Kai stepped toward the female and said, “You can go. I’ll help Nyleeria”—her eyes darted to mine—"if she’ll allow it, and we’ll let you know if we change our mind."
The female scowled at Kai before relenting with a huff.
Sidrick walked around and stood at the foot of the bed, looking between me, Kai, and Artton, but all I could focus on was Tarrin.
“I need water. Fresh bandages. Some salve. A needle and thread. Thicker thread, if possible. And the strongest alcohol on hand,” I said to no one in particular.
“What do you need a needle and thread for?” Artton asked.
“To sew his flesh back together,” I said, shooting him a withering look. “Any other stupid questions?”
Caius’ second winced, and had it been at any other moment, I might have felt satisfied from his reaction, but there was no time for games. These fae, so used to their magic that they didn’t have the faintest idea of how to help a human—and honestly, they’d better pray that Thaddeus didn’t find another curse to rid them of their healing abilities, or they’d be as fucked as they were the last time around.
“We don’t have any salve,” Sidrick supplied.
I closed my eyes, forcing myself not to lose it on them.
Mercifully Kai stepped in. “Sidrick, go get the needle and thread. Bring as many options as you can find. Artton, I’m sure the library has something on salves, and the kitchen should have the supplies you need. I’ll help Nyleeria with the rest.”
“Why not just wait for Myron?” Sidrick asked.
It was Artton who answered for me. “He might not have that much time, and there’s no knowing if his powers can help.”
With that, the two of them left the room.
I looked up at Kai. “Can you hand me the water, please?” I asked, pointing to the decanter on the nightstand.
I didn’t bother with a glass as I greedily brought the jug to my mouth and drank it down until it was empty. Kai promptly took it and left to refill its contents.
Wiping my mouth dry with my arm, I didn’t hesitate before getting to work.
I started with Tarrin’s abdominal wound, pulling the bandages off one layer at a time with gentle fingers, but no matter how careful I was, the last layer clung stubbornly to the freshly clotted wound forcing me to pull it away too. I worked as fast as I could, quickly losing count of how many times I thanked the Mother that Tarrin was too far gone to feel any of it.
My soul, on the other hand… felt every painstaking second.
Finally freeing the last vestiges of fabric off, I took a step back, assessing the damage as a whole.
It looked…
He looked…
Gods… I couldn’t find the words. It was the horror in the cabin all over again.
Eyes burning, I brushed his damp brow.
“What did they do, Tarrin?” I whispered.
The clink of Kai placing a basin of water next to me drew my attention away. Wanting—needing—to clean the grime from hisface, I lowered my hands into the warm water and grabbed the cloth that had settled on the bottom. Squeezing the excess, I reached the warm cloth up to Tarrin’s forehead.
My hand hovered over his face as tears spilled down mine. I realized then the cloth was stained and my hand began to shake. Confused, I looked over to the water. Bloody. The water was full of blood. I looked to Kai for understanding.
“It’s from you, darling,” she said, gently taking the cloth from my hand, returning it to the dirty water. Gently, she cupped my hands in hers, and it wasn’t until then that I saw that there was so much caked on blood that I could barely see skin below.
“Here,” she said turning me away from Tarrin. It wasn’t until then I felt the tremble in my body that was now a constant companion. “Let’s get you washed.”
For the briefest moment I followed her like a flower needing sun, only to resist the urge as my duty pulled my focus back to Tarrin.
“I’ll clean him up while you take care of you,” she coaxed, gently shifting me away. Okay?"
