Simmons looked at Damien before following his gaze to me, then he glanced back at Nate before shrugging. “Someone take him to the infirmary.”
Damien ambled over with a lazy smile on his face before wrapping an arm around my shoulders, stealing me from Lachlan’s arms. “Let’s go.”
Lachlan fell into step on my other side, and I glanced back to notice two girls trying to help Nate up.
“What did he say to you?” Lachlan asked.
Damien growled, his horns finally receding back into his skull, but he swatted Lachlan’s butt with his tail. “Wasn’t what he said with Wren up there enough?”
Lachlan yelped, rubbing his butt before glaring at him. “Of course it was! I was just wondering if there was more.”
“He threatened our mate and Thorn.” Damien’s voice rumbled, and I leaned into his side more. “He’s lucky I didn’t kill him.” A wry smile took over his face as he let out a cackle. “Well, I may have killed him. Guess it just depends if they get him to the infirmary in time or not.”
Lachlan ran a hand through his hair. “It wouldn’t be much of a loss.”
NINE
Kian
Wrenwasabsolutelyenchantingwhen she mixed herbs.
Her delicate fingers picked up different herbs and placed them in a mortar. She held the pestle in her hand and moved it against the mortar with a slow but seemingly firm pressure. Her white locks of hair fell into her face, and she blew out a frustrated breath before setting the mortar and pestle down and stepping away to pile her long hair on top of her head with a hair tie that was on her wrist.
I sat on a stool near the wall of the wing we were in. The vinery had four wings for the different climates of plants, and all but one were filled with enchanted windows that poured sunlight in, so the plants were exposed in any season.
The only movement around us were the spells managing the upkeep of the plants. The mist of water sprayed the plants, and the whirl of shadows blocked sunlight from certain plants for a few minutes at a time.
We didn’t need to say anything. There was a comfortable silence that always rested around Wren and me. I’ve never felt so safe and vulnerable around one person before.
I couldn’t tear my eyes off her, and she was unaware of me being completely absorbed with her whilst she worked.
She wrinkled her cute button nose if something wasn’t working out just right. Her eyes would light up when something positive surprised her, and if something did what she expected it to do, her lips curved into a little smirk.
Wren hadn’t had much growing up, but the confidence she had as an herbalist was admirable. Professor Hendrix gave her full access to the Vinery after seeing what she was capable of last term.
“Come on.” She groaned, working the pestle. “A little finer.”
I slipped off the stool and walked over to her, making sure to give her enough space to move freely. “What’re you making?”
She paused, glancing up at me with her soft eyes. “I’m so sorry. I lost track of time.” Her gaze swept over the metal table with all the herbs she’d plucked. “I got carried away, didn’t I?”
I grinned. She was so cute. “We’ve been here a couple of hours.”
Panic flooded her eyes, and a cute little pout formed on her lips. “Does that mean that it’s almost time for my class?”
“You still have about an hour. How much longer do you need?”
Her shoulders slumped, and she let out a breath. “I only need fifteen minutes.” She turned back to the table. “I’m making an anti-stress tincture for all of you, plus Trixie.”
My brows raised as I watched her start working again. “Why?”
She snorted, grabbing the dried crushed herbs from the mortar and dropping them into a clear liquid jar. “All I feel from the bond lately is stress, and even with those of you I haven’t bonded with yet…” Her cheeks turned pink. “I can see the stress on your faces. All of you. Not to mention Trixie has to deal with Nate, so… you can imagine why I’m making it for her.”
I frowned. Damien had given Nate life-threatening wounds during their Offense 101 class. If he hadn’t made it to the healer in time, he’d have been dead. Not that it surprised me with Damien involved. “What are you putting in it?”
“I take dried and crushed ashwagandha, lavender, oat, and skullcap, and I submerge them into the alcohol-based solution for about five minutes.” She set the mortar down with a small thump before holding her hand over the jar. “Then I pour magical essence into it to speed the process and strengthen the effects.”
The solution glowed a bright blue, and I tilted my head. The way she used her essence was the same way witches and warlocks made potions. I’d known all supernaturals were able to create medicinal potions with their essence, but she did so in such a refined manner.
