“I trust you, princess.”
Those rasped words gave her the confidence to open the wound, but she died a little when he bucked and screamed. Pain sweat beaded on his brow, and he fisted both hands in the rough blanket.
“Fuck me, that hurts.”
“I don’t have anything strong enough to put you out. Eldritch medicines don’t seem to be efficacious for the Animari.”
“Different metabolic rate,” he grunted. “Just…get it done. Fast is better than slow.”
“I know that, but I’m trying to avoid butchering you.”
She tried not to show how scared she was or how utterly unsettling it was to be feeling around beneath the skin, layers of muscle and connective tissue with such a terrifying lack of expertise. Deeper, oh, there. It took three tries, but she finally got the bullet out, lodged against his ribs. She tried not to fret about bone chips or all the ways he could die as she removed the slug.
“You done?” Raff whispered.
She wished he would pass out, so he’d be spared some of the pain, but he had been with her, ever since she woke him so cruelly. “Just clean up left, now.”
Though the cabin was cold, Thalia was covered in sweat as she washed her hands. One step at a time. Using her knife, she cut strips off the clean end of the blanket. The first she used to wipe the blood up as best she could. It looked as if Raff had been baptized in it, so it took several rinses to get him clean. Then she applied antibacterial spray and wrapped his side as best she could.
“There,” she said finally. “I wish we had pain meds or antibiotics. But this is all I can do for you.”
“It should be fine,” he mumbled.
“Right. You’re unkillable, I remember.”
Even in this circumstance, he managed a crooked smile, tugging at her heartstrings. “Many have tried, none have succeeded.”
“It only takes one success,” she snapped, then reined in her temper.
Why am I mad at him? She wasn’t, exactly, except that it didn’t seem as if he treasured his life. Not like he should, anyway.
“Don’t fret, Lady Silver. I just need food and sleep.”
“You need an actual doctor who knows what he’s doing and possibly a blood transfusion. Since you’ve been with me, you’ve been shot multiple times, poisoned, nearly crushed to death—”
“Don’t cry.” He raised unsteady hands to brush her cheek.
That was when Thalia realized she was crying. What the hell is wrong with me? I’m the ice queen, unbreakable, immovable.
“I’m just tired.” Her voice came out soft and small, utterly unlike her. “Let’s get you in bed.”
“That’s your game,” he teased. “Weaken me until I can’t flee from your fearsome appetites. Alas, I cannot escape, so I’ll submit.”
She swiped at her eyes. “Idiot. Try not to open any of your wounds.”
While he was still acting like a lighthearted fool, she’d seen far too much of his courage and determination to dismiss him any longer. Raff Pineda was a worthy partner by anyone’s standards.
Thalia used her full strength to lever him off the floor and onto the mattress. Raff inched upward until he was fully ensconced in bed—and it was clear that much effort had exhausted him. He closed his eyes and just let her tuck him in, as if he was a child. Thalia doubted many people had seen the wolf lord this way. His trust felt like the greatest honor she’d ever received. She bent and pressed a kiss to his forehead.
“Sleep now,” she whispered. “I’ll stand watch and keep you from harm.”
It was night when Raff woke. He wasn’t sure what day it was, and he felt weak as hell. Thalia was beside him, asleep sitting up with one hand on his head. She had never looked exactly robust, and now she seemed dangerously fragile, thinner than before, deep purple shadows beneath her eyes. He managed to struggle upright, though his entire body ached. The last time he felt this shitty, his father had beaten him half to death, right after his older brother died.
His movement roused her, and she snapped to consciousness like a soldier who’d fallen asleep on sentry duty, a complex commingling of guilt and remorse.
“Raff? You’re awake?” The desperate joy and gratitude shone from her, reinforced when she carried his hands to her mouth and kissed his knuckles one by one.
“You’re starting to alarm me, Lady Silver.”
“It’s been four days,” she whispered, touching his hair, his cheek, his beard. Soft, pleasant tingles followed wherever her hands roved. He’d never felt like precious treasure before, but her fingers brushing lightly over his hair nearly made him groan aloud.
“Has it?” he asked, quietly shaken.
Swallowing audibly, she nodded. “The wound in your side was infected. I had to open it up twice and drain the site.” From the way her face looked, he could well imagine she’d gone through hell for him and come back again.
“Thank you.”
“For what? My poor care nearly killed you.” Tears trembled in her thick lashes, spilled down pale cheeks.
He reached for her with arms that wobbled. Still not recovered, but I’m on the uptick. Raff was clearheaded at least. Of the last few days, he had only jumbled impressions, mostly Thalia’s face and her soft hands interspersed with what must’ve been nightmares.
She curled into his arms, not a queen, just a tired woman pushed beyond her limits. The way she trembled against him roused every ferociously protective instinct. Somewhere, there were assholes who wanted to slaughter this bright, lovely creature. Then and there, Raff decided they all had to die, no mercy, no exceptions.
“That’s a negative outlook. I mean, I’m still alive.” He touched his own cheek. “Don’t think I’ve got a fever and I’m still breathing, so that means you saved me.”
“You’re impossible. Are you hungry? I haven’t been able to get much food in you.”
His stomach rumbled
