Carver glanced over at him, before finally focusing on the bloody cloth being pressed against her upper arm. “I can do that,” he said, his voice rough.
The Sibeten prince relinquished his hold at once.
Carver held the towel to her wound just as firmly as Ivan had. But where Ivan was mostly calm, Carver was a violent storm barely banked.
Amryn used her good hand to touch his bent knee. “I’m fine,” she whispered, hoping to soothe the silent scream of his fear.
His terror remained painfully strong.
“I will locate the physician,” Ivan said. He took a step back, his eyes sliding between them before he left the room.
Carver didn’t watch him go. His focus was wholly on Amryn as he peeled back the edge of the towel to view the wound.
She grimaced at the flash of pain.
Carver’s jaw was tight as he replaced the bloodied towel. “I should have escorted you back to the room.”
Her eyes widened. “You didn’t know this would happen.”
“You could have been killed. I . . .” He shook his head, unable to form more words. She could feel his agitation and lingering fear. It was choking him.
Her heart squeezed. “Carver . . .”
His jaw tensed. Then his emotions were abruptly locked down, shutting her out.
The sudden absence of him left a void in her chest. It wasn’t the first time he’d done it, but in this moment, it made her feel horribly alone. After the terror she’d just experienced, that was the last thing she wanted. “How do you do that?” she asked in a whisper.
He peered up at her, defensiveness in his now guarded gaze. “Do what?”
“Shield your emotions. You do it so well, I can’t feel anything from you.”
A slight crack in his iron hold revealed only relief. “It works?”
Her stomach cramped. “Yes.”
“Thank the Saints,” he muttered, looking again at her wound.
It was suddenly hard to breathe. Hewantedto shut her out. Wanted a shield against her abilities. As raw and vulnerable as she felt right now, the realization stung more than the wound on her arm.
Chapter 24
Carver
Carverremainedtenseasthe physician sewed the cut on Amryn’s arm. It only required a few stitches, but if that bolt had hit her almost anywhere else . . .
He wrestled hard to keep his emotions locked down. There was no need for her to feel everything he was, especially when she had her own pain to bear. Even with the medicine the physician had given her, Amryn stiffened as the needle and thread had pulled through her skin.
Ahmi arrived as the physician was bandaging the wound. The maid’s fear for Amryn was clear, but she hadn’t hesitated to assist where she could. When the physician was finished, Ahmi helped Amryn change into another dress. By the time they re-entered the main room, Carver was the only one still in the suite.
Ahmi helped settle Amryn into the bed, pillows propping her up against the headboard. “Thank you, Ahmi.”
Carver immediately sat beside her. “What do you need?”
“Just a little rest.” She gave him a thin smile, but he wasn’t reassured. She was too pale.
He hated it. Hated how helpless he felt right now.
She cleared her throat. “I’ll be ready for the feast tonight.”
