Someone caught his arm.Tyne fought the hold, but more hands appeared and pulled him away.He struggled until Bennett wrapped an arm around his waist and held him still.“Let them work,” he murmured.
He was Meyer’s best friend.Tyne wanted to tell him to do something to help, but both of them were powerless right now.The only thing they could do was watch as the mages worked on Meyer and listen to Meyer scream.
* * * *
MEYERscreamed.There was nothing else he could do, and while normally, he wouldn’t have wanted to scare the others, right now, he didn’t care.He’d scare them to death if it meant the pain stopped.
It didn’t stop right away, but it lessened enough that Meyer didn’t feel like someone was tearing his leg off.He whimpered and dropped back onto the ground.He was shaking and sweaty, and he wanted to cry.
“You’ll be fine,” Dallin reassured Meyer.
Meyer almost laughed.“It doesn’t feel like it right now.”His voice was rough and trembling.He almost didn’t recognize it.
“Penley’s good at healing spells.Youwillbe fine,” Dallin repeated.
Meyer wanted to believe him, but right now, the only thing he could focus on was the pain.It wasn’t as sharp as it had been earlier, but it was still there, pulsing in his broken leg.
He had no idea what had happened.He’d been rushing toward Tyne, who’d been confronting Carlyle.Tyne and Meyer might not be on talking terms, but Tyne was Meyer’s mage, and Meyer’s job was to protect him.That was what he’d been planning on doing, but then, something had exploded, and his leg had felt like it was on fire.Carlyle had gotten him.
Dallin took Meyer’s hand and squeezed.Meyer squeezed back on instinct, relieved by the support.He knew these men wouldn’t let anything bad happen to him—well, anything worse.Something bad had already happened to him, courtesy of Carlyle.Penley would fix it, though.Meyer was sure of it.
He didn’t know how much time passed.He didn’t think it mattered, either.The only thing that did was that it was getting easier to breathe through the pain.It was still pulsing in his leg, but it wasn’t as bad as he’d expected it to be.Penley really was good at healing.
“Emory will be fine,” Jarvis suddenly said.“Meyer?”
Meyer had seen Emory and Graham go down.He hadn’t reached them in time, but he hadn’t even thought about what had happened to them.He’d been too focused on his own pain.
“Broken leg,” Dallin told Jarvis.“Penley’s almost done, though.”
That was a relief.Meyer wasn’t sure what it meant, but while the pain had settled into a deep ache, it was a feeling he thought he could ignore.At the very least, he could move his leg, which was more than he’d expected after how painful the break had been.
“He’ll need rest and not to use his leg for a few days, but he’ll be fine,” Penley said.
He leaned back.He looked exhausted, but Bennett was there instantly, pulling him into his arms.Penley didn’t argue.He cuddled against Bennett’s chest.Watching them together made Meyer ache in a different way.He wanted that kind of relationship, too, but he wouldn’t get it from Tyne.
Tyne wasn’t even the one who helped Meyer to sit up.Dallin and Sol did that, not letting go until Meyer was on his feet.Meyer grimaced, afraid of the pain he was sure he was about to feel, but he was able to put his foot down without screaming.It ached, but he thought he could walk, which, as far as he was concerned, was a miracle considering how he’d felt just minutes before.He wasn’t going to push it by trying to walk, but he could stand on his own.
Tyne suddenly moved.Meyer had expected him to yell at him for putting himself in danger or something like that, but instead, he pushed his way between Sol and Dallin and wrapped an arm around Meyer’s waist.Meyer didn’t move, in shock at what was happening.He didn’t think Tyne had ever willingly touched him.Hell, usually, he didn’t even spend time in the same room as Meyer.It was like Meyer was contagious.
Yet, here Tyne was, pressing their bodies together.He was a long line of strength and warmth against Meyer’s side, and Meyer wanted to lean against him, but he was almost afraid.He didn’t think this was a trick, but what was Tyne up to?
Tyne started moving.Meyer’s only choice was to move, too.He was able not to put any way weight on his broken leg because Tyne was there, and together, they slowly made their way toward the castle.Tyne didn’t stop to talk to anyone.He was focused on getting Meyer home.
Neither of them spoke as they walked.Meyer was too focused on not falling on his face or hurting himself, but even if he hadn’t been, what was he supposed to tell Tyne?He’d been begging Tyne to look at him for weeks.He’d wanted a chance to find out what had happened between them in the past and why Tyne was so angry at him, but Tyne had barely even looked at him.Clearly, though, he cared in some way.Meyer had thought that Tyne wouldn’t care whether he lived or died, but he knew that wasn’t the case now.
The side door Tyne was aiming for swung open before they reached it.Thorne stood there, looking pale, but he didn’t ask questions as he stepped aside to let Meyer and Tyne in.He opened his mouth, then closed it again when Tyne shook his head.
“I’m taking Meyer to his room,” Tyne declared.
Thorne nodded.“Everyone’s in the kitchen.”
“The others should be back soon.They’ll tell you what happened.”
Meyer had initially been confused by the humans who lived in the castle, but he’d eventually realized that the mages saw them as family.He was pretty sure they’d used magic to ensure that the humans weren’t aging, but he hadn’t asked, even though he was curious.It was none of his business.He might live at the castle, but he was pretty sure that if Tyne had his way, he’d get kicked out as soon as Carlyle was defeated.
He stayed silent and gritted his teeth as he continued walking.That was the problem about living in a massive castle—it took ages to get to his room.His leg might not be broken anymore, but he was aching and tired, and he felt like he was hundreds of years old.He might crumble into dust if he didn’t sit down soon.
Luckily, they eventually reached his room.Tyne made a beeline for the bed, and Meyer dropped on top of it.He exhaled, his shoulders relaxing as he told himself he was done moving for the day.
