Clare’s head lifted, revealing burning cheeks—one a harsher shade of red.
Bennick’s vision narrowed. The king had struck her.
“I’m fine.Can we go see Venn?”
“Of course,” Dirk said.
Bennick couldn’t speak; his mouth had gone dry.
Dirk led the way down the corridor and Bennick walked so closely beside Clare their arms brushed. Her reddened cheek practically glowed in the dim light of the narrow passage. His pulse snapped and his hands clenched. It was a good thing they walked away from the king; if he saw Newlan now, he didn’t know what he’d do.
Cool fingers wrapped around his, startling him. Clare didn’tlook at him, just held his hand. Her soft glove was damp withblood, but he didn’t care. The contact grounded him, loosened some of the tightness in his chest.
Within minutes they entered the physician’s ward. The waiting area was filled with noble lords and ladies gathered in clusters throughout the room, some begging physician apprentices to let them into the private rooms to see a loved one. In the back corner of the waiting room, Bennick’s eyes locked with Cardon’s. The bodyguard wasn’t alone. Vera stood with him, chewing her lip as she eyed a nearby closed door. Another maid was beside them, and it took Bennick a moment to recognize Serene in the maid’s gray and white dress, wearing a kerchief over her head.
“They’ve sewn the wound,” Serene said lowly as they drew close. “He’s going to live.”
“Thank the fates,” Clare breathed, squeezing Bennick’s hand. He should probably let go, but his fingers wouldn’t move.
“The bolt broke one of his ribs,” Cardon said. “He’ll be in some pain for a month or so, but if he’s careful he can still come with us to Mortise.”
Bennick eyed the princess. “You shouldn’t have left the safety of your room.”
Serene rolled her eyes.“Please, Bennick.You know me. Besides, everyone is too preoccupied to notice me.”
He might have tried arguing, but he was distracted when Clare slipped her hand free and moved to Vera. She wrapped an arm around the pale maid’s waist and whispered to her.
Cardon lowered his voice. “Was it really Gavril?” When Bennick confirmed it with a short nod, Cardon cursed. “I can’t believe it.”
Serenebracedherhands on herhips, eyebrows drawn together. “I know he was a friend to you all. I’m sorry.”
Bennick couldn’t stomach her apology—not when Gavril had put her life, and Clare’s, in danger. “I should have realized it was him.”
“His pain was an effective mask,” Serene said. “You couldn’t have known.” Her words, spoken so directly, offered a surprising level of comfort. Emotions still warred inside Bennick, but self-blame was no longer the winning force.
The door pushed open and Wilf emerged. His jaw tightened as his eyes swept over them. “Fool’s awake.”
Vera dove around him, the first to enter the private room. Serene, Cardon, and Dirk went next, and Clare and Bennick moved to follow, but Clare paused before Wilf.
The large warrior viewed her with lowered brows.
“Thank you for saving my life,” she said.
Wilf’s forehead creased. “Only doing my duty.”
Her mouth twitched. “Well, thank you.”
Wilf watched as she disappeared into the room, then shot a confused look at Bennick. “What was that?”
Despite everything, the corner of Bennick’s mouth lifted. “She once thought you were trying to kill her.”
Wilf frowned. “Why would she think that?”
“You’re a little gruff sometimes.”
The large man only grunted.
Everyone crowded around the small room’s only bed. Venn’s uniform had been replaced by a thin white shirt and he lay sprawled against a mountain of pillows. “You’re all embarrassing me,” he said, then coughed. Vera quickly poured him a glass of water from a pitcher on the bedside table and even helped him drink. After a few swallows, Venn tipped his head back and gave her an almost distracted smile. “I’ll have an impressive scar.”
“You’renot in toomuchpain?”Vera asked,her featurespinched with concern.
Wilf crossed his arms with a snort. “He’s so drugged, it’s amazing the idiot’s conscious.”
“That’s true,” Venn said, grinning at the girl beside him. “Can’t feel a thing, Vera m’dear. I mean, Miss dear Smallwood. You’re a very small wood, you know. It’s in your name: Vera Smallwood.” He giggled.
Bennick arched a brow. He hadn’t known his friend could make that sound.
Cardon patted Venn’s shoulder, his smile pulling at the long scar on his cheek. “You’re going to be embarrassed about this tomorrow.”
“Never!” Venn scoffed. “I won’t be embarrassed because I won’t remember it.”
Dirk and Cardon shared a grin over his head.
Vera set the cup aside and perched on the bed’s edge, Venn’s limp hand cradled in both of hers. Serene laughed at something Venn said about Wilf’s nursing abilities, and Wilf glowered.
Bennick sidled next to Clare, who stood at the foot of the bed. He set a hand against the small of her back and she sent him a brief smile that shot warmth through his veins. She rested her head on his shoulder and relaxed against him.
His own muscles loosened. The danger wasn’t past, not with the road to Mortise stretched before them, but in this room and in this moment, there was peace.
Chapter 44
Grayson
Grayson’s body was stiff but he didn’t move. He and Mia sat on her cell floor, their backs to the bed, his arm wrapped around her. Her head was tipped against his shoulder and their free hands were joined, fingers threaded together and balanced on his bent knee. She hummed softly, almost unconsciously. It was a lullaby she’d sung to him when they were children, a haunting melody that had always made Grayson long for something unnamable.
Mia had removed his gloves, leaving nothing between them. Hours must have passed since he’d broken in her arms and heknew the welts and bruises on her body must be throbbing. He wanted to take away her pain. Would have done it in an instant, if he could.
He marveled that she was sitting here with him. He’d bared his soul, showed her the ugliest, darkest parts of him, and she hadn’t run away. She’d held
