Page 18

I go to Cam first, remembering how the Kerolu’s horn had pierced through his arm. He’s drinking from his canteen, his other arm hanging limply at his side, blood dripping from his fingertips. My power purrs weakly under my skin at the sight.

“Let me see your arm.” I reach for it, thankful when I see the horn didn’t pierce all the way through.

I channel enough power to stop the bleeding and repair the skin, but he still has a hole in his arm. “Once my power returns, I can heal it more, at least now it won’t get infected.” He nods.

“It feels better. Thank you, Layla.” I nod turning to find Archie.

He’s sitting against a tree. I assess him, seeing a few cuts and scrapes, but when my eyes drift to his leg, I see his pant leg tattered and wet with blood. “You look like hell.” I force a smile, kneeling. I use my dagger to cut his pant leg to get a better look.

“Hey, I liked those pants, and we both know I’ve never looked like hell a day in my life.”

I chuckle softly. “Looks like the Kerolu got you pretty good.” A decent-sized chunk is missing from his calf, and my hands are already glowing as I bring them up to hover over the wound.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you all fixed up.

I don’t have enough power to make it perfect; you’re going to have a nasty scar. The ladies will go crazy for it.”

“I’m no stranger to scars as long as I can keep my leg.” He braces expecting pain.

“It’s not going to hurt, Arch. If anything, you’ll feel some warming, maybe itching.” I take a deep breath, letting the stopper off my power, pushing what I can spare into him.

White glowing mist cocoons around his leg, swirling around the skin until I’m fully satisfied. The newly healed skin almost completely matches his healthy skin, except for a rugged scar.

“Astonishing,” Archie remarks as he moves his leg around, testing it.

“It might be a little sore for a few days, try to take it easy on that leg. Mind if I take care of that head wound?”

“You really are the best, Layla,” he says, and I smile, lifting one hand to his temple, the other on his chin to keep him still .

When I feel like I am done, I lick my thumb to smear it against Archie’s temple, removing the dried blood. “Thanks, Mom.” He grins. “I could really get used to having you around.” He stands up and offers me his hand.

I sway as I stand up. “Whoa, you okay?” He steadies me.

“I’m fine, just a little weak.” I want nothing more than a hot bath and a comfy bed. My thigh and stomach are throbbing in time with my heart. I fight to stay conscious as blood loss and use of power catch up to me. My body lurches sideways, and Archie catches me before I can hit the ground.

“Layla!” His voice is laced with concern, and I can’t seem to find the words to answer him. “Hey, stay with me.” He is shaking me gently. I struggle to keep my eyes open but the darkness creeping in becomes impossible to resist.

I come to as the horses slow. The noise of hooves clomping on pebbles echoes off the empty streets. The smell of the forest and leather is at the forefront of my senses.

When I am conscious enough to open my eyes, I realize my face is nuzzled into Ledger’s neck. The only thing keeping me up on the horse is his arm banded around me. My body goes a little rigid as I pull my face from his neck.

“Thank the fucking gods,” Ledger breathes as he looks down at me. “You scared the hell out of all of us back there. You shouldn’t have pushed yourself so hard. There is a limit to everyone’s abilities, and you seem to have no regard for yourself.”

“He’s right, you know? I thought we almost lost you back there,” Archie chimes in.

“You guys aren’t going to get rid of me that easily,” I respond, trying to lighten the mood. If I’m being honest, I’d scared myself. Expending so much power mixed with my wounds had been a dangerous combination, and I am feeling the punishing effects of both.

“Where in the world are we?” We canter down a cobblestone street. The houses we pass are built with spruce wood walls covered in green moss, the roofs a rich copper.

It looks charming and smells earthy and floral. I hear a babbling creek somewhere in the distance that must run through the town.

“This is Grimwood. Westray is about a day’s ride from here.” As we turn the corner, a few heavily armored men on horses ride by, barking hounds trailing after them. “They are known for animal tracking, herbalism, and leather working here. That is how they make a living.”

“Are they tracking Kerolu?”

“Amongst other things.” Ledger pulls Apollo’s reins as we come to a halt in front of an enchanting inn. The sign above the red wooden door reads, “The Lazy Archer.”

Everyone dismounts their horses, Ledger getting off himself and then reaching up to gently place me and my numb legs on the ground .

My head swims, and I reach out to Apollo to steady myself.

Ledger lifts an eyebrow at me, and I force a pleasant look onto my face, giving myself another steadying second before dropping my hand.

Ledger lifts me into his arms, and I’m too weak to fight him as he walks us into the inn.

The inn is warm, the smell of something savory and delicious in the air makes my stomach rumble. There is a fire in the hearth giving the dining room a glowy appearance. Mounted animal heads litter the walls, some seemingly innocent while others still appear as viscous as the day they perished.

I spot a monstrously large Kerolu head on the wall behind the front desk, I can practically see the drool dripping off its fangs. I shiver at the sight, unconsciously rearing back.

“What, blondie, you don’t like the furnishings?”

“No, they are very inviting. Why wouldn’t I want to see a creature that almost violently killed me right when I walk in?”

A faint smile spreads across Ledger’s face, and his right dimple pops just a tad. My eyes dart away, willing myself to be unaffected.

“Stiny!” I hear Archie exclaim as a stout older man walks out from behind a curtain to the front desk. He has a rounded belly, a white mustache, and rosy cheeks. His long, white hair is pulled back into a straight ponytail at the nape of his neck.

“Archie, it is so good to see you. I expected you earlier and was about to send Forde to look for you all.”

“Well, that was the plan, but we got ambushed by a rogue set of Kerolu. Let’s just say they were not overly friendly.”

“Those are some nasty creatures; I had a run-in with this guy a few years back. Ended up losing my hand to him but in the end, I got his head.” He lifts his left arm revealing a small, rounded nub. I avert my gaze, not wanting to stare for too long.

“Get cleaned up, and I will get some plates of nutriment for you when you’re ready. You know I am going to want to know all the details from your little run-in today. Keeps my life exciting.” He holds up some rings of jingling keys.

“Oh, trust me, we know, Stiny. We will be back down here soon with all the gory details.” Mia steps up to him, grabbing her key and giving him a pat on the shoulder. Everyone else takes their keys greedily, wanting to bathe off the days of travel and gore or maybe just get a moment alone.

“Do you need another room for the lady, Ledger?” He eyes me, and I open my mouth to respond in the affirmative.

“No,” Ledger says before I can. I glare at him, and he ignores me, taking the key from Stiny, who wears a wry grin on his face .

“Don’t you think if I was going to escape, I would have let you bleed out, taken a horse, and been long gone by now?”

“We are almost back to my kingdom, and I am not taking any chances.”

“Does my privacy mean nothing to you?!” I snap in a low whisper at him, my anger spiking.

“Your privacy is none of my concern. When we get to Westray, I’ll make sure you have your own quarters; for now, you’re with me.” His nonchalant tone boils my blood.

He puts the key into the lock as we approach the door and swings it open. It is a simple room with a dresser, and one singular mattress on a sturdy wooden bed frame. The air is stale but smells of rich mahogany.

“Great. One bed. I suppose you’re going to vine bound me to the headboard and watch me sleep?”

“If anything, I would ‘vine’ you to the bathtub and give myself the comfortable bed.” I see a flash of a dimple as he walks into the room and straight to the washroom. He sets me gently onto the creaky vanity.

The smell of eucalyptus and lavender permeates the steamy bathroom.

“Someone already brought up some hot water. Get cleaned up and keep that tourniquet on. I don’t want you bleeding out in the bath. I’ll get some clean clothes for you and medical supplies.”

“Anything else, master? ”

He looks down at my thigh thoughtfully and then pulls out his dagger. Before I can object, he slices my leggings from ankle to wound. Then drags the tip carefully from my upper thigh to my hip. The flimsy fabric frays and falls limply away from my skin. I snatch the fabric covering myself.

He doesn’t look again or wait for my response, just brushes past me. “Do not open the door for anyone.” He shuts the door, and I hear the faint click of the lock sliding into place.

“You should have let him bleed out, Layla. This is your fault,” I grumble to myself, pushing off the vanity. A whimper escapes me as white-hot pain laces up my leg. I shrug my other leg out of the leggings carefully, eager to scrub the gore and dirt from my body.

The bath looks like heaven. I dip my toe in the water, testing, before lowering my body in with a sigh. I’m careful to leave my injured leg out, but I deeply wish I could submerge it. The wrap dangles, and when I move my leg, it dips into the water, wetting the fabric.

I grit my teeth against the pain emanating from my ribs. My middle is already blue and purple as the bruises set in.