Page 39 of A Fate of Blood and Magic (Fated #2)

“But your mate was hurting,” I said in understanding.

“And it is important to ease tension when you can.” Many times, it’d been Brenton teasing and joking to lighten our moods.

“You have my apologies for the way I spoke to you. I didn’t understand the circumstances.

You are one of our most gifted healers. When the other healers arrive, I ask that you remain with them until Etienne is either stable or beyond saving.

Do what you can for him and then take your mate to eat.

If she tries to refuse, tell her it is an official, royal command. ”

“I’ll do my best for him,” he repeated, his frown deepening. “I swear it.”

When Brenton returned with two other healers, I pulled him to the side of the room so we wouldn’t disturb them as they worked. I would’ve taken him into the dungeon as I initially intended, but he seemed to need to be here.

Where Teddy had once told me my love was selfless, I wasn’t sure I could do what Brenton was doing for Finley. He pushed his own emotions to the side to make sure Finley’s intended was taken care of. He protected her heart in a way that awed me.

The healers moved around Etienne in a synchronized, almost choreographed way while Padern gave instructions as needed. Within a few beats, Etienne was hooked up to bags and machines while Padern continued to pour his magic into him until Etienne blinked.

It took him a few beats to adjust to his surroundings when suddenly he sat upright, his head turning from one side to the other.

“Where am I?” he said, his words slurring together. “My warriors.”

I crossed in front of one of the healers to stand in front of him. “Stand down, Etienne,” I told him. “You and your warriors are back home.”

My words seemed to comfort him, but only for a few beats. Before I could say anything else, he moved to rip the IVs out of his arm. Brenton pushed me away to stop Etienne.

“Finley?” he asked Brenton, his eyes swimming with worry.

“She went to the depths of Enfierna to get you back,” Brenton gritted out. “I won’t allow you to waste her efforts. You will lie down, rest, and do whatever the healers tell you to do.”

“She’s alive?” Those two words trembled from his lips. “Brenton, please, tell me she’s alive.”

Flecks of black flared in Brenton’s hazel eyes. “Your intended is alive. I’ll have her moved into your room at once.”

Etienne sagged against his pillow. “I hoped you were with her,” he said, blinking heavy eyes.

As he fell asleep, Brenton pointed at an empty bed and asked for one of the healers to move it beside Etienne before he left again. She did as he requested, and I grabbed a couple of pillows and covers for Finley. It didn’t take long for Brenton to return, this time with Finley in his arms.

“Etienne.” She pressed a shaky hand to her mouth. “Is he okay?”

“He’s stable,” Padern replied. “Once he’s awake and alert, I’ll go over everything with both of you.”

In Brenton’s arms, Finley nodded .

“You need your rest,” Brenton reminded her. He eased her onto the bed, and once she lay across it, he covered her up to her chin.

Lying down, she reached toward Etienne’s bed. Understanding what she wanted, Brenton moved Etienne’s hand to cover hers. Finley shifted on the bed with a small, sleepy smile on her face.

“You’re still my best friend, aren’t you?” she asked Brenton, her lashes fluttering in slow sweeps. “You’re just not my squishy anymore.” She frowned.

Brenton jerked back, hurt crossing his features. “I’ll always be whatever you need me to be.”

This time, when she blinked, tears clung to her lashes. Brenton ran a single finger over her cheek, taking a tear with him when he pulled away. Oh, my friend. I could only imagine the pain ravaging him. To see his soul-bound mate love another so dearly. ..

I cupped his shoulder, leading him out of the room, where his heart splayed open for everyone to witness.

“What do you need, brother?” I asked.

Glimpses of grief, fury, and torment stormed across his face. He clasped his hands over his head, bringing his elbows in tight as he sucked in an unsteady breath.

I couldn’t offer him comfort or solace, but I could get him out of here. Now.

Without saying anything, I took us to the dungeon, where he could take some of that pain and lay it across the very heart of the man who tried to take away my mate.

The man still hung from the rope, sweat sliding down his face to the bare skin of his chest. Brenton and I worked in silence, fitting the crusher together piece by heavy piece.

It was a device my father had taught us to build, and one we’d only used a handful of times in our youth.

Back then, the clang of its steel plates was just noise.

Now each strike echoed like a death toll.

We’d crushed boulders with it. Split steel. Never flesh and bone.

The last piece, a thick screw, slid into place with a grinding turn. The man’s eyes found mine, wide and wet with terror, and a cold shiver crawled up my spine. Without a word, Brenton and I lifted the crusher, positioned it over his leg, and trapped his calf between the screw and the plate.

The male murmured something I couldn’t decipher, but the terrified look in his eyes told me everything I needed to know.

I summoned Garrison as well as a fae gifted with mind-speak magic. While this male was ready to speak, he couldn’t do so with his broken jaw.

Glaring through unblinking eyes, Brenton grinned up at him.

It wasn’t a grin of joy, though, but one of malice.

My friend was hurting deeply, and for possibly the first time, he was using his power to hurt another with excruciating anguish determining his actions.

Guardians, this would be painful for the prisoner. I reveled in it.

“You’ll tell us everything we want to know,” I said. “Who crossed through the veil with you. How the humans have magic.”

His nod was sloppy and slow.

“But not before we have our fun.”