Page 59 of The Curse of Gods (The Curse of Saints #3)

Aidon wanted to put as much distance between them and Sitya as possible. But even he could tell Will’s strength waned the further they rode.

It’d been a miracle Dauphine and Cole had found three horses. She’d certainly bled for them.

Aidon glanced down at the makeshift bandage Cole had wrapped around the mercenary’s leg. It was more crimson than white. Most of her weight rested against him, her head tilted back against his shoulder as they galloped on. He kept one arm wrapped tightly around her waist lest she fell.

He should have tied her into the saddle the way Will had with Aya.

Liam whistled sharply to get their attention, the wolves keeping pace with his and Cole’s horse.

He pointed ahead where, just before the horizon, a small structure stood.

From the distance, it looked like a shed, but Aidon sent up a silent plea to whoever was watching over them that it was a chance at a reprieve.

He had to believe someone greater than himself was listening. There was no other explanation for how they’d managed to escape Sitya and reach the plains.

Nor for how Aya had survived…everything.

He’d witnessed her power once, had seen those webs of light explode throughout the throne room in Trahir. It was nothing compared to what she had done to the fortress.

“We’ll ride ahead and scope out the area,” Liam called, his heels urging their horse on. Azul tore after him, and after a nod from Will, Akeeta followed. But Tyr remained back, keeping perfect pace with Will and Aya’s horse.

He’d been shooting glances at his bonded every so often—as if he, too, needed reassurance she had merely fallen into unconsciousness instead of something worse.

Please don’t let it be worse.

Aidon peered down at Dauphine’s face. A sickly pallor had blanched her skin, and her eyes blinked heavily as she fought to keep them open.

“I’m surprised someone bested you in a fight,” he cajoled. “And over a horse nonetheless.”

“We all have off days,” Dauphine retorted, her voice tight with pain. “And it was three horses.” She winced as Aidon pushed their horse faster, and Aidon curled his arm tighter around her waist, his palm finding the dip of her hip as he pressed in to keep her in place.

They rode on in silence, Aidon’s gaze fixed steadily on the structure. Dauphine let out a quiet grunt as she shifted in the saddle, and it had Aidon casting another wary glance at the bandage.

They’d need to stop soon, shelter or not.

“I thought you’d be happy I’m bleeding out,” she teased, her head falling against his shoulder as she tipped her chin up to meet his gaze.

“Did you?”

“Don’t tell me you finally care .”

Fine. He wouldn’t. It’s not as though he could explain it to himself anyway.

Why he’d screamed her name when the citadel started to fall.

Why he’d felt vicious relief when he’d found her unharmed.

Why he’d been reluctant to let her go with Cole to find them an escape, and why he’d felt that twisting panic in his chest when they had reappeared with three horses in tow and blood streaming from her leg.

Brushes with death always did have a way of sharpening his focus and presenting clarity on a silver platter.

“Aidon,” she murmured.

He risked a glance down into those green eyes and immediately regretted it. They were soft and knowing, and they had something thick settling in his throat.

He was saved from having to respond by their arrival at what appeared to be not a shed, but a small dilapidated house. Liam was striding out of the front door with Akeeta and Azul as Aidon drew his horse to a halt.

“It’s abandoned,” the Persi informed them. “Whoever used to live here is long gone.”

The benefit of war, Aidon supposed: There was no shortage of abandoned structures to hide in.

He dismounted and handed the reins to Cole to hold the horse steady while he helped Dauphine down. Will was already off his steed, Aya’s limp body cradled in his arms.

“There’s a bedroom upstairs,” Liam said to Will. “It’s not much, but it’s a place she can rest.”

Will didn’t utter a single word as he disappeared inside the house, Tyr at his feet.

“Come on,” Aidon urged Dauphine, his arm looping around her waist. “Let’s get your leg taken care of.”

“It’s fine,” Dauphine insisted. Yet she limped along anyway, her body leaning heavily against his as he guided her inside.

Liam hadn’t exaggerated. It was clear as they stepped into the home that it had long since been abandoned.

It was small, with a hole in the low ceiling above the den.

The elements had clearly taken their toll on the dirt-covered furniture, but it would do.

At least until they could catch their breath.

Cole brushed some dirt off the couch and helped Aidon lower Dauphine onto it. The mercenary’s jaw shifted as she ground her teeth, a pained hiss escaping her as she settled onto the cushions. She laid her head back, the column of her throat exposed as she took several steadying breaths.

“I’ll see if I can find something to rebandage this with,” Cole offered. He returned a few minutes later with a worn shirt, and Aidon immediately ripped off a strip from the fabric.

“I thought I saw a well on the side of the house,” Cole said. “I can see if there’s water.”

Aidon shook his head. “There’s too much of a risk of infection.

We’d need to wait for it to boil, and…” He swallowed down the rest of his sentence as he took in Dauphine’s blood-soaked bandage.

He knelt before her, his hands gentle as he began to undo the wrappings on her thigh. “I’ll need to cauterize it.”

Dauphine peered down at him, sweat beading along her hairline. “Have you done that before?”

“Would you feel better if I lied?”

She curled her fingers over the edge of the couch cushion and said to Cole, “Search the place for alcohol, would you?”

Cole gave a mocking salute and ducked into the small kitchen.

Aidon tossed the bloodied bandage aside, frowning as he looked at the cut that ran horizontally across her leg.

“Do you need me to take my pants off?” Dauphine’s drawl was more pained than smug, but Aidon forced a smirk.

“You’ll have to try harder than that.” He peeled back some of the frayed fabric of her pant leg, wincing as she hissed. “I do need to remove some of this though.”

“Do your worst, Your Majesty.”

Aidon rolled his eyes as he grabbed the edges of the fabric and ripped the hole further. An awkward cough sounded from the doorway.

“No booze,” Cole said sheepishly. “I’ll fetch the water anyway. We’ll need it to drink.”

Dauphine blinked down at Aidon, the corner of her mouth twisting into a sly smile as Cole fled the room. “Feel free to do that again sometime,” she murmured, nodding at the torn fabric.

Gods above . Aidon didn’t bother to respond as he unsheathed one of his knives. He allowed himself one steadying breath before he called his flame forward, searing the blade in the palm of his hand. He handed Dauphine the spare bit of fabric.

“Bite into this,” he ordered, ignoring the way his stomach fluttered as her hand brushed his. He’d just seen the mercenary kill several soldiers, and here he was, nervous at her mere touch. He clearly needed sleep, or a drink, or both.

“Ready?” he asked, eyes flicking up to meet hers. She bit down on the fabric and gave him a curt nod.

Any lingering heat in his blood ran cold the moment he placed that knife to her seeping wound. Dauphine’s leg jerked, a muffled scream tearing from her, and Aidon leaned against her shin, pinning her to the couch.

“I know,” he breathed, sweat dripping down his brow as he followed the path of the cut. “Try to hold still. I’m almost done.”

Dauphine’s head flung back against the cushions as she arched her back, her neck straining as she let out another muted sound of pain.

Aidon let the knife clatter to the floor and grabbed the rest of the shirt Cole had brought. He tied it quickly around the wound before pushing himself up, one hand pressing into the back of the couch beside her head and the other gently tugging the gag from her mouth.

“Breathe with me,” he murmured. Dauphine blinked away the water lining her eyes as she mimicked the exaggerated rise and fall of his chest, her breath hissing from between gritted teeth.

Aidon reached forward and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. He let thumb skim the side of her cheek soothingly as he drew his hand back.

“Fucking hells what is that smell?” Liam asked as he jogged down the narrow wooden staircase.

Aidon jerked himself to full height, his head swimming with the quick movement.

“My burning flesh,” Dauphine answered dryly.

Liam’s gaze darted between them. “Charming.”

“Any chance there are any healing ointments or tonics up there?” Aidon said, jerking his chin toward the second floor.

Liam shook his head. “I checked. Nothing but some forgotten spare clothes.”

Cole shouldered open the front door, a bucket of water in his hands. He paused on the threshold, his nose wrinkling in disgust. “What’s that smell?”

“Dauphine,” Liam replied with a wry grin.

Aidon’s lips twitched, but it was more reflex than anything. Now that the adrenaline that had been coursing through him for hours had begun to ebb away, all that was left was a bone-weary exhaustion that had every muscle inside of him aching.

Or perhaps that was the consequence of how little he had used his power today. He was starting to feel the difference in the way his body felt when he didn’t offset the pressure building in his well—when he ignored that roiling inside of him.

Aidon flicked his wrist toward the small grate in the corner of the room, filling it with Incend flame so Cole could boil the water.

“How is she?” he asked Liam. The Persi shrugged as he settled into an armchair. He grimaced at the state of it, but exhaustion kept him seated, his long legs stretching out in front of him.

“It’s hard to tell,” Liam answered. “She seems fine, just…”