Chapter 7
Harper
We head back through the castle and into the academy grounds.
Me, cradled in Sevrin’s arms, the three princes silently following behind.
I can tell Sevrin doesn’t like having them at his back, but he doesn’t say a word, nor does he respond to the panicked looks everyone gives us when they see him in the halls.
“Which way?” he asks as we come to another fork in the road.
“That way,” I tell him.
And it’s nice. He doesn’t seem to mind following my directions. I just tell him where to go, and he obeys. I’m going to have to remember he has that talent next time we’re in the bedroom. The thought brings a blush to my face. He glances down at me, and his mouth curls a little.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
I feel like my cheeks are just getting hotter. “I was just noticing how good you are at following instructions.”
In no way did I want him to piece together what I was thinking about, but I see it in his face when it hits him. “Keep that in mind. I’m very good at following instructions.”
Man, I hope the princes can’t hear us.
We finally make it to my room, and he opens the door and pushes inside like he owns the place.
He walks straight to my bed and lays me down with all the care in the world.
Then he goes to my boots and first takes off the one on my uninjured foot, then, ever-so-gently, takes off the one on my injured foot.
Frowning down at my bruised ankle, he says, “It’s not as swollen as yesterday, so that’s a good thing.”
“I know,” I tell him, feeling a smile dancing across my lips.
His gaze meets mine. “Well, since you’re the healer, what should I do now?”
I glance toward the doorway and see that all three princes have entered. They don’t say a word. They just stare. Glare, really. But as long as they’re being good, I’m going to ignore them.
“See that top drawer over there? I have all my healing stuff in it. You’ll see a bottle with green paste. That’s a healing poultice that should work perfectly, and there are wraps beside it. Choose one that would suit my foot.”
He instantly does as instructed, coming back with everything I asked for. “Is this going to hurt you?”
“No. I’ll be fine,” I reassure him.
It’s strange. I never thought I’d associate the word “gentle” with a Hollowborn, but again and again this word comes to mind when Sevrin touches me.
It’s like for the first time in my life someone sees me as something precious.
Not fragile, exactly, because there’s also an element of respect to our interactions, but definitely someone important.
He lathers the cool poultice around my ankle, washes his hands, and returns to wrap my ankle slowly and carefully. When he looks at me, he says, “How did I do, healer?”
“Very well,” I tell him, beaming.
He finally looks back at the three princes. “It was unfortunate she was hurt in my care.”
“How exactly did it happen?” Alaric asks, tension in his voice.
“It was storming. We were running for cover, and she tripped.”
“I figured one of you savages did it,” Lucien mutters.
Sevrin’s stare turns sharp. “I’ve never hurt her. Can the three of you say the same?”
Surprise and shock flashes across their faces. Lucien turns a glare onto me. “You told him about us.”
“She didn’t have to,” Sevrin responds, and now there’s a note of anger in his voice. He turns back to me. “Do you want them to leave?”
“I–”
“She probably wants you to leave. You’re the savage,” Lucien says, fists clenched at his side.
“Surely you can do better than that?” Sevrin asks, lifting a brow.
Lucien steps forward. Gareth and Alaric step between them. My gut does a little flop, and I realize just how on the edge everyone is. A fight between them would not be in the best interest of the treaty.
“Sevrin, please,” I murmur.
He looks at me, and his expression gentles. “I can deal with these asses. For you.”
“Who you calling a fucking ass, savage?” Lucien shouts.
Instead of approaching him, Sevrin sits down on the bed beside me and entwines our fingers. “We have today together, for anything you want.”
“I could show you around,” I suggest.
“Your ankle–”
“It’s really fine. You’re making too much of it. I let you treat it. The poultice should help with the remaining achiness. I’ll be just fine.”
He doesn’t look convinced. “If you wish to show me around, then you can, if we go slow and carefully.”
“I have a better idea,” Lucien says. His chest is puffed out, and his brothers are holding him back. “Why don’t you leave, so we can speak to Harper alone?”
To my surprise, Sevrin turns to me. “What do you want, My Heart?”
They seem equally startled. My experience of royal men is that they do what they want, and they don’t worry about what anyone else thinks, including me. Why is it so easy for Sevrin to show me respect, when it’s so hard for them?
I sigh. “I think it might be best if I talked to them.”
This calms the three men down instantly. The look they give Sevrin is one of triumph. Like they were in a battle, and Sevrin lost. I don’t like it. I think it’s important that they stand on equal footing with him, but I don’t know how to help him get on even footing.
But, apparently, he does.
Leaning over to me, he digs his hand into the back of my hair and kisses me. Hard. So hard that it takes my breath away. So hard that for a second I forget I’m in my room, being stared at by three men, and I cling to him, pulling him closer.
He breaks our kiss, pressing his forehead against mine. “Later.” And it’s a promise.
He rises and struts across the room, a confident little walk that almost makes me laugh. He passes the three princes, who seem to be staring on in complete shock. When he reaches the door, he says, “I’ll be right outside the door. If you need anything, anything at all, just call.”
And then he’s gone. Three pairs of eyes lock onto me with accusations they don’t speak aloud.
This should be fun.