Chapter 11 Audryn #2
“We’re not leaving her here,” Fisher argued. “Take Audryn and I’ll ride her beast back.”
Dysis lifted her head, shrieked in his direction, and snapped her maw for good measure. I tucked my lips under, making my best attempt to hide the emerging smile.
“Are you stupid? We aren’t leaving her.” Amalee patted the back of her wyvern’s neck. “But if you don’t get your ass up here, I’ll be leaving and you can walk back.”
“Audryn,” Col called out, “you’re with me.”
Dysis nudged me gently with her head and trilled.
Rising, I walked to Zalzre, throwing my jacket on as I moved. “I’m going to get you dirty.” I gestured down to my pants and the bottom of my shirt.
“Looks like we don’t have much of a choice.” Col pulled himself onto his wyvern. “Climb as far as as you can and I’ll help you the rest of the way up.”
“We’re stopping to see mother,” Amalee called before launching into the sky with Fisher. I couldn’t tell what he said, but from his tone, he was protesting her decision.
I made it halfway before Col pulled me up and helped me swing a slippery leg over Zalzre. “Thank you,” I muttered as I slid backwards into him more forcefully than I intended.
He didn’t respond, but set a wide hand across my belly a second before the beast leapt into the sky. The ride home was quiet, and though I commented on the weather and the sunset, he remained silent.
“They’re oily.” I frowned at the wyverns standing in the street; both Dysis and Zalzre had crude streaked across their skin.
“You need to wash off before you traipse inside.” Col disappeared into the townhouse and returned with a towel in hand. “Sky isn’t here to help you, so you’re stuck with me.”
He gestured to the back of the building and led me into a gated yard. Gathering two buckets of water, he handed me a bar of rosemary-scented soap.
“I pour, you scrub,” he directed.
“I guess,” I murmured, and waited for him to pour the water.
“You’re going to have to remove your pants to get all of that oil off.” He flicked a hand out toward my clothes.
“You’re kidding, right? Or are you just trying to get my pants off?” I huffed a breath and crossed my arms.
He set the bucket down slowly while keeping his darkened eyes on me.
Each step was filled with dangerous intent as he moved closer.
I stepped backwards until the wall kissed my back.
Col placed a palm against the building, boxing me in.
I sucked in a breath as he reached toward my neck, but he stopped short and twirled my mother’s pendant in his fingers.
He leaned in close, the warmth of his breath brushing over my ear. “I assure you, Audryn, if I wanted your pants off, I wouldn’t have to douse you with water. You’d willingly remove them for me and enjoy every moment in doing so.”
My breath hitched as butterflies floated deep in my core.
“Take off your pants or stay out here for the night—it’s your choice.” Col’s gaze landed on my lips just before he took a step back.
Kicking off my boots, I put a hand against the wall and balanced. I removed my pants and motioned to my underwear; he threw out a hand, stopping me. I unbuttoned and removed my shirt, leaving me in nothing other than my undergarments.
For the next several minutes, I scrubbed my lower half while he poured cold water over me. It wasn’t entirely effective, but removed most of the crude from my skin. Twenty minutes later, I was inside the house and exiting the tub, free from the residue of the day’s adventure.
Sky walked through the front door as I made my way down the stairs and into the sitting room. Col sat lazily on the gray velvet chair in the corner, reading a black leather-bound book. His wet hair lay draped over his shoulders.
“What happened to you?” Sky asked, face full of concern.
I shook my head. “I’m fine, just tired—I used a lot of magic today.”
“Have you been in the sun all day?” she asked. “You look like you have sun exhaustion.” Sky gestured to the sofa. “Sit, let me look you over.”
“You’re a healer?” I sank into the fabric. Col looked up from the book, but hurried back to the pages when our eyes met.
“Not quite.” She placed a hand on my head, and we both jerked back.
The buzz of magic humming from her touch was unexpected. It was familiar, but foreign, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on the darkness that coursed through me. She eyed me warily and looked to Col; I couldn’t read her expression.
“Sorry—I should have warned you,” Sky went on. “Let me get some aloe for your skin, it’ll help with the heat and tenderness.”
Across the room, I found Col already watching me. Looking away, I pretended to busy myself with a rogue piece of yarn on my knitted shawl. It was irritating how often he caught me stealing glances.
“Okay, so you should keep this on until the stinging subsides, and you definitely need to stay out of direct sunlight for a few days.” She handed me a jar of green goo.
“That’s not going to work. I’m up at the seeps this week. If you have access to zinc, I’ll use that.” My mother used the thick cream to protect her skin in the garden during the day.
“You’re in the townhouse until she says otherwise,” Col grumbled and slammed the book closed. “There’s no use having you out there until your skin heals.” He set the book down on the table. “And I’ll be returning with you from now on.”
“She’s not even a healer, what does she know?” My eyes darted to Sky. “Sorry, I didn’t—”
She held up her hand. “Don’t worry about it—you’re right, but I do have eyes.” Sky shot a look at Col. “Unlike other people around here. Someone should’ve brought you back the minute your skin started turning pink.”
“I’m fine,” I protested. “I’ve worked in the sun more hours than I did today.”
“Have you though?” she pressed.
In Rivale, I’d spent most of my time in the garden at night or early in the morning. During the day, I always had coverage under the awnings at the market.
“Fine,” I conceded, “but at least bring me a bucket of gravel to work on while I’m stuck inside.”