He stood and watched ye escape and didnae stand in yer way.
Aye, but he hadn’t helped me either.
My brother continued to speak and I welcomed his banter, the ease reminding me I washomeagain. My body sank back against the pillows as I neared the limit of my energy, but I did not release him.
Even with my good eye closed, I knew Lillian was still in the cottage with us. My ears told me she was over by the hearth, stirring something in a cauldron, and thenormalcyof such an action warmed me. Having her and my twin brother in the same place with me…’twas as if myKteerwas whole again.
I felt Vartok shift, his hold on my arm gentle.
“Will ye tell me what happened?” he asked softly. “Or have ye spoken of it already, and I should nag Nan?”
I didn’t remember explaining aught to Nan, but mayhap Lillian had. My brother had led our people for the last four months and had done a damned fine job of it. He was owed an explanation no matter how tired I was.
So, I took a deep breath, intending to start at the beginning. “I dinnae mind. The battle…”
“Please,” Lillian interrupted in a soft voice, and I felt her move closer. “Please, let him rest. I can tell you what you need to know. Do not make him relive it.”
My Mate was trying to protect me, and my chest swelled with pride. When I opened my eye, I could see her wringing her hands as she hovered nearby, her face pale with worry…or mayhap fear.
I needed to introduce her to my brother, but I lacked the strength.
“He’s…no’ bothering me…Lillian,” I managed.
She glanced between us in worry, but Vartok squeezed my arm and stood.
“Nay, she’s right, brother. I’ll let ye rest now.”
He switched his gaze to Lillian, and I couldsmellhis curiosity. “Do ye need aught? My Mate?—”
“Mate?” I managed to rasp in surprise. “Fook me…” What else had I missed?Vartokwas Mated? When it came to females, my brother had always believed in quantity…and now he was tied to a single Mate? “I have to get better…if only to hear…”
Vartok began to chuckle, and my lips curled into a smile as I allowed my head to fall back against the pillows and my good eye to close.
“I am his prisoner,” I heard Lillian whisper. “You must not be kind to me.”
My lips pressed together to keep from frowning. Is that how she saw herself? As my captive?
My head hurt—hells,everythinghurt—when I tried to remember what I’d said to her as I’d taken her from Tarbert Keep. Did she not realize I’d done so because she was my Mate?
Nay. She thinks herself yer captive, the same way ye were her father’s captive.
My brows drew into a frown as the exhaustion overtook me. I could hear my twin brother and my Mate—the two parts of my heart—talking quietly, but I couldn’t fight the allure of sleep any longer.
I needed to rest, to regain my strength…so I could prove myself to Lillian.
My lips parted, and I heard my voice whisper a word as oblivion claimed me.
“Mine.”
Lillian
‘Twas impossible not to be fascinated byBloodfire Village and its people.
Itriedto hold myself separate, I swear I did. I told myself, and anyone who would listen, that I was Kragorn’s captive. They looked at me, looked at him, frowned thoughtfully…and went on treating me with respect and—dare I say it?—kindness.
His grandmother was human, as he’d told me that day in the dungeon. Nan was not only the village healer, she was clearly used to being obeyed, judging how she bossed everyone around and how quickly the other women jumped to do her bidding, albeit with smiles on their lips.
She’d merely clucked her tongue the first time I’d confessed my role as Kragorn’s captive then handed me some herbs to steep.
