“We can’t speak about the Trial or anything that transpired during it. Not only is it forbidden, but anyone could hear.” He waves a hand. “The Order is always listening.”
I fold my arms. “Fine. Can you tell me if anyone… didn’t make it?” When Xavier shoots me a questioning look, I shrug. “I already know Eric made it. Fucking lame. But I don’t know about Declan.”
“Why are you asking about him?” The underlying jealousy in Xavier’s voice has my insides heating up. “Is there something you want to tell me, little raptor? Did I make a mistake in leaving you with him during my summons?”
“No, it’s nothing like that. I’m thinking of June.”
Xavier nods, his expression less hostile. “Declan is fine, but there was one recruit from the Felton family that didn’t make it.”
I sigh. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the type of lifestyle you’re in.”
“You’re not supposed to. Neither wives or brides are privy to the things we do in secret. For some fucked-up reason, my father has decided to involve you.”
“I know. He was?—”
Xavier makes a slicing motion with his hand, immediately silencing me. “Don’t talk about him or anyone else. Not unless we’re in the privacy of my room. Okay? I’m not willing to take chances with you.”
“I understand.” I glance up at him. “But at some point, I want you to explain why you were being such a dick to my brother.”
“McKenzie doesn’t need you to defend him.”
“And if I want to?”
Xavier stops in the middle of the hallway to look at me. He reaches out to traces the curve of my jaw and drags his fingertips down the slope of my neck, stopping just above my heart.
“Someday, I hope you will defend me as passionately as you do him.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him that I was about to storm the castle—literally—for him, but I hold back. I swallow the urge to speak, the emotion behind my unspoken words too fragile, too revealing of the depth of my feelings for him. Just like Xavier said to me, I’m not willing to take chances with him.
Love is a risk.
Once it’s given, it can’t be taken back.
Chapter 31
DELILAH
Eventually, we reach the infirmary. Xavier holds the door for me, his hand briefly touching the small of my back as I pass. That simple contact sends a shiver down my spine, a silent reminder of the physical connection I share with him. One that’s continually drawing us closer.
Whether or not I want it to.
Inside, the clinical smell of antiseptics fills the air, bringing me back to reality. Recalling my memories of the time I spent here. The skin around my closed wound pulses, adding to my unease at being in this place.
As though on cue, the nurse that attended me during my stay walks up to us. “Recruit.” Then he looks at me. “Bride.”
The way he talks to us has me assuming he’s a crow, and part of the Kent family who has their hands deep in the body of the medical field and all of its networks. After a quick glance, this guy could pass for Declan’s cousin.
“I’m here for bloodwork,” Xavier says. “How long is this going to take?”
“The results from the tests won’t be available for a couple days. We have to send them to the nearest hospital since wedon’t have a full diagnostics lab here.” The nurse gestures toward a hallway, where the first door leads to a lab station. “Follow me.”
“Excuse me.” My voice has both men looking at me, one with surprise, the other with irritation. “Do you know which room Ben—erm, the McKenzie heir is recovering in?”
Xavier’s expression shifts minutely, a hint of emotion turning them metallic. The nurse’s annoyance swells, his demeanor guarded. Then he looks to Xavier.
“Will you allow this, recruit?”
A moment of hesitation, then, “Yes.”
