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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Khol
Iwoke up from a peaceful rest with Visla’s warm body molded into mine. Wearing nothing but a thin silk undergarment, she remained in a deep slumber.
The last thing I remembered was not being able to stay awake. I’d told my men to get Visla to a sanctuary in Villa Xtarra if I was somehow disadvantaged, but I should’ve known she wouldn’t leave my side.
I noted how the sun rays washed across her skin giving it an ethereal glow. Her warmth was inviting to the point where I could remain forever in her embrace if I had the choice. But my responsibilities were great and would only increase with time. It’s what I had chosen…well, that was only partly true. I was chosen. I was given this role.
Above Visla and I, the sun-window was fully open which told me why the living quarters were so toasty and she was so warm. She had probably opened it just for me, knowing that the UV rays would heal me faster despite the obvious discomfort to herself.
There was a bowl of water, a cloth, and a jar of salve on the small end table next to her. I pressed my palm to my wound and noted that everything was healed over with only slightly aggravating pain to remind me that I’d almost been gutted out by a beast. I’d been close to death many times before after injuries sustained in battle, but never this close.
Something told me that I’d been sleeping for a very long time in the bed. The air just felt different. My joints were stiff which literally only happened when I took a break from battling or conditioning in preparation of a battle.
The air wasn’t the only thing that seemed different. There was something different about Visla. I smelled it in the air mixed with her familiar aura.
The control switch to the sun window was on the bed between us. It had probably slipped from her fingers when she fell asleep. I picked it up and closed everything, shading us from the sky.
Visla stirred and yawned. Her eyes widened when she saw that I was awake.
I smiled. “Visla.”
“Khol, you’re awake.” She propped herself up and her gaze scanned my face and then her attention dropped down to my recent scar. “Are you in pain still?”
“No pain. Not anymore.”
She smiled and I realized that I didn’t care if I never saw the sun again. My whole world lit up with all the possibilities for the future every time I was with Visla.
I intercepted her hand right before it touched my healed flesh. I entwined my fingers with hers. I brought her fingers to my lips and kissed them. “You were tending to me. You really are a Jill-of-all-Trades, aren’t you?”
“I learn the skills I can to survive. It’s what my mom taught me.”
“I heard your voice and recognized your touch, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t wake up.”
“Yes. It was your body’s way of telling you to slow down. That was your medic’s explanation for why you passed out,” she said. “I’m glad you’re okay. I thought I might never see you again when you didn’t return from your trip when I thought you would.”
I leaned in and kissed her forehead and then her lips. Her taste was so addicting. I found that I wasn’t able to stop. When every nerve in my body began to awaken, Visla broke the kiss. When her gaze went south, I realized she was worried about my wound.
“Trest’k showed me how to dress your wound properly. You shouldn’t do anything to slow the healing,” she said, gently checking my stitching. “The rest of your hordesmen have returned and many of them were injured. I’m not sure what happened on that mission, but it seems they had to battle something awful as well. Trest’k and the other medics weren’t getting much sleep and I wanted to help with your treatments.”
Upon hearing that my men had suffered injuries while sent off by Sanjit on a fruitless mission, my blood boiled, and I lifted myself to a seated position determined to fix what she corrupted.
“Don’t try to move. I’ll call for Trest’k right away,” Visla urged.
“No,” I told her. “I’m fine. I’m healed. Thank you for staying with me.”
She blushed. “I didn’t want to leave you alone. I don’t know who to trust anymore.”
“You’re right not to trust anyone you don’t know. I had hoped to maintain peace on every settlement. While there is peace in that regard, there are those who wish to cause chaos among our leaders. I don’t want to be violent here. I wanted a place of peace for my hordesmen, but I’m afraid I have no choice,” I said.
She caught my gaze with concern swarming through her eyes. “What will you do?”
“What I hoped that I wouldn’t have to do. Seems I’ll have to regain my old reputation after all.”
“Hmm…I wonder if you ever truly lost it. Maybe you were only suppressing it,” she said.
It was the truth. I didn’t want to be known as ruthless, uncaring, and deadly, but if I bowed now everything I coveted was at risk…including Visla. “I wanted to be good for you,” I told her.
