Chapter 32 Knocking On Death’s Door
Chapter Thirty-Two
Knocking On Death’s Door
Davin
Davin kneeled, watching as they ran, helpless to stop them.
He had to continue putting pressure on Alex’s wound, or risk her bleeding out.
Gods, how he wanted to make them beg for their lives before he sank his blade deep between their ribs, causing their lungs to fill with blood.
He would revel in their internal drowning, knowing they would be unable to scream for help.
But their deaths would have to come later. They weren’t worth her life.
Alex’s bleeding seemed to be slowing but not fast enough.
She was still alive, for now, her chest rising and falling in rapid succession.
Taking out his dagger, he cut away her leathers, exposing the jagged wound beneath.
Blood had soaked completely through the scrap of his shirt already.
Running on instinct, he ripped his shirt off and flipped it inside out, hoping that might decrease the chance of infection.
He was going to have to pack the wound and this was the best he could do for now.
He only hoped that she remained unconscious, for the pain that this would cause her would be immense.
Sucking in a breath, he focused his trembling fingers on the task in front of him and shoved away his pounding fear.
He wouldn’t lose her. He couldn't. With as much care as possible, Davin removed the blood-saturated scrap and replaced it with his shirt, gently pushing the cloth into the wound just enough to stem the bleeding.
They were exposed out here on the road and losing light at an alarming pace.
He needed to get her back home and assess how bad the damage truly was.
Lifting her into his arms, he sealed her body to his, securing the wound, and ignored the massive pool of blood under her.
He kept his steps measured, trying not to jostle her too badly.
She remained silent, her arms hanging at her side, head limp against his chest.
After what felt like eternity, Davin kicked open the door to his cabin, having little regard for the now broken lock.
Heading straight for his bedroom, he gently lowered her unconscious body onto his bed, making quick note of her bleeding.
Leaving her, he raced down the hall gathering supplies as he ran.
Skidding to a stop by his bed, he grabbed one of the clean towels and began ripping it into strips, creating makeshift bandages.
Alex hadn’t moved but her breathing seemed to be steadier.
Removing his saturated shirt, he inspected the wound.
Shit, this was bad, but he didn’t think they’d hit anything vital.
She had to be in excruciating pain though, and for that reason, he was incredibly grateful she was unconscious.
“It’s ok. You’re ok. I won’t fail you.” Davin picked up another towel and carefully wedged it underneath her before grabbing the canteen of water to flush her wound.
The moment the water sluiced over her inflamed skin, Alex let out a high pitched whine, followed by a low plea. “Please, no.”
“Shhh, it’ll be okay, just a little more and I’ll stop.” Davin kept his pace steady as he methodically cleaned the blood and debris from the wound.
“Don’t go. Don’t. Leave. Me.” Alex begged in a tiny voice that caused him to freeze.
Her eyes were closed but he could see them moving rapidly under her eyelids.
His gut clenched with her words and the overwhelming desire to comfort her physically pained him.
Reaching out to stroke her cheek, he gave her the only reassurance he could, “I’m not going anywhere, princess. I’m right here.”
Picking up the strips of towel, he continued applying the bandages tightly to bind the wound.
It wasn’t pretty, but it would hold. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he smoothed what was left of her hair back from her face.
Her features were more relaxed than they had been and he held out hope that was a good sign.
The fear he had felt watching those men attack her had been all consuming.
He had sworn he would never allow anyone that power over him again, yet she had him breaking that promise.
“Who were those men? Why do they want you dead? Who are you, Alex?”
Davin paced along the rug in his bedroom.
His hair disheveled from the fight and from running his hands through it for the past eight hours.
Alex had still not awakened. Fuck. Fuck.
Fuck. This was bad, so very fucking bad.
Fighting, he could handle. Stealing, sneaking, conniving, sure, they weren’t pleasant, but those things could be dealt with.
This? Davin didn’t know how to do this. ‘Breathe.’ The memory struck him, hard enough to stop his steps.
‘Be the calm - the steady hands in the dark.’
He could hear Nila’s voice tenderly offering him solace.
He repeated it. “Be the calm - the steady hands in the dark.” A nerve settling calm fell over him as a plan formed in his mind.
First, get her to a healer. Brynn healers couldn’t handle a wound like hers; they wouldn't be able to do much of anything with their simple healing tonics and salves. She would need better.
The sun was beginning to disturb the horizon now. They’d need to hurry if they stood a chance. As much as it pained him, he needed to wake her.
He left her just long enough to gather supplies for their journey, since hers had been strewn to the ground during the fight.
Then, he readied the horse, hooking his cart to the mare and depositing his pack of supplies in the back.
His horse had galloped away when he launched himself off it in a panic to help Alex and only Sindu knew where it had run off to.
He hurried back into the house, stopping directly in the center of his living space and only paused a moment before sliding his couch aside and pulling up the floorboard just underneath.
He didn’t even give himself time to consider his choice as he pocketed what he hoped he’d never need.
Dropping the couch back into place, Davin headed to the bedroom, relief flooding him as Alex’s pain clouded gray eyes met his.
“Alex.” He rushed to her side. “Thank Keil you’re awake!
” Brushing the back of his hand across her forehead, he noted the coolness and ashen color of her face.
She had been shivering off and on all night, despite the many blankets he had wrapped her in.
Alex shuddered at his touch, her eyes fluttering closed, and the most pitiful whimper escaped her.
He hated that he was going to cause her pain again, but he had to move her.
“I need to move you. I am going to pick you up, ok? This is going to hurt. I’m sorry.”
Alex nodded, just the slightest movement. He bent, slowly gathering her in his arms. Her entire body tensed with anguish before relaxing into him.
“I’ve got you, princess,” he murmured, cradling her to his chest. Once outside, he laid her gently on the makeshift pallet in the cart, tucking blankets tightly around her.
He knew this journey was going to be agonizing but he could do little to change that.
Hurrying to the front of the cart, Davin snapped the reins and they jerked down the road leading to town.
She was buffeted by blankets and cushions as they moved away from his home. Every bump and shift caused moans and mumbled curses from Alex. Although Davin hated to hear her cries, at least if she was making noise, she was breathing and alive.
He knew what needed to be done, regardless of the position it put him in.
He would be labeled a deserter the moment he left and didn’t return to report to his Battalion Commander.
None of that mattered right now though, but she did.
Gods forgive him but she mattered to him.
As they neared Lasair, Alex once again fell silent, unconsciousness claiming her, the pain too great to tolerate any longer.
Fear speared through Davin, dread weighing heavily in his gut as he glanced back over his shoulder at Alex.
She looked so unbelievably frail, no color gracing her cheeks, her dark eyelashes stark against her pale skin.
Cracking the reins, Davin pushed the horse to move faster.
He had to make it. She would not die today.
They arrived at the port just before the Morrows Med Ship, more commonly known as the M.M.S.
Maura, pulled away from the gangway. A second med ship was docked just beyond it, but would be of no use to him.
Davin looked around frantically. Where was the man?
He’d never let anyone else captain his ship.
A short, burly man with a full-length beard popped his head from around the stern of the ship. “McConnell.” Davin called to him. The man sauntered down the gangway and Davin beckoned him over, attempting in vain to avoid notice from the shiphands readying to push off.
“Monroe! Long time son. How are…” His voice trailed off as he drew closer, peering into the cart. “Who?” he managed to ask, concern in his voice.
“Never mind who. I’m calling in my favor.” McConnell’s eyes narrowed in response, but he didn't question again.
“Davin, ye know ye have it. My child wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t fer ya.”
“There is no time to explain, McConnell. I…we… need on that ship. Now. And I need a healer, the best you’ve got.
” McConnell simply nodded once and signaled him to follow.
No one would question the Captain of the ship adding passengers, nor would they ask for payment for boarding.
McConnell had the final word, and anyone who dared to argue with the man would end up standing on the shore without even an oar to paddle with.
Davin hefted a motionless Alex from the cart, a sheen of sweat soaking her entire body, strands of loose hair sticking to her face. McConnell hesitated before saying, “Davin. A name, son. I need a name fer the manifest.”
He took a long moment staring into Alex’s face. I don’t even know your last name. Without looking up at McConnell, he simply said, “Put it on the manifest as Davin and Alex Monroe.” McConnell paused, shock written on his face, before continuing up the gangway.
Davin continued moving past him without another word. If the man thought it was inappropriate, then he could piss off. She just needed to live, damn it, and he didn’t care how that was accomplished.