Chapter twenty-five
Avery
Avery woke up in Savine’s arms as he carried her toward a small traveling tent. The early dawn light filtered through the woods, landing on the light brown canvas tent. It looked the same as the one where Kersi was killed by the poisoned iron arrow, but this had to be a different tent. It was intact and inviting. In the small space, Savine’s sleeping mat and furs were draped on one side while Avery’s sleeping pad and sleeping bag were assembled next to his.
“Are we in Bayberry?” Avery asked as she stretched like a cat after a nap.
“No, my flower. We’re less than a day’s ride, but many of the injured needed a proper rest. You slept through us setting up camp.”
“Oh. Damn, I must have been more tired than I thought.” Now that she realized it, she was refreshed and energized. The pounding in the back of her head was gone, and she was ready to face another day of potential death in Aeritis. “I’m feeling a lot better now. Do you think I could go check on the injured folk? I can help. Even if it's not magically, I have some ibuprofen. It’s not much, but it might help them.”
“I think they would appreciate your care, whatever you offer them,” Savine said. He settled Avery down on her sleeping pad before he crashed to the ground, closing his eyes.
“Savine! You look exhausted. I’ll get out of your way. Do you know where Garnel and Kyla are?”
“I am so tired. I don’t think I could have ridden much longer. Garnel and Kyla are in the tent next to us. The other injured fae are to their right, starting with the next tent and going about five tents down. Let me know if you can heal any of the others,” Savine said as he slowly sat up. He turned his back to her and began unstrapping his leather armor. Avery stared at his muscles as they rippled under his exposed flesh.
What would it feel like to trace her hands down his tight muscles and explore his carved body? Damn it. She needed to keep a rein on these thoughts until she’d had time to process her feelings for him. It seemed unfair to both of them for her to act before she thought about what she wanted from him. Things were already complicated with Savine without adding a physical relationship.
“You can watch me, Avery. I won’t stop you,” Savine said.
“How did you know I was looking at you?” Avery asked.
“There is nothing subtle about you, little flower. Your quickening breathing and the slight change in your scent give you away without me having to look and see you ogling my body.”
“Whatever. I’m not checking out your body. I was just thinking,” Avery argued as she attempted to dig her first aid kit and water bottle out of her backpack.
Savine’s eyes were on her as she dug through her bag. She made every attempt to not look up at that man, and his now shirtless chest.
“Are other humans better at lying than you, little flower? I thought humans’ ability to lie would make it more challenging for us to detect the truth, but I know exactly where your thoughts are headed.”
“My thoughts are headed nowhere, old man! Get some sleep. Your age is showing,” Avery said as she turned to walk out of the tent. Okay, that was the lamest deflection possible.
Avery walked to the tent next to theirs. It was eerily silent. Not at all filled with the typical sounds coming from Kyla and Garnel’s tent.
“Kyla, Garnel? It’s Avery. Can I come in?” she asked at the outside of the tent door.
“Come in, Avery!” Kyla called in her lyrical voice. Despite the growing daylight outside, the tent was shrouded from light. Avery studied Kyla’s gaunt expression. All the light and beauty she usually radiated had vanished. Garnel lay on the ground under a pile of furs and blankets.
“How is he?” Avery asked as she hugged Kyla in greeting. Unlike her brother, Kyla seemed to appreciate a friendly hug. It was hard to see her so distressed, even if Avery resented Kyla’s emotional manipulation.
“A fever has set in. He’s burning up, but cries out if I take the blankets and furs off. Fevers are uncommon in the fae. If a fae has a fever, it means they are near the end of their life.” Kyla let out a mournful sigh as she tightened her mouth. Her chin quivered slightly, and her eyes shone wet and sad. Avery could see the tension in Kyla’s jaw as she looked at her injured mate. “Usually, I can feel all his emotions call to me stronger than anyone else’s. But his soul is so faint, it’s like a fading light in our bond. All I can feel is the pain he is in. I know everyone needs rest, but I am afraid he does not have long.”
“Can I try to help?” Avery asked. If anything, she could give him some medicine for the fever. Would human medicine work on the fae? She hoped it would.
“I'll try using magic, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll give Garnel some of my human medicine. That is, if you would like me to give him some of my medicine. I’ll be honest. I don’t know what it’ll do to him.”
Kyla gave Avery a sad smile that didn’t reach her dusty blue eyes. “I trust you, Avery.”
Avery approached Garnel and looked down at the sallow skin that showed above the furs and blankets. “How’s his wound looking? Have you given him any salves like you used on me?”
“I haven’t. Hardly anyone survives a helmsbane-laced weapon. The poison infects the blood system through the wound too quickly, and folk die before they get proper care. For him to be fighting, it’s a miracle. But I don’t think I have anything that can help him. Hyacinth must be able to heal him. If not, I fear he will succumb to his injuries.”
Avery nodded in understanding. Kyla was the best healer in Savine’s army, according to Savine, and she would risk her own life to save her mate. If she was not sure what to do, then that must mean Garnel was beyond hope.
“Can I check his wound?” Avery asked.
“Please do,” Kyla said.
