“What happened?” Braden knelt down by Sin.
Ceana drew a ragged breath. “He saved me. One minute I was just standing there, moving things around, then the fire started. I think I might have knocked the candle over, or maybe I bumped it with one of the sacks. I’m not sure.”
Tears flowed down her cheeks as Ceana looked from Robby to Braden, then down to Sin’s unconscious form. “I don’t know what happened. I tried to get out, but my hem was caught. I couldn’t move, and the fire was everywhere. I thought I was going to die, so I started screaming. The next thing I knew, Sin was there. He freed me, and just as we were leaving, a beam fell against him.”
Her eyes wide, Ceana looked baffled by all that had happened. “He pushed the beam off and got us out. I thought he was fine,” she said breathlessly. “He said he was fine. He looked to be fine.”
“He just collapsed on the ground,” Robby finished for her.
The healer came forward out of the crowd and pushed them away as she examined Sin’s body.
“We need to get him inside.”
Robby ordered his men to help Sin gently to a bed.
Braden watched helplessly as Sin was taken away. He glanced to Maggie, and felt a horrendous tearing in his heart. Had he not been protecting her, he could have saved his brother.
He had chosen her safety over that of his own blood.
How could he have done such a thing?
Why had he not run to Sin first? Sin was his brother. He was the one Braden was supposed to protect.
Maggie reached out to touch him, but Braden shrugged her touch off. He didn’t want to feel her hand on his arm. Not now. Not until he could come to terms with the decision he had made. And the possible cost of his actions.
“Braden?”
“I need to see to Sin,” he said dismissively.
Maggie frowned as Braden left her standing alone in the yard. Something wasn’t right. Braden had been so tender until he had seen Sin.
What had happened?
More discouraged than she had ever been before, she followed them inside.
When she reached Sin’s room on the upper floor, Braden ordered her out.
“Let me help,” she insisted.
“No now.” Braden’s voice was edged with an anger she didn’t understand.
Her heart heavy, she turned and went below to check on Connor.
An hour later, Braden stood to the side of the bed as the healer reached into her clay jug for a leech. As she moved toward Sin, Sin’s eyes snapped open, and he reached with his good arm to stop the old woman from placing the vile creature on his skin. “You put that disgusting thing on me, old woman, and I’ll cut your heart out.”
“But you need to be?—”
“I’m bleeding quite enough, and I personally like the poison in my blood and have no wish for it to leave me,” Sin said tartly. “Braden, get her out of my sight.”
Braden didn’t argue. He did as his brother asked, then returned to the bed.
Sin’s face was pale, but Braden could see the fire of life burning brightly in Sin’s black eyes. Relief poured through him as he realized for the first time since his brother had fallen that Sin wasn’t in any danger.
“Where’s Maggie?” Sin asked.
“She’s below.”
Sin arched a brow at him. “Why is she below, alone?”
