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“Right or wrong,” Lugh said, “it is a pointless argument. Until we can find a means of permanently closing the gates, the Annwfyn will remain a fact of life.”
Given we hadn’t figured out how the gates had formed between our worlds or even if the Annwfyn were responsible for the closure of some and the reactivation of others, permanent closure was unlikely to ever happen.
Cynwrig finished packing around the claw and tied off the bandage. Then he pressed a hand down onto the stone near my foot. A shudder went through it and, a heartbeat later, thick fingers of black rock rose, looping gently around my entire foot and ankle before forming a thick platform underneath.
“A rock moonboot,” Lugh said. “Genius.”
“Walking still risks moving the claw and causing further damage,” Cynwrig said. “But I’ve made it as secure as possible.”
“Thanks,” I said.
His smile flashed, warm despite the worry in his eyes. “Can I borrow a knife? Cutting that arm off will make things easier.”
I drew a knife and handed it to him hilt first. He carefully sliced away the surplus section of limb, then returned the knife. Once I’d sheathed it, he grabbed both my hands and rose, drawing me up with him. I balanced on one foot, a little wary of putting any sort of pressure on my injured one, even with the moonboot. Lugh handed me a couple of painkillers, which I suspected wouldn’t do a whole lot, then picked up both our packs and led the way out. Cynwrig slipped his arm around my waist and all but carried me.
The next few hours were something of a nightmare as we slowly ascended. Darkness had well and truly fallen when we finally reached the entry cavern. Cynwrig, who was sweaty and gaunt with exhaustion, nevertheless swept me up into his arms and carried me the rest of the way.
Which was just as well. Despite the boot, despite the painkillers, I was close to passing out. Only sheer bloody determination kept me going.
Lugh’s mapping skills got us through the moor and back to the car quickly and safely. Cynwrig gently deposited me in the back seat, and it was all I could do not to flop across it and just let go.
“The nearest elven healer is in Merthyr Tydfil.” Lugh glanced at me. “You able to hang on until then?”
I raised an eyebrow. It was an effort. I really, really just wanted to let go. “Like I have a choice?”
“No, I guess you don’t. Cynwrig, keep an eye on her for me.”
He climbed into the car and, as Cynwrig settled beside me, punched the address into the GPS and drove off. Cynwrig wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and I leaned into him. His weariness was a blanket that washed over me, but underneath it ran a core of unyielding stone that made me feel safe. Protected. Cared for.
My eyes drifted closed, and the pain washed me away.
I woke to the familiar warmth of arms wrapped around me, but this time, it was in a bed rather than the rear seat of a car. Cynwrig’s powerful length was pressed against mine, his soft breathing stirring sweetly past my ear. I remained still, not wanting to wake him. Darkness held the small room captive, but the clock on the nearby side table said it was 5:00 AM. I had no idea whether that meant it was the following morning or if I’d skipped an entire day.
They’d obviously found the healer, even though my memory held little more than a vague blur of faces and continuing waves of pain. My foot was no longer bandaged, the claw was gone, and I could wiggle my toes without blood gushing. I’d been extremely lucky in that cavern. The Annwfyn could have easily munched down on my foot rather than securing it first with his claw, and no healer, no matter how skillful, could replace a lost limb.
The fingers resting gently against my stomach twitched as sleep gave way to awareness. He stirred, pressed a kiss against my shoulder, and then said, in a voice that was husky with sleep and oh-so-sexy, “How are you feeling?”
“Better.” I turned to face him. His erection grew between us, pressing against my stomach, a heat I suddenly ached to feel more intimately. “What happened after I lost consciousness?”
“We found the healer and convinced him to work on you immediately.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Meaning he was initially reluctant?”
“It was after midnight, and he’d been in bed.” His silvery eyes sparkled with amusement. “Let’s just say Lugh made a convincing argument that it would be in his best interest to treat you. Immediately.”
“Lugh can be quite persuasive when he wants to be.”
“Oh, therewasnothing persuasive about his actions or his words. It was a straight-out threat.”
I laughed softly. “How long ago was all this?”
He shifted fractionally to glance over my shoulder at the clock. “Just over twenty-four hours. The healer did warn you’d probably sleep that long.”
“So where are we?”
“A hotel in Merthyr Tydfil.”
I had a vague memory of Lugh mentioning that city but didn’t reply, more than a little distracted by the fingers trailing delight down the curve of my body toward my hip. When he reached that point, he slid them between my legs, and lord, it felt so good I couldn’t stop the groan of pure delight escaping.
