Chapter Twenty-Two
Rion’s jaw worked as he stood vigil beside the tiny window, observing the pouring rain and the door to the inn below.
No one entered and no one left.
Rion had stormed through the front door, soaked with blood, and demanded a room. The female at the front desk had run up the single flight of stairs and unlocked a door without question.
Somehow she’d possessed enough bravery to linger and he’d given her a single command before slamming the door in her face. No one was to enter the building. The threat was clear.
To his surprise, the female had delivered bandages, medicine, extra blankets, and clothes and had left them outside the door. He’d placed a bag of coins in their place.
A tray of steaming soup arrived not long after. He took it, but set it aside. He wasn’t about to risk eating anything, not with Selina the way she was.
He’d tended to her wounds, far too many, and stripped off the remnants of the dress. Rion clenched his jaw. Stupid. It was so stupid of him to have left her at all.
The bed creaked and Rion’s head whipped toward the sound. Selina’s eyes were open and she winced as she tried to move.
He was at her side a second later.
She froze.
Her lips parted slightly and her heart rate spiked as she stared at him. Fear. Fear of him, at who else might be in the room, judging from the way her gaze flicked around the area.
He swallowed the lump forming in his throat and slowly seated himself in the wooden chair. He’d wrapped her ribs as best he could, but her breathing was too shallow. Her eye was still completely swollen and a large bluish bruise had bloomed under the left side of her jaw. He’d wrapped her arm too, but couldn’t tell if the bones were broken or the muscles simply strained. The entire limb matched her jaw in color.
Selina blinked a few times and tried to breathe in. She winced. “Hi,” she croaked. A harsh cough followed and she curled in on herself. Rion went for the water at the side of the table. He’d already threatened the inn keeper and made her drink from it first. Just to be sure.
Carefully and without touching her, Rion raised the glass to Selina’s lips. She used her good arm to hold it and took several slow sips.
Selina leaned back into the pillows and looked around the room again. “Where are we?”
Rion shrugged. “Some small village north of Whiteridge.”
She furrowed her brow. “And we—” She stopped, seeming to recall the events from last night. “You . . . saved me.”
He breathed a sigh of relief and sank back into the chair. “Of course I saved you. Did you expect I’d just leave you there?”
Selina shook her head and winced again, lifting her arm to gently prod her jaw. “I didn’t see it coming. One minute I was talking and the next—” Rain pelted the roof. She sighed. “How bad is it?”
“I’m not a healer, but I’d venture to guess you have a few broken ribs. The arm might be fractured, too.”
Selina reached for the blanket paused upon noticing her exposed shoulders. “You wrapped me?”
He nodded and turned away. “It was dark.”
“Thank you.”
“There’s a shower down the hall when you feel up to it.”
“What happened?”
Rion ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “They set us up. The entire thing was a trap. The names on the list aren’t even real.”
Her brows lifted. “You got a list?”
“Yes, but—”
“Let me see it.”
Rion pulled the crumbled parchment from his pocket and handed it to her. He’d looked at it again while she’d been sleeping and cursed himself for not seeing it sooner. There were names, but all of them were from Nàdair. Officials, council members, leaders. Saoirse and Alec. Himself. He ventured a guess that it was more of a hit list than anything. All those who would be against the rebel’s taking power.
“What about the formula?” she hedged.
Rion just stared at a loose thread in the thick blanket. “I’d venture to guess it’s likely the same one Saoirse and I busted him for years ago.”
“So we have nothing.” Rion clenched his jaw. Selina stared at the list of names again, reading each one carefully before crushing it in her fist and throwing it off to the side of the bed. “At least tell me they’re dead.”
“Every single one.”
“Good.”
“Except for Foley, but he’ll get what’s coming to him.”
She lifted a brow. “You didn’t kill him?”
“I—” Rion paused and lowered his voice. “I should have. It would have taken less than a second, but after what he told me, I just . . . ran.”
She lifted her wrapped arm and draped it across her torso. Her voice was full of emotion as she said, “Thank you, they were . . . cruel.” He wanted to ask her so many questions but didn’t dare. They were already dead anyway and he was going to kill the one who’d given the command next. “So what’s the plan now?”
“You’re going to rest,” Rion said and stood. “I’ll get you something to eat, then we’re heading back to Nàdair.”
“To hell we are. We still have a mission to finish.”
“Not in your condition.”
She tried to move and grimaced again. “Fine, I’ll rest, but just for a bit.”
Rion didn’t think she realized he meant for a few weeks, but he didn’t push the issue. He ventured downstairs, leaving his sand to block the door and windows. The female stood ramrod straight at his approach. She already had water ready and waiting and drank from the cup beside it without being prompted.
Rion wrapped his fingers around the tray. “She needs something to eat.”
“O-Of course.”
“You’ll be tasting that, too. Ensure it’s not tampered with.”
She swallowed hard and raced to the back, returning moments later with a bowl full of warm broth and fresh bread. Again, she tasted it without prompting.
Selina perked up when he returned. She held her spoon with her non-dominant hand and though it appeared awkward, she made do.
“You were something else out there,” she said after a few bites. “The rumors aren’t exaggerated after all.”
Never mind that fact that he’d been so filled with rage that he could barely remember it all. He’d taken a vial of antidote afterward and given her one as well, just to be sure.
“I didn’t think you were lucid enough to know what was happening.”
“I remember the image of you running up. I heard everything else. And saw the aftermath.”
“I shouldn’t have left you alone.”
She waved her good hand, spoon between her fingers. One swollen and bruised. “I’m a warrior. I’m trained for these sorts of things.”
“It shouldn’t have happened, and I won’t allow it to happen again.” The words were clipped and barely more than a growl.
“We’re a team. If we’re going to succeed, then that’s how we need to function. I’m not anyone’s crutch.”
He didn’t respond. Everything he wanted to say would be laced with emotion and Selina didn’t need that right now.
Less than twenty minutes later, the steps creaked and Rion was at the door before they knocked.
Two. There were two at the top of the stairs. He palmed a knife before opening the door.
The innkeeper stood with another female to her left. He surveyed them, looking both up and down. Neither were armed and the new female carried a large bag at her side.
The innkeeper wrung her hands. “I thought you might need a healer.”
Rion let some of the tension fall from his shoulders. The healer looked ready to run.
“No weapons. No magic.”
The healer nodded and Rion assessed her again before stepping aside. The female gasped upon seeing Selina and rushed to the female’s side. She asked a slew of questions then began prodding Selina’s bruised arm.
A sharp wince had Rion moving forward, but Selina waved him off before kicking him out entirely.
He stood just outside the door, refusing to go further.
He listened intently and caught on to the coded conversation regarding Selina’s safety. It made a bit of the tension fall from his shoulders. Selina explained how they were on an important mission for the High Lord. Her story made him sound more heroic than he felt Alec would appreciate, but when the healer exited, she looked at him with more curiosity than anything.
“I left medicine on the table,” she said, her voice shaking slightly. “She needs to rest for at least two weeks.”
“I told you, I’m fine,” Selina called from the room.
The healer rolled her eyes, then seemed to remember herself. “She can take the pain reliever every few hours as needed. The other is to help prevent any infection and should be taken once in the morning and once at night.”
Her gaze traveled down to his arm. He’d done nothing but wrap it in a crude cloth.
“I could . . . tend to that for you,” she offered.
“It’s fine. I can take care of it myself.” She nodded, but reached into her bag and offered him more bandages and a fresh needle and thread.
“Thank you.”
She nodded again. “I’m two doors down if you need me or change your mind.”
She walked down the stairs and disappeared out the front door. Rion found Selina with the tray of food back in her lap.
“She said I should shower soon and to call for her when I need my bandages changed.”
“I can change them for you.”
“You don’t have to hover, you know.” He opened his mouth to retort, but she interrupted. “You don’t have to feel guilty, either. The fault goes to me for being careless.”
He was the one who’d been careless. The entire situation might not have even involved the rebels. It could have purely been revenge for what Saoirse and he had put Foley through. Selina had gotten hurt because of his past.
“Care to help me to the shower?” Rion swallowed hard and eyed the blanket covering her. The only thing left on her body, aside from bandages, were her undergarments.
“Sure.”
“The robe is over there.” Rion retrieved it, then helped her sit up, doing his best to keep his head turned. His face burned and he thought he heard her chuckle as she carefully slipped her arms through the sleeves. She held onto him and Rion helped her stand. Selina pulled the robe tightly around herself and tied the thin rope to hold it in place.
She eyed the door and grimaced after her first step. “Gods, I thought that painkiller was supposed to have kicked in by now.”
“She said you could have more.”
Selina shook her head. “I want to be able to think and I’d rather not pass out in the shower.” She stepped again and her hand reached out to grip the bedpost. Selina cursed and took several breaths. He wasn’t letting her suffer the whole walk down the hall. Rion stepped forward and carefully scooped her into his arms. She grimaced once and surprise covered her face.
Rion didn’t look at her. “It’ll be faster.” She only nodded and he carried her down the hall before placing her upright just inside the door to the small bathroom. “There’s a stool inside if you need to sit.”
“Thank you,” she said again, but didn’t look at him. Rion tried not to stare at the pink staining her cheeks. She reached out and took his arm when he made to turn. “I’m serious, thank you. Not just for this, but for coming for me.”
“I’ll always come.” She looked up at him and he swallowed hard. “For you. I’ll always come.”
Her lips parted when he moved a stray strand of hair out of her face. Rion forced a smile, then pulled the door shut before seating himself on the floor outside.