“Don’t be so stubborn,” he said. “Let’s get you to the healers.”
After going through another portal,Raine walked the halls of the castle, hardly able to ignore the worry clawing in his gut at the state of his father and older sister.
Maeryn clung to him, arms wrapped around his neck, andhe couldn’t help but glance at her injury. “Why did you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Shove me out of the way and get yourself bitten. That was a terrible idea, boss.”
Eyes closed, she subtly nuzzled closer. “Probably for the same reason you took an arrow for me,” she whispered against the hollow at the base of his throat.
Raine’s heart almost stopped at the nearness of her. Allowing his cheek to brush the top of her hair, he inhaled. Her scent was like orange and lilacs. Alluring. Calling to him. Sharp and wild and yet…calm. Tranquil.
Ascending the stairs to the healer’s wing, he tightened his grip, trying not to shove his entire face in her hair and drown himself in the aroma ofher.
“Put her here.” Kai gestured to a bed the moment they entered. “I’m sure more injured will be coming.”
Raine laid Maeryn down, trying not to hover.
“Raine, you take that bed beside her,” Kai instructed.
“I don’t need a bed. I just need to know if she and my sister and father will be alright.”
“You have an arrow in your shoulder,” Maeryn scolded. “And look…the healers are working on your family now.”
Raine followed her gaze. Several healers feverishly cleaned Fanya’s wounds as another worked on his father. Jorrar stood in between the beds occupied by his grandchildren, soothing them as their mother, Isolde, examined their injuries.
“She’s alright,” a healer said to Pax who stood beside Fanya’s bed, eyes filled with fear. “She’ll wake up soon.”
“Your father will be alright, too,” the other said to Raine. “And the children.”
Raine blew out a breath and collapsed onto the mattress.
Ava and Casimir appeared in the doorway, carrying an injured Jareth between them. Kai gestured to an empty bed,and they laid him down, not gently in the least. Jareth cursed and glared at the two of them.
“You’re welcome,” Casimir grumbled and left.
Ava approached Raine and plopped beside him. “Is everyone okay?”
“We are.”
Kai was bent over Maeryn’s leg, extracting the venom. And somehow, she was silent, eyes closed as she pushed through the pain. A healer approached Raine and inspected the arrow protruding from his shoulder.
“I need to pull this out,” he said. “Lie down please.”
Raine did as he asked. “Do it quickly.”
The healer gripped the arrow, holding it still as he made several incisions, widening the entrance wound. He carefully pulled the arrow out, sharp heat coursing through Raine’s shoulder.
“Fuck me, that hurts,” he said through gritted teeth.
With the arrow out of the way, the healer continued to treat the wound. Raine turned to Ava. Her face was pained, and he could tell she was on edge.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
Her eyes brimmed with tears. “When I was on the Elderoak journey it showed me visions.”
He frowned. “Of what?”
