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“Two rooms for the evening,” Renton said, immune to the innkeeper’s adoring smile. The woman looked at Tenah, and her expression crumpled.
“Felnor bless you,” the woman exclaimed, reciting the name of her elemental. “I’m sorry to say I’m an utter failure when it comes to mending wounds, but I’ll check my books to see if we have a healer staying this evening. Though, few travel this close to the Boglands.”
The Boglands. Tenah grimaced.
The innkeeper flipped through pages of a leather-bound book splayed on the counter. Discouraged, she hurried over to a shelf to sift through various items Tenah guessed had been left behind.
“I know I have medical supplies around here somewhere. I’ll bring them right up to your room as soon as I find them. If only I kept this place organized.” The innkeeper gave her rosy cheeks a little slap. “Oh, I almost forgot—I only have one room available this evening.”
Groaning, Tenah went limp in Renton’s arms. He politely thanked the innkeeper, however, and then carried her up the three flights of stairs to their quaint suite. The two main walls sloped up to a pointed ceiling, and the back wall was made up of glass windows and doors out to a small, snow-dusted balcony. There was a large, quilted bed and enough fluffed pillows to kink up her neck just looking at them.
Renton swept her into a connected bathing room and deposited her in a large, wooden basin. She let her head fall back against the edge as he removed another tiny vial of mysterious substance from his belt.
“Technically, this is kidnapping,” she muttered.
When he didn’t reply, she turned her head slightly, finding that he’d already unbuckled his bracers, chest piece and blades. Under all that protection, he wore a dark, short-sleeved shirt, taut over defined shoulders. Hundreds of pearly scars decorated his muscular arms.
Hot blood rushed to her cheeks, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away from him.
Renton cocked a brow, a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. He pressed the small vial into her palm. “Drink.”
“What is it?” She eyed the thick liquid suspiciously.
“A very expensive healing tonic.”
Uncapping it quickly, she sucked it down. Anything to heal faster so she could plot her escape.
“What do I owe you?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
“Consider it paid for. I probably should have given it to you an hour ago, but I wasn’t certain how long it would last. I don’t take them often.”
A knock on the bedroom door lured him away. Tenah clamped her teeth together as her gaze darted to the window. Too small to fit her body. She snorted at the thought of crawling to the balcony. Then what? Would she simply tumble off the railing? She didn’t fancy another drop into the snow.
Renton appeared with a basket of various medical supplies. From his smooth, easy tone, she’d bet krotens he’d made the lovely innkeeper blush again. She had a feeling he could have that effect on most shadows if he desired it.
Tenah frowned, eyes widening as he withdrew a hooked needle and string from the basket. Meticulously, he lined them up next to clean strips of cloth and a bottle of antiseptic.
Her stomach twisted. “Do you even know what you’re doing?”
He scooted his wooden stool closer after he threaded the needle. Before she could protest, a cool cloth pressed against her thigh to clean the wound. Then he dumped on antiseptic, making all her muscles seize up.
She hissed. “A warning would have been nice!”
His brows kneaded as he lowered the needle to her skin. “The pain is the same regardless. And yes, I’ve stitched up enough of my own mistakes to qualify for this job. Now, hold still. Unfortunately, the tonic won’t work miracles on these wounds.”
Sinking teeth into her bottom lip, she leaned her head back until her eyes settled on the wooden ceiling. “How did someone so young become employed by the High Court?”
“Back to this game, hmm?”
Tenah whimpered, eyes shutting at the tugging sensation of his work. “Talk to me.”
“About?”
“Anything. Just distract me from puking.”
He gave a low laugh. The sound made her heart skip. Who was this gentle yet murderous male that seemed to care if she lived or died?
“You summon hellfire, but a bit of gore makes you sick?” he asked.
