Chapter Nine
Pain drummed within Kristina's head, tensing every muscle in her body. She pressed her fist against her forehead, tears burning her eyes. "The tea is not helping!" she sobbed.
"Shh, my sweet sister, you must relax back and let me bathe your face in cold water," Anna whispered.
"We need more cold cloths to put on her head," Tavia said.
Kristina heard water splashing and then another cool cloth was draped across the top of her head.
As she relaxed and held perfectly still, the pain lessened a tiny amount. It was not quite so excruciating now. She willed it away and told herself she felt better. The thought of Colin drifted into her mind—his deep, soothing voice. She wished he were here now.
"The second cup of willow bark and poppy tea is steeped and cool enough." Tavia's voice moved closer.
"I'll help her drink it. Lean up a wee bit." Anna touched her shoulder.
Kristina did not want to move but she leaned up. The pain throbbed harder. She forced herself to drink as much of the honey-sweetened herbal tea as she could, then lay back again.
After the pain simmered down, Kristina took a deep breath. "I'm glad you're well, Anna. I worried Blackburn would hurt you."
"Blackburn is dead," Anna said with cold finality. "You never have to worry over him again."
Kristina had never been glad to hear of anyone's death before, but Blackburn was the exception. He had near destroyed her life and Anna's. They were safe now.
Kristina relaxed, her mind drifting, as if on a cloud, away from the pain.
She did not even realize she was sleeping until she awoke to the sound of Anna's voice. "Looks like she's waking."
Someone placed a fresh, cool compress on her forehead and eyes again.
"Anna?" she whispered, wishing the pounding in her head would cease, though thankfully it had improved.
"Aye, dear sister. How are you feeling?" Anna rubbed her shoulder.
"My head still aches but not as bad."
"You can sleep more if you wish. I'll stay here with you." Anna held her hand and stroked it. Although Kristina wanted to argue about sleeping more, she found she could not resist drifting off again.
Later, a sound awoke her. She sensed someone nearby. The room was warm and cozy and smelled of food, which did not appeal.
"Oh, good. You're awake again. Are you hungry?" Anna asked.
"Nay." Her stomach ached with queasiness.
"Colin told me it has been a long while since you've eaten much more than a piece of roasted grouse, so you need to eat something. At least a few sips of this broth."
Oh, she truly did not want it, but she knew she would have to force it down in order to recover. "Very well."
"Colin is very concerned about you. He asks about you every half hour."
"Indeed?" Kristina's face heated, and her heart rate sped up. Was he truly that worried about her? "He's a kind man."
Anna helped her lean up to drink a sip of the warm and salty chicken broth. "And—in case you're wondering—Colin is handsome."
Kristina almost choked but forced herself to swallow, then coughed.
"Careful." Anna helped her to lie on her side.
Kristina had known Colin was gorgeous, maybe from the impressions she'd gotten when her fingers had taken the measure of his facial bone structure, or maybe she knew from instinct. Regardless, she did not wish Anna to know of her intense feelings for him. It was all too new and unfamiliar. She had already accepted, ages ago, that no man would ever be interested in her, and now she found it hard to believe Colin might be. Surely it was just a side effect of their being in a dangerous and frightening situation together.
