A Queen of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 4)

“It was mostly quiet where I was,” Hannon told me conversationally as he peeled away the already bloody bandages before applying his poultice that would hopefully close the wound a little quicker. “Demons were either trying to run around the village or through it. With help from some of the villagers, we were able to quickly disband them.”

“You got here fast.” I leaned an elbow on the table and propped my face onto my fist, angling to look at him. “Nyfain didn’t even tell them where to find you.”

“I was already on my way.” He stepped closer and peered at my work. “Is that how you want it?”

He was just trying to distract me, I knew. I glanced into the mortar anyway, but the image swam before my eyes. I closed them as Hannon continued.

“The villages weren’t under threat, it seemed like. I came here to see if anyone needed help. A couple of the house staff found me as I came out of the wood.”

“Lucky, lucky.” I took a deep breath and then went back to the pestle, grinding it against stone. This recipe was hardy. It could take me grinding it a little too much. Or too little. “The villages were quiet because Dolion was making a play for Nyfain. There was an entire horde there, trying to surround him and box him in.”

I fluttered my eyes open to see Hannon peering across me at Nyfain. He was looking to see if Nyfain had taken any damage, not like it would matter. With me hurt, no way would Nyfain let Hannon spare his attention for anyone else.

“And it apparently didn’t work, I see.” Hannon went back to his workstation as I slowly turned to look at the water. A wave of dizziness swept across me, and the next thing I knew, I was pressed against Nyfain’s chest, cradled in his arms.

He kicked the chair a little with his foot, turning it, and sat down with me on his lap. He turned me sideways before leaning me more thoroughly against him.

“Stay like that,” he commanded, his power rolling over me and his deep voice rumbling through his chest. Shivers coated my flesh. “Stay upright. Keep your eyes open. Hannon, go outside and tell Tamara to find my mother. Tell her I need help in here.”

“It’s fine, seriously—”

“If you tell me it is fine one more time,” he ground out, his tone savage, “I will make you regret it. Now sit there quietly while I finish grinding this. Or talk if you need to, but stop saying ridiculous things.”

Apparently I didn’t look fine.

“It’s—” I just barely stopped myself from saying it was fine.

In a moment, Hannon came back in.

“If that water is at a rolling boil, go ahead and take out a large cup’s worth,” I told him.

“A large cup?” Hannon peered in the pot. “How much time?”

That had to mean it wasn’t ready yet. He was asking how much time until I passed out.

I blew out a breath. It wouldn’t be long now. My whole world was starting to float. Next would be spinning. Then passing out. This wasn’t the first time I’d lost a lot of blood. The problem was, we usually had hot water on standby. We’d had to with Father on the verge of death.

“We should always have water going here the way we did at home, Hannon, remember?” My eyelids were heavy. I fluttered them against the encroaching darkness.

“Okay,” I said, and jerked, my whole body suddenly tensing. Had I fallen asleep? Nyfain’s hand spread across my back. “Okay, Nyfain, grind that until it is almost a powder. The second the water is ready, get that cup and pour in the contents. Let it sit for—”

“I know how long,” Hannon cut in. “Fight it. Stay awake. You’ve lost a lot of blood. You’ll need to fight the desire to sleep.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.”

“What annoys you?” he asked, resorting to our old standby: making me mildly angry to keep me awake.

The wheels in my head started to turn. There were always so many things that annoyed me. Not as many now, though. But still…

“Why doesn’t Tamara get called a great alpha?” I said, clawing to consciousness, holding on to Nyfain to stay upright. Or maybe he was holding me. I couldn’t feel my body at this point. The everlass draught had effectively numbed me, which was great for dulling the pain, but I was at a point that I needed pain to keep me going. I needed to feel something. “Why didn’t she get to stay behind and lead a group of people? She’s experienced in it.”

“She didn’t stay behind because she is supposed to guard you,” Nyfain replied. “Supposed to being the operative words. You were left wide open.”

“I’m not an easy one to anticipate. That’s not her fault.”