He didn’t stir.
Then she saw the slow rise and fall of his chest. He’d fallen asleep sideways on the mattress, revealing he had tried to settle down properly. Man, she didn’t have the muscle power to move him, nor could she teleport him the small distance to the pillow at the head of the bed. They might just end up outside the castle.
Sighing, she undid his boots, tugged them off, and dropped them to the floor, along with his socks. Picking up the damp towel, she carefully cleaned the dried blood on his sides and his back.
A soft knock sounded.
Nia pulled the throw at the foot of the bed over him, set the towel on the side table, then hurried across the room and opened the door.
“Hey.” Echo smiled, but her eyes were dark with concern. “I sensed you were back. I brought food.”
“Come.” Nia waved her inside. “I’d take the tray from you, but I’m dead sure I’d drop it.”
“No worries.” Echo entered, and Nia shut the door and followed her to the cozy turret room just off the bedroom, decked with a pearl-gray sectional. She set the tray on a wooden coffee table.
“Give me a sec.” Nia hurried back to the bathroom, used the toilet, and as she washed her hands, she looked into the mirror.
Good lord!Her features were drawn. Shadows smudged the skin beneath her amber eyes, making them stand out like twin flames. The tiny gold stud on her nose and the several piercings in her left ear glinted as if to try to draw one’s attention away from the wreck she was. And there were traces of dried blood on her left cheek. Ugh.
Hastily, she washed up, dried her face, refastened her hair into a ponytail, and returned to her sister.
Echo removed the silver dome off the tray, and a savory aroma teased Nia’s nose. “It’s grilled cheese sandwiches and roasted red pepper soup. There’s a light chicken soup for Lore when he awakens, since I think he’ll start eating now.”
“Thank you.” Nia sank onto the couch. “Do you think you can get someone to help me settle him more comfortably?” she asked.
“Of course.” Echo whipped out her cell and texted.
Despite exhaustion weighing her down, hunger had her pulling the steaming bowl closer. Lore might appear amiable now, but who knew how he’d be when he awakened with all his faculties up and running. He could just go back to being the hard-headed male she knew and fell for, and she’d need her strength.
Her gaze shifted back to the bed. Heck, she didn’t care. She’d handle all that if it arose.
“Eat,” Echo said softly. “Then you can join him and rest.”
She picked up a knife, cut the half sandwich into pieces, and dropped them in the creamy, orange soup. Spoon in hand, she scooped up a cheesy bite of sandwich and soup and ate it.
“God…” She moaned at the piquant flavors of peppers, parmesan cheese, and cream flooding her mouth. “This issooogood. I didn’t realize how hungry I am.”
“You barely ate anything in the past week.”
Nia scrunched her nose as she ate some more. Usually, she liked her food, but Lore took precedence over everything, even food. “Thanks for this.”
Echo rubbed her brow, and though she smiled, she appeared pale beneath her honey skin.
Nia lowered her spoon. “What is it?”
“Just a bit of a headache?—”
A soft knock sounded. The door opened, and a tall, attractive man with steel-gray hair pulled into a braid entered. Yep, he was otherworldly, too.
His orange-green eyes shifted between them, then back to her again.
“Nia, this is Hedori,” Echo introduced him, her tone warm and affectionate. “He’s our all-around go-to man and protector when our guys are on patrol.”
His kind, unusual eyes crinkled at the corners, and he gave her a little bow. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
Nia blinked. Wait,hewas the one who brought her food while in Romania.
“Thank you,” she said. “And for the supplies at the abbey. Angels don’t eat, and it escaped Lore’s attention that I needed food.”
