Page 92 of Burdened Bonds

“You shouldn’t have done that. She’s more important than me. She should be your first priority.”

“There are others searching for her,” he says.

“And no one searching for me,” I say.

“Your parents?”

“Dead. Killed resisting arrest – according to your dad.”

He nods. “I guess we’re both orphans now.”

“Your dad–”

“Is dead to me,” he says resolutely, resting his hand over my cracked ribs and repairing them carefully with his magic. “There are a lot of injuries.” I can hear anger in his voice.

“Yeah, I tried to repair them myself–”

“There are too many and you’re too hurt.”

I lean back against the wall. “Yeah.”

He continues his work, muttering the words of the incantation, his hands resting over each injury in turn. Occasionally he pauses and glances over at the other unconscious man in the cell or over to the door.

“I’ll know if anyone’s coming. The advantage of wolf hearing,” I say.

“Then listen out.”

“I assume that means you’re not meant to be in here.”

“My dad sent me back to the academy–”

“The academy?”

“Yeah, he has guards watching it. They’re pulling students out for questioning left, right and center. Several have vanished altogether.”

“You snuck out?” He nods. “But they’ll notice you’re gone eventually.”

“Come morning, yeah. And I’m assuming someone at this prison is going to make a call at some point to check I am here under my dad’s orders like I’ve claimed.”

“Shit, how long do you think we have?”

“Not long at all.” He pulls his hand back. “But you’re done. At least for now, I can repair you better when we’re out of here.”

I roll my shoulders and my neck, flex my fingers and shift my legs. While there are some remaining aches and pains, I feel a hell of a lot better than I did fifteen minutes ago. To prove it, I bust through the collar wrapped around my neck and break the chains tied to my wrist.

“Fuck, that’s better,” I mutter.

“Can you stand up?”

“Yes, I can stand up.” I jump to my feet to prove it, Tristan examining me as I do.

“And can you transform?”

“Now?”

“I’m thinking your beast is going to come in handy in busting our way out of here.”

I manage a grin. “And I think he’d rather enjoy ripping a few throats out.”