“We talk of this no more until we are with the others,” Dev said.
Warwick jumped from the carriage and ran through the open door of the Raven townhouse. He then took the stairs up.
“Where is she, Buttles?”
“Her rooms, sir.”
He sprinted down the hall, knowing the entire layout of this house as well as he did his brother’s. He’d run wild through here too many times to count in his childhood.
He heard the voices. Eden’s demanding. Essie’s soothing. James was roaring.
Warwick walked through the door and straight to the bed. The duke stood at the foot looking devastated. Eden was with him. Samantha was lying on her side, and Essie was cleaning her arm. Lilly was there too, on the other side of the bed.
The others, her siblings and his, were in a gaggle behind James.
“It doesn’t need your healing, Lilly. You have not been well and still have a sore chest,” Samantha said after shooting him a look. She was so pale he thought she was a bloody ghost.
“Heal her, Lilly. She’s not strong enough without you,” Warwick said.
“No. Don’t listen to him, Lilly.” Her words had no strength. She was hurting and scared. Too bad. He was bloody terrified. Nudging his sister aside, he bent over her, bracing his hands on either side of Samantha’s head.
“You need healing, because we have questions for you, and I want you healthy enough to answer them.”
“Wh-what questions?” He saw the flash of something in her eyes. Guilt? Warwick couldn’t be sure, but something was there.
“I’ll ask them when you’re healed. Stop arguing and do as you are bloody well told.” Their eyes held and then he rose. “Lilly.”
“Of course.” She moved to his side. Everyone else in the room had gone quiet. “Just a little, Samantha. It will not be overly taxing on me, I promise. Just enough to ensure there is no infection, then I will retire and rest.”
“I’m here,” Dev said. He cupped the back of Lilly’s neck. “Just to ensure it does not tax you too much, my love.”
Warwick gripped the hand Dev held out, and he felt Essie take his. The others joined hands, and the power in the room rose.
“No, really,” Samantha whispered, but she said nothing more when Warwick impaled her with a look.
Lilly ran her hand over the wound on Samantha’s arm. She shivered, he knew this, because he was watching her. When the hand lifted, there was barely a mark. Lilly sat in the chair Dev guided her to and Eden went out to the hall to bark orders that they needed food at once.
“Samantha needs quiet and sleep now,” Essie said.
The family kissed Samantha and left. Warwick followed without looking at her again.
He strode down the hall with rage making each step faster. He found an empty parlor and entered. Once there, he walked slowly around several times until he’d calmed. Only then did he leave and head to James’s study.
“Warwick.”
“What?” He felt Cam move to his left side and Dev to his right. The hallways in the duke’s house were wide enough to accommodate them.
He felt hands settle on his shoulders. Such a familiar gesture that usually made him feel safe and loved. Today it had no effect.
“We will accompany you to the study,” Dev said. His voice as it had always been, soothing and yet authoritative. He was the eldest in their family and had been brother and father to Warwick and the others.
He grunted something, but the hands stayed there. Steady and strong on his shoulders.
“She is well, little brother. Safe now, here with us,” Cam said, his voice solemn. Not a tone one heard often from this brother.
“I know.” And the logical side to his steady nature did understand that. The irrational emotional side that he rarely showed anyone was still reeling from the fact Samantha had been in danger. That she could have been taken from him.
The door to James’s study was open, and even though Warwick had pushed his earplugs back in, he heard the raised voices getting louder as they drew near.
