saw her eyes widen and her lips move in what looked suspiciously like a prayer.
“Bring him here. I’ll do what I can.”
As soon as he placed Thorn on the table, the healer shooed him away.
“This isn’t a healing that can be done by more than one pair of hands. Go wait outside.”
“I…”
He started to object, but then Aurora spoke, her voice a mere thread.
“It’s all right, Marsh. He’ll be all right. We can see him when she’s done.”
“All right,” he said reluctantly, following her back into the main room.
She immediately turned into his arms, clinging to him, and he held her just as tightly.
“I thought I was going to lose you, little bird.”
She looked up at him, her eyes bright with tears.
“I know you’d come. I love you, Marsh.”
“I love you too, more than life itself.”
He heard Jimmy leave the room but he was too busy kissing his mate to care. When he could finally stand to stop kissing her, he settled down in one of the big chairs, keeping her cradled in his arms.
“Can you tell me what happened?” he asked gently.
“Elmer was waiting at the docks. He’d done something to disguise his scent I think, because Thorn didn’t know he was there. He kept his knife at my throat the whole time and forced Thorn to take us to that island.” Her voice quivered. “He did something to Thorn, I don’t know what, but it was like Thorn couldn’t move property, couldn’t control his actions, and Elmer stabbed him.”
Tears trickled down her cheeks and he hugged her closer.
“Hush, little bird. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
But as the hours wore on, it grew increasingly difficult to believe. Aurora eventually fell asleep in his arms, but he was too worried to join her. Jimmy came and went several times, bringing them food and water and bullying them into taking a few sips.
It was almost dawn when the healer finally emerged. She looked as if she’d aged ten years, but her smile was radiant.
“He’ll live.”
“Thank the gods. And thank you. Can I see him?”
“No. He’ll sleep for the next twenty-four hours. Go home, all of you, and come back tomorrow.
“Home,” Aurora whispered. “I want to go home.”
“Then your boat awaits,” Jimmy said, as cheerful as ever.
He carried Aurora down to the boat and they set off across the water just as the sun began to rise. Frogs called in the long grass and a heron took flight high overhead as peace settled over him.
Home, home with the woman he loved so much. He couldn’t ask for anything more.
