I tried to laugh at myself, but it came out as a gruntled cough, and more warm blood gushed from my wound.
Fuck.
Jessiah crouched, sliding one arm beneath my legs and one behind my shoulders.
He lifted me, and a stream of curses left my mouth. As badly as I wanted to reject his help, I didn't have a choice. Truly, I would have done just about anything to avoid this situation.
I never wanted Jessiah’s help again. I was just fine on my own.
I wasalwaysfine on my own.
But that damn animal hadn’t left me many options.
Ignoring the way his massive shoulders flexed as he straightened, I wrapped one arm around his neck.
“Day one.” A puff of his breath hit my cheek as he shook his head. “I should have known this journey wouldn’t be easy.”
An unexpected tightness hit my chest. I wasn’t easily offended, but I was damn well aware that I wasn’t wanted here. I also knew that I was holding the group back.
And that wasbeforeI was attacked.
I said nothing else as he hauled me back to our campsite.
When we broke through the trees, Xavier and Matthias jumped to their feet.
“What in the hells happened?” Xavier gushed. “You two were gone for two damn seconds!”
“A forest oryx jumped out of the woods. It moved so quickly, we didn’t have time to react before Rummy was hit.”
“Are you serious? Since when do forest oryx attack people?”
“It’s these damn woods,” Matthias added. “They’re bloody cursed.”
Jessiah lowered me to the ground a few feet from the fire.
In the flickering glow, I could see the wound much better.
And all the blood.
“What can I say?” I replied with a smirk. “Animals love me.”
My quip was cut short by a shooting pain through my abdomen. I slumped back, the back of my head hitting the ground.
Jessiah’s hands lingered for a second, almost as if he wished he could do more. When he pulled away a second later, shaking his head, I reminded myself that the asshole hated me. He probably loved that I was in pain right now.
“Goddess above,” Xavier mumbled. “There are bandages in my pack.” He stood and ran to his horse, then tore through the bag on one flank.
Matthias stood back, his face lined with concern. I didn’t know the guy, so I appreciated the space he gave me.
Especially when Jessiah still lingered so close, with his hands in the air above me, as if he wasn’t totally sure what to do with them.
I lifted my head and peeled back the ripped fabric of my blood-soaked shirt to survey the wound.
Xavier returned a second later with a hiss. “You’ve got a battle wound, that’s for sure.”
I scoffed, gritting my teeth against the pain. “Some battle.”
“We need to clean it first. Here.” Jessiah twisted at the waist and grabbed the pack he’d left near the fire. He rummaged through it, then pulled a flask out and passed it to Xavier.
