Her skin was flushed, her hands and fingers blistered.
“I don’t know what to make of her magic,”Hoshiko said.“I believe her magic burns her from the inside out as she releases it.”
Was it always like this? I’d seen the way her magic exhausted her and even made her ill, but never this.
“I have to jump off Hoshiko now.” I kept my words low.
She tipped her head up to look at me. “Just don’t let me go.”
“Never.” I pulled her tighter to me, hating the way her body stiffened with a wince.
With my mate in my arms, I jumped off Hoshiko, doing my best to absorb the landing so I wouldn’t jostle her. She groaned, her head tipping to the side.
“I’m sorry, Lolli,” I whispered, giving her another soft kiss.
“I’m okay,” she said, eyes tired but clear. “You and Hoshiko are good nursemaids.”
I huffed out a laugh that made her lips tilt up in a small smile. “Then Hoshiko has my thanks for tending to you with such good care, but I can take it from here.”
“Take care of yourself too, Brenton,”Hoshiko said, extending his mighty wings before he took flight.“You are unwell, and I’m unable to heal either of you.”
“I’m fine,”I muttered.“Truly, Hoshiko, thank you for taking care of her.”
I considered taking her to the extra tent Elias had set up for her, but I wanted her close in case she needed anything.
Back inside my tent, I set her down gently on the mat I’d been resting on. I draped a blanket over her up to her chin and allowed myself a few beats where I caressed my knuckles over her cheek, careful not to touch the blisters that remained. Each of my movements was slow and soft as if with one wrong touch, I could split her open.
My own body ached from the magic I’d stretched too far, but it didn’t matter. Not when Finley looked like this.
Vulnerable and frail.
The flap to the tent shuffled open when Elias stepped inside. He cast a worried glance at Finley before he met my attention with even more concern. I shook my head before he opened his mouth to speak.
I’m fine,I mouthed.
His grimace was a mix of frustration and understanding. Put in a similar situation, he’d tend to Teddy before he would worry about himself.
“Hoshiko asked me to bring you this,” he said, handing me a small bag before he turned back to Finley. “There’s a healing oil and balm, some rags, and clean water. Nothing magical, but I hope it brings you relief.” He gave her a tentative smile. “It seems, despite his earlier snarling, Hoshiko has taken a liking to you, Finley.”
Finley let out a small laugh, and Elias clapped my shoulder before he retreated. With Elias’s offerings in my hand, I knelt beside her, cupping her right hand.
The blisters were worse than I originally thought. Raised and red, some peeling at the edges, each one a reminder that her magic punished her more than it served.
“I’m okay, Brent,” she whispered.
“You’re not.” It came out harsher than I intended, so I kissed the unburned skin at her wrist before reaching for the basin.
I poured water and oil into the bowl, then soaked a rag and wrung it out. She watched me with those enchanting eyes as I brought the rag to her hand, dabbing carefully at the scorched skin.
She winced, and I froze.
“We need to get you out of this uniform,” I said, keeping my tone even and steady.
She hesitated, but I didn’t give her time to protest.
“This isn’t about modesty, Lolli,” I said. “I can’t heal you, at least not tonight, and we don’t want these blisters to become infected.”
Her throat bobbed, but she nodded.
