“Patience, do not talk to Quinn that way,” Heather struggled to say.
“She thinks you are Quinn,” Emma said, choking on tears.
“Hot, so hot,” Heather said, pulling at her dress.
“Leave us,” Patience ordered, giving Rhys a shove.
Rhys grabbed her and Emma by the arms and rushed them over to their husbands. “Get them out of here now.”
“I am not leaving my sister,” Patience said, her husband Hunter fighting to keep her from going after the Dragon.
Emma’s husband Rogan kept hold of her hand as she took a step toward the Dragon and said, “Please, she is burning with fever. I know what to do.”
Rhys wanted to chase them all away, but he knew of Emma’s healing skills, and he relented. “You can stay and help.”
“Then I stay too,” Patience said.
“Only if you follow what I tell you and you do not argue with anyone,” Emma ordered. “Your temper will not serve our sister well.”
“Emma is right,” Hunter said, releasing his wife.
“I will do whatever you say and save my temper for later,” Patience said, letting the Dragon know she was not done with him.
“Hunter and I will be right outside the door if you need anything,” Rogan said and went to the door with Hunter, though it opened before they reached it.
Nessa hurried in, tears in her eyes and a bucket of water in each hand. “My lord, what can I do to help Lady Heather?”
Rhys looked at Emma. “Tell her what you need.” He turned and went to his wife, taking herhand. “I am here with you, and I am not going anywhere. Your sisters are also here to help.”
Heather licked at her lips and thankfully Rhys understood and lifted her head to give her more of the cool brew. “Do not leave me,” she said as soon as she could.
“Never,” he said and kissed her cheek, growing alarmed by how hot she felt. He turned to Emma. “She is burning.”
“We need to get her out of her garments and get her cleaned so I can see how bad the wounds are. I also need some plants brewed.”
“I will see to that, tell me what you need done,” Patience said.
It did not take Rhys and Emma long to strip Heather, now unresponsive to their words or touch, and when they did, Emma started crying, seeing the many bruises on her sister’s soft skin.
“I am sorry,” Emma said, “I cry much too easily since I have gotten with child.”
“Shed as many tears as you want,” Rhys said, “and shed them for me as well for my anger will not let me shed any and my mind is too busy planning my revenge.”
Rhys worked silently beside Emma washing the dirt off Heather’s body, but when it came to her feet, Emma laid a gentle hand on his. “Please, let me see to her feet. I need to tend the wounds gently, so they do not open and bleed again. It would help if you bathed her face, neck, and shoulders with a wet cloth to help get the fever down.”
Rhys nodded and did as Emma said. He was so intent on seeing to his wife’s care that he did not hear Patience return or the sisters whispering.
Heather suddenly stirred and called out, “Quinn.”
Rhys was quick to answer, taking hold of her hand. “I am here, Heather, do not worry. I am not going to leave you, not ever again.”
She settled, though did not let go of his hand.
Rhys finally looked to Emma to see if she was finished tending Heather’s feet.
She, along with her sister, was staring at him.
He knew what they were thinking, but he was too concerned with his wife to discuss it with them now. “How are her feet?”
