“Watch her color, Dev,” Lilly said.
“I will, love, and I’m here for you when it is done.”
Lilly nodded, looking grim.
Rory felt something in the air suddenly, a charge of energy. Lilly then touched Kate’s wound. Until that moment, she hadn’t moved.
“Her leg, it twitched.”
“Just watch now, Rory,” Rose whispered.
“Don’t let go.” Dev looked at Dorrie, Somer, and Warwick. “Stay connected until I tell you otherwise.”
“We will,” they said as one.
Rory watched Dev’s and Wolf’s eyes change color, now almost unnaturally bright. They were focused on Kate.
He didn’t know what he was seeing, had no concept, but Rory knew they were in some way healing Kate. He stood there, flanked by his sisters, helpless, hopeful, with a chest so tight it was a wonder he breathed.
“Her color is strengthening,” Wolf rasped.
“Yes,” Dev said. “Just a bit more, Lilly.”
Lilly was healing Kate. Her face was pale, and sweat beaded her forehead.
“It’s done now, love, her color is normal.” Dev reached for Lilly’s hands, lifting them; she turned and slumped against him.
“I will take her to our room. She will need sleep and sustenance. The rest of you go back to the hall,” he said, looking at his siblings. “We will join you when we are able.”
The twins and Warwick left the room with Eden and James. Cam next, holding out a hand to Emily, who, after kissing Rory’s cheek, followed.
“You go too, love, you need to sit down,” Wolf said to Rose. Nicholas kissed Alice, then took Rose from the room. Seconds later, it was just Rory, Wolf, Max, Alice, and Essie. He knew he should leave, but his feet didn’t seem capable of the act.
Essie was busy checking the wound, which now looked no more than a small cut. No blood seeped from it.What had he just witnessed?
Rory held his breath as Kate stirred, moving in her brother’s arms. He wanted to go to her, tell her what was in his heart, but the look Wolf sent him held him where he was.
“Tell me why my sister was shot. Why you were down there with those men, Rory?” Cold with rage, the green depths were not the vibrant color they’d just been.
“I will explain, but not now—”
“Wolf.” Kate’s eyes opened. She struggled to rise, her eyes going from her brother to Rory.
“You betrayed us.” She whispered the words, but they all heard them.
“No, never that.” Rory moved closer, but she turned away, pressing her face into Wolf’s chest.
“You need to leave now. I won’t have her upset. We can talk later, and you can explain yourself.”
Rory looked from Wolf to Max, the brother he knew he’d never stopped loving, and then lastly Kate. He’d begun to believe that just maybe this was to be his family. A small trickle of hope only, but now… well, now he knew he’d been fooling himself.
With a final look at the woman he loved, he backed to the door and walked away. Running down the stairs, he was soon out of the castle and headed down the mountain, covered in Kate’s blood. He did not look back. What lay behind him was no longer his and never had been.
Chapter Sixteen
Kate made Wolf help her downstairs as soon as she felt able. Her body was sore, but not unbearably, and she wanted to show everyone she was well.
“Did those men get away with James’s things?”
