Sean hardly looked better, with blood still painting his face. He wiped under his nose, smearing it further, then tossed a glance back at the crowd as if verifying no one followed. “I won’t tolerate this.”
“An easy solution is for me to stop training.”
Behind them, Autumn protested.
Sean shook his head. “Not a chance. If you stop, then I stop.”
David snorted. “They’d revolt.”
Deep blue side-eyed him. “Then I guess you stay, huh? We don’t bow down to prejudice.”
“Are we already at thewestage of our relationship?”
“Sean, you’re bleeding,” Bel said. “Can we stop a moment? Let me heal you.”
He ignored her.
The farther they walked, the heavier David’s limp grew. He couldn’t even remember hurting his knee, but eachstep sent fire up his leg. Anna ducked to pull his arm around her shoulders, taking some of his weight.
Sean’s gait faltered at a particularly sharp pang. His steps slowed while David stopped completely, holding his weight on his good leg.
“You okay?” Anna murmured. “What can I do?”
David winced. “Cutting it off might help.”
Sean gazed at Bel, waiting. Finally, he pointed at David. “Maybe you could heal him instead, seeing as he’s the one who can barely walk?”
A cold wind seemed to sweep between them all as David met Isobel’s emerald eyes.
He clenched his jaw, unsure which hurt more—his arm or the sudden fury. “I’d rather heal the old-fashioned way—thanks.”
They were halfway back to the Tree already. If he could just make it to the infirmary…
“David,” Anna whispered. “Your arm isn’t straight anymore. Just let her fix it.”
He took a steadying breath. A fever simmered at the thought of Isobel anywhere near him.
“It doesn’t mean you forgive her,” Anna said.
Bel stepped closer, facing him with a tight jaw. “You don’t have to take my help, but I’ll offer it since I did the thing…you know.”
“The thing,” David repeated in a flat voice.
She had the grace to blush.
“I’m trying to think of something I could have stolen from you that would be half as terrible as what you’ve done to me.”
She blinked. The corner of her mouth twitched. “You stole my life. Do you remember that? Do you remember killing the man I loved because you werejealous?”
“I didn’t do that to you,” David snapped. “That wasn’t even you.”
Isobel puffed out her cheeks. “Do you want my help or not? I’m standing here, offering.”
“Even though you’d prefer to watch me suffer?”
She raised her shoulder, an elegant move for a regal woman.Why did she have to be so excruciatingly beautiful? Her allure was like a poisonous flower—deceptive and deadly. Belladonna.
Anna lifted his arm from her shoulders, urging him toward Bel.
