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“Whoa—”
A pair of strong arms wraps around me before I can tumble backward. In the next instant, my feet leave the stairs.
“Lucan!”
He scoops me up easily into his arms.
“I can walk,” I protest, wiggling in his iron grip.
“I know.”
“I can.”
“I know, Doc.”
“I just need to—”
“Shh.”
His voice is low and impossibly gentle.
I blink up at him, too dizzy to argue.
Lucan adjusts his grip, one arm beneath my knees and the other supporting my back. He holds me against his broad chest, my cheek settling on his soft pec. His body heat seeps through the fabric of his tunic. The steady beat of his heart pounds beneath my ear.
He carries me up the remaining steps without so much as a grunt, his steps steady and sure.
“You can take my bed,” he says as we reach the landing. “I’ll sleep on the sofa tonight.”
“But—”
“Micah.” He cuts me off, shaking his head. “You spend all day taking care of sick animals. Let someone take care of you for once.”
Heat creeps up the back of my neck. I tuck my face against his chest to hide my blush.
He steps into his room and lays me gently on his bed.
It’s massive. The wrought-iron bedframe is decorated with intricate scrollwork, while a beautiful brass pendant hangs from the center of the ceiling, its stained-glass shade casting flickering colors across the room.
“Are you comfortable?” Lucan asks.
“No.” I frown, staring down at the red splatters staining the parts of my clothes that weren’t protected by my coat. “I’m covered in blood.”
Lucan’s expression immediately sobers. “From the fire ferret?”
I nod.
He bites his lip, then turns toward his wardrobe. He swings open the doors and sorts through the clothes before grabbing a soft, oversized tunic.
“Here. Put this on.”
I take it from him, staring at the enormous piece of fabric.
“Oh. Thanks.”
He grunts. “Get changed. I’ll go grab you some water.”
He leaves and shuts the door behind him.
