“I… I have to be with him,” I said, my head still spinning as I took a weak half-step forward.
“I’ll take you to him. I promise. But you’ve lost a lot of blood. Let’s take a breather before we go back, okay?”
My mind screamed at me to say no, but my body nodded before I slumped forward and Artton lowered me to the ground.
Finally processing his words, I looked down to my arm, only to find that my wound hadn’t healed at all; in fact, it was worse. With shaky hands, I accepting the skin of water Artton offered, taking slow sips before handing it back.
Head clearing, I said, “Why didn’t it heal?”
“I suspect,” he answered, looking to the border then down at my arm, “your powers chose to protect you from the greater threat.”
I scoffed. “Well, at least it did something this time.”
Ignoring my comment, he ripped off a strip of fabric from his shirt and wrapped it around my arm. I hissed in pain, which soothed shortly after he tied it off.
“You have no idea how dangerously reckless that was, do you?” he said, finally speaking his mind.
“I’m not in the mood for a lecture.”
Artton glared down at me as if trying to convey his point through sheer will.
“Look,” I said. “You wanted me to dispel, and I did.” I waved a hand toward the border.
“Cute,” he said, tone flat.
Knowing my body wasn’t quite ready, but unwilling to be judged by Artton, I gritted my teeth and pushed myself up slowly enough to keep the vertigo to a minimum, then held my hand out, letting him know I was ready.
Artton’s brows knit together, his glare intensifying before he huffed and gave in. He valenned us just outside the familiar doors to the suite we’d stayed in as guests during the solstice.
Without hesitation, I freed my hand from his grip and walked through the doors, following the hurried voices.
“What are you doing?” I demanded as a strange female reached for Tarrin’s abdomen.
She stopped and looked at me along with Sidrick and Kai. “Changing his dressings.”
My focus snapped to Sidrick. “Where’s Caius?”
“In the Spring Court.”
“Why aren’t they back yet?” The female grabbed at the edge of Tarrin’s dressing. “Don’t touch him,” I snapped, stepping up to his bedside, effectively blocking her.
The room seemed to still, but I paid it no mind. “Why aren’t they back yet?” I barked, staring Sidrick down.
“It’ll take some time, Nylee?—”
“Does he look like he’s got time?” I snapped.
“Lady Nyleeria,” the stranger started, the condescension and honorific instantly making my blood boil. “Let me help. I’m versed in such things.” Her calm voice grated on my every nerve.
I whirled on her. “Really? You’re versed in healing a human who’s been sliced so deep you can see his shredded muscles under the flap of skin I had to pull together before I wrapped it?”
“Well, no… but?—”
“Please leave.”
Artton stepped toward me. “Nyleeria, she’s just trying to help.”
I glared at him with everything I had. “The only help I want is Myron’s.”
