“Looked like demon claws to me,” Niall said.
Cody sat back on his haunches, staring at the tracks. Problem was, a vampire had a footprint just like a human… or a demon in disguise. Had one of Malek’s demons tracked Shay to the castle? “We’ll need guards, twenty-four seven. Shane, can you organize it? Someone tell Sean to alert the Council that we’ve been attacked.”
***
Shay pulled back the sheet and lifted Jamie’s bandage. She could already see a difference in the wound after just a few hours. Coira said the warriors healed quickly. The cut from Cody’s sword was proof. It was just a thin line already. Other scars dotted Jamie’s body. She asked him about them once. He laughed and said he was a reckless kid.
His eyes flew open, and his hand clamped on her arm, surprisingly strong. He focused on her face and relaxed his grip. “Shay.” He looked down at his bandage and winced.
“How do you feel?”
“Cold.”
“Let me get Coira.”
“No. Stay with me.”
This was the first time he’d spoken to her since the attack. Coira said he’d woken a few times, but hadn’t said what happened.
“You were hurt. Something attacked you.”
He frowned hard and rubbed his forehead. “A demon, I think… can’t remember…” his voice trailed off, and he shivered.
“I’ll get another blanket,” she said, starting to pull away.
He held onto her hand. “Lie down with me, just for a few minutes. Please.”
She hesitated, knowing she shouldn’t, but she felt bad for Jamie. Not just for his physical pain, but for the emotional pain she’d caused him, although it hadn’t been intentional. He’d offered her his heart and his home. The least she could do was comfort him for five minutes. Maybe he would fall asleep quickly and she could put another blanket on him and leave. After all, Sam had been in Cody’s bedroom while he wore nothing but a towel, and he expected Shay to believe it was innocent. Was this any worse? Against Shay’s better judgment, she slipped off her shoes and lay on top of the covers, stiffly, trying not to let their bodies touch. The pillow was soft. She hadn’t realized how tired she was, and her arm burned like the dickens. Maybe she was the one who should worry about infection. Shay closed her eyes, to rest for just a moment. As soon as Jamie fell asleep, she would leave.
***
Cody returned to the castle at eight o’clock. He missed dinner, but he didn’t care. All he wanted was to crawl into bed with Shay and hold her. Seeing her caring for Jamie left him with an uneasy feeling. He yawned. He’d spent most of the day talking to the fire investigators and looking for some sign of who might have attacked Jamie. He found a young warrior dead, probably killed before Jamie was attacked. The warrior had recently arrived from Ireland after finishing his training. His mentor hadn’t come; they thought it was a safe enough task. He shouldn’t have been guarding such an isolated section of the wall, but he talked another warrior into switching places. Sean was taking Patrick’s body home to his parents.
Cody headed to the room where they’d moved Jamie. If he was awake, Cody needed to ask him some questions about the attack. Perhaps they could clear the air as well. They weren’t at each other’s throats anymore, but Cody owed the man an apology. At one time Jamie had been a friend, and now he was sacrificing his life to protect Shay. He’d broken the rules and gotten involved with her, but Cody had too.
Jamie’s door was cracked. He lay on his back. Shay lay beside him, holding his hand. Cody’s heart felt like a block of wood. Had seeing Jamie injured made her realize that she still loved him? She’d cared enough to almost marry him. She had spent far more time in Jamie’s bed than his, and Jamie hadn’t gotten her pregnant and left her to carry and bury a baby alone. Cody turned and headed to his room, weary to the bone.
***
Shay was headed for the shower when she heard a knock. She threw on a robe and opened the door.
Cody stood outside. She hadn’t seen him since Jamie was hurt. It was pathetic how badly she wanted to run into his arms and feel his heart beating safe and sound against hers, but the warriors were swamped, trying to keep the place surrounded and trying to find Malek and the vampires. She noticed his face, pale and tight.
“Cody, what’s wrong? Is it Jamie?” She had just left him minutes earlier.
His jaw clenched. “Jamie’s fine,” he said, his voice rough. “I heard you come in and wanted to see if you were okay.”
“I’m good. I was just going to take a shower.”
“Okay, then.” He looked her over once, cold as a stranger, and turned to leave.
“Wait. What on earth’s wrong with you? One minute you’re telling me I’m your mate, the next you’re acting like a robot.”
He stepped inside and closed the door. “I don’t share my women.”
“What are you talking about?”
It was like she flipped a switch. The ice in his face melted and bitterness gushed out. “I saw you with him.”
“Who?”
“Jamie.”
Oh no. “If you mean—”
