Page 469 of Coal Hearts

No one said a word as I gathered Ily into my arms and somehow found the strength to lurch to my feet.

My back protested.

My arms had no strength.

But having her close, feeling her fading heat soaking into me—the rightness of her after the wrongness of Peter—fuck, I needed that.

I hadn’t been aware how much I needed that.

How desperate I was to stay human when all I could see and hear and taste was death.

My eyes met the doctor’s. “If you try to stop me from taking her, I will hurt you.”

“Just like you hurt her?”

I glanced down at Ily’s slack face and closed eyes. I held her life in my hands, and instead of her fiery temper colliding with mine, her silent submission undid me.

“Pick up the supplies and give them to me.”

Melanie crossed her arms. “You can’t take her. I won’t let you. She could die if she doesn’t receive proper care. Especially if there’s internal bleeding.”

“I’ll bring her back later.”

“Are you a doctor, or are you just stupid? She’s my patient. Because of you, we’ve spent the entire day doing our best to repair what you and your fucking friends broke. I thought it was over. I hoped I wouldn’t have to see another brutalised person tonight. But no! I now have two unconscious patients to add to my overflowing surgery, and I’m telling you, Master or no Master, she belongs to the owner of this castle, and it’s up to me to fix her!”

“Wrong.” I stalked into her. “She’s mine, and I’ll take care of her.”

Her eyes flickered to my cut arm. Her expression said she didn’t give a rat’s ass about sewing me up anymore, but she would fight me on behalf of the jewels in her care. Her backbone grew stupidly brave as she shook her head. “If you think you can have more of your twisted fun tonight with a passed-out, bruise-riddled jewel, you deserve to die from that knife wound.”

I reeled backward. “Do I look like the type of man who would fuck her in this condition?”

“You’re the one who put her in this condition!”

“Give me the fucking supplies, and let me pass!” I bellowed, making Ily flinch but not rouse.

“Go jump off the roof!”

“Mel, enough!” The nurse leapt into action. Jogging to the cupboard of many shelves, she hastily ripped out a few other things along with a vial of colourless liquid. “I’m sorry, Master H. Please...forgive her. We’ve had a long day with jewels being brought in from the hunt. Many of them are injured.” Her voice turned small. “A few are dead. It’s...just...forgive us.”

Inhaling hard, feeling my own agonies, I nodded. “Forgiven.”

Melanie sneered but held her tongue this time.

Rose padded back to me, scooped up the bowl I’d dropped, then carefully tucked the supplies onto Ily’s stomach where she lay sleeping in my arms. “There’s a guest room two doors down from here. Please stay there tonight so we can come check on you both when we’ve stabilised Peter, okay?”

The way she watched me.

Maternally.

Kindly.

It very nearly brought me to my knees.

The weight of the world crushed my shoulders, and all I wanted to do was beg this woman to fix everything. To reverse all my actions. To heal Ily and heal me. To stop me from ever being this way.

Swallowing around the rocks in my throat, I nodded. “Fine.”

Melanie sucked in a breath as if surprised by my sudden amenability.