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Chapter 23
Cal suppressed a sigh as Relian laid her down on the bed. His arms felt so good around her. But all fairytale moments had to come to an end. Now was the time to face what’d happened. The thought of it made her quiver. She wasn’t used to the idea of nearly dying. Thank heavens the pain wasn’t bad. Was that due to the adrenaline or the stuff he’d put on her cheek, neck, and chest?
Relian removed her slippers, pulled the counterpane up to her waist, and made a show of fluffing up her pillows. He couldn’t seem to settle down. Were his hands shaking?
He continued fussing around her, much to her annoyance. As he leaned over, hair fell over his shoulder and tickled her face. That was it. They needed to talk. She yanked on a strand. “Relian, stop. You’re making me nervous.”
He stood up straight. “My lady.”
She rolled her eyes at the stiffness of that title. “I think you can call me Cal.” Too bad the slowness of her words somewhat ruined the effect she’d been going for.
Relian ignored her comment. “A medic will be here soon to treat your wounds.”
“I’m not hurt that badly, am I?”
He grimaced. As he sat on the bed, the edge dipped. “Any scratch that touches your skin is too much. Though not deadly, the wound on your chest is fairly deep and will be painful. We’ll give you medicine to dull the pain and impede infection. This will also ensure we don’t chance any scars.”
“You have a way of ensuring no scar tissue forms?” Surprise laced her voice. Though such marvels were becoming commonplace back on Earth, she hadn’t thought of equivalent knowledge being available here. Her mind screeched to a halt. Earth? Since when had she stopped calling Earth home?
“For shallow wounds that are treated promptly, yes.” He bent over her, examining her cheek and neck. His gaze slid to the compress and lingered a bit too long on her chest for purely medical purposes.
She nearly giggled. Men were the same everywhere.
He finally ripped his gaze away. “Those scratches on your cheek and neck are shallow enough to heal quickly. The injury on your chest will take a little extra care but should be fine.”
“That’s good.”
He nodded. The silence stretched between them and left her alone with her thoughts—something she didn’t welcome.
“Wouldn’t an arrow to the wrist be a fatal wound?”
Relian reached out and took up one of her hands. “Yes, if not treated quickly with the proper techniques.”
Again, like so many times before, electricity shot up and down her arm. She ignored it. Flights of fancy would have to wait. “So what’ll happen to him?”
“He’ll live or die.” Unconcern for the ultimate fate of Eamon tinged his voice.
“Relian!”
He arched an arrogant brow at her. “What? You wish the best for your would-be killer?”
In a daze she shook her head. “No, he should be held accountable for his crime, but....”
“And to that end, my cousin will either live or die. It matters not to me.”
Cal reared up against the pillows and attempted to tear her hand from his grasp. Relian held on tight.
“Cousin? He’s your cousin?” If so, this changed everything. She couldn’t come between family and sure didn’t want to belong to one where certain members wished her dead.
Relian shrugged. “Yes, you couldn’t guess? We do look somewhat alike.”
“I thought that might be a coincidence. You’re all more similar than not, at least at first glance.”
His mouth curled. “Meaning we all look alike? One elf is as good as another?”
She shot him a wary glance. Was he joking? If not, she didn’t want to dig herself in deeper. Better start talking. “Not exactly, but you all have an inhuman quality you share.”
“The same could be said for you and Maggie of your humanity. It makes you more alike than different.”
