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"Just open the fucking door, Haxa.”
"Byriel?"
Slowly the door creaked open, revealing a tiny flit of a woman. She had friendly wrinkles around her eyes, frizzy blonde hair with streaks of grey framing her face, and she stood just barely taller than me. She smiled at Byriel, her whole presence warming at the sight of him. My worry that she'd send us away quickly faded.
"You look like shit, wolf," she snorted. Her eyes moved to each one of us, her smile growing. "And you brought a party."
"My friend is hurt." Byriel patted the back of Joon's leg. "Can you help?"
"Put him on the table," she said as if this was a common occurrence, stepping aside to allow us in. Byriel ducked his head under the doorframe and lumbered inside. "I've never had a siren in my home before." Her bright eyes moved over Lex. "Will you behave? Or do I need to prepare something to calm you?"
Lex leaned in with his usual flirty energy. "I'd promise to behave, but I try not to lie."
I groaned, ready to scold him, but before I could open my mouth, the witch tipped her head back and let out a hearty chuckle.
"Come on, you two." She motioned for us to enter. "Byriel never brings friends, and I'm far too intrigued to make you sit under the switches." She pointed to long, whip-like branches.
Lex hurried in after her, but I stayed frozen in the doorway, shocked at the sight before me.
Her home appeared to be a normal, average-sized dwelling. I took half a step back to make sure the outside of the tree was still just a tree. The trunk was very fat and broad, fitting the little door comfortably, but there was no way it could hold the cozy room before me. I knew it was a trick, but it hurt my head to think of how.
Too tired, I let it go, and stepped inside. Walking to the colorful kitchen in the back, I took in the cozy dwelling. The scent of cloves, mint, and soot warmed my chest as I moved through the cluttered living room, passing a wicker rocking chair and an old sewing table.
Joon's big body consumed the large wooden table, his feet dangling off the end. A few books and loose scrolls of parchment lay at his head. In fact, stacks of books and paper littered the floor, countertops, and chairs. They were everywhere.
Byriel grunted as he settled into a kitchen chair, stretching his long legs out. He looked to be on the verge of passing out. My nerves flared at what we might do if this witch couldn't help.
"You hurt too?" Haxa asked Byriel.
He nodded, undoing his belt to expose his blood-soaked bandage.
"Let's see," she huffed, moving to him.
He motioned to Joon. "My friend—“
"He's not going anywhere," she cut him off, giving a lazy wave of her hand.
Byriel stiffened at her interruption but didn't say anything. Nothing set an alpha off like an interrupted thought, and, for some reason, it made me like the witch even more.
Haxa pulled at the bandage stuck to Byriel’s skin. He hissed as it slowly pulled free. "Did a wolf do this to you?" she asked, pressing at the edges of his puffy skin.
"No. Something wild got me," he gritted out, his chest rising and falling as she pressed harder.
She pulled her lips together in a pout, thinking. "And this one?" She moved to Joon.
"He was stabbed." I gently laid my hand next to the wound in the center of his chest. His usually tan skin was so pale, and he was shiny with sweat.
Haxa peered at his chest for a moment, then ripped the dressing off in one quick jerk, startling me. Some of the tree sap holding it in place stuck to his raw skin. I frowned at the witch, biting my tongue to keep from snapping at her; there was no need to be anything but gentle with my alpha. But I kept quiet, not wanting to be ungrateful.
She examined Joon's wound, leaning very close to his chest and running her nose along the torn skin. For a moment, I thought she might lick him.
Lex stared at the witch with such fascination, leaning forward a bit as she smell the cut. I relaxed a bit, seeing his soft but curious eyes move over her. If he wasn't on alert, I didn't need to be either.
"Both alphas were injured over a month back," Lex said, settling into a chair at Joon's head. He absentmindedly twirled his finger around a strand of Joon's hair. "All their other injuries have healed except these. I think they're doing it for attention."
I smacked the siren’s arm, earning a pouty glare from him. Now wasn't the time for his sass.
"What is that?" Haxa whispered to herself. She cupped her hands over Joon's chest and peaked between a crack in her fingers. She stayed in that position so long, it made me jump when she suddenly spun and did the same thing to Byriel's hip. He closed his eyes and tipped his head back, exhausted.
