Chapter 42
Forty-Two
Roman
“You’re hurting my arm.” I attempt to pull free from Galen’s grip, but it only causes him to tighten his fingers further.
“I don’t care,” he grumbles.
We trudge up another hill, and by the time we make it to the top, I collapse with exhaustion.
Galen halts, standing above me. “Get up.”
“No.” I roll onto my side, cradling my arm where Sorin shot me with a Mother-damned arrow. “I’m not going with you.”
Instinctually, I reach for my necklace only to remember it isn’t there. A smile creeps over my lips. I knelt beside Sorin as he took his last few breaths. Had mourned momentarily for this brother I didn’t know but somehow felt connected to. I slipped the amulet into his pocket as quickly as I could, hoping that by some miracle, he would be able to use the Healing magick stored inside to help himself or someone would find him in time to help him.
“Then where will you go?” Galen sits, his back pressed against a nearby tree. “If not Valebridge, where Roman?” He scoffs, wiping dirt from his boot. “Heal yourself and we’ll continue until nightfall. Once we’re back in Wickersham I’ll secure some horses before heading back to Valebridge.”
I sit up, the pain in my arm excruciating, burning, but luckily no longer bleeding. “Why did you say those things?”
Galen watches me as I cradle my arm. His gaze slides to my neck and when he finds it empty of the necklace his cheeks turn red.
“You told Sorin I was lying.”
He clicks his tongue and shakes his head. “You cannot be that dull.” He rolls his eyes. “I was trying to get him away from you, Roman.”
“He wasn’t hurting me.”
“Wasn’t he?” He gestures to my arm. “Why is it that I am constantly needing to prove myself to you?” He slides his necklace off as he settles next to me. “It wasn’t enough that you left me in Wickersham, but now this?” He tsks, running a finger down my cheek. “I went through a great deal of trouble looking for you, the least you could do is be thankful.”
I turn my head, doing my best to remove myself from his touch. “Where are the guards?”
“The Dyrjsjel you freed killed them all.” He grips the amulet until it begins to glow.
“How did you manage to get away?”
He laughs, making me flinch. “The same way you should have.” He gestures to the necklace but my eyes land on the claw marks around his throat.
“You could have saved the men.”
He sighs, throwing his head back. “I didn’t have time to think of it.” He bites his lower lip. “Unfortunately my mind was elsewhere.” He cups my face in his hands. “I only needed to find you. The men can be replaced, but you—” He kisses my knuckles.
I slide my hand away. “Did you hurt her?” My stomach churns, distracting me for a moment from the pain in my arm. I flick the amulet in his fingers. “With this?”
“No.” He pushes my sweaty hair away from my face. His fingers lingering on my skin. “I could have, but she’s too valuable.” He cocks his head to the side, studying me. “How many more times must I tell you, Ro, that for you, I will let the world burn so long as you’re safe. The men knew the risks of coming here, and there are plenty more of them in Valebridge eager to have their shot at finding her.”
His lips press against my forehead again and the urge to lie down makes my head spin. “I needed to find you. When you left me in Wickersham, you broke my heart.” He pulls away, wrapping his fingers around the wound on my arm.
“I—”
My chest tightens and suddenly my arm doesn’t feel so bad. He wraps his fingers tighter around my wound, and a moment later, Healer magick emerges stitching my arm back together.
Good as new.
“Now let's go, I want to make it to Wickersham as soon as possible, there is still work to be done.” He pulls me to my feet and keeps his hand clasped in mine as we make our way down the hill. His thumb rubs against my skin, heat blooming where our skin connects.
Only this time, that heat is not passion. Not lust.
But anger.
Hot and heady. As I follow Galen back to Wickersham, my brother’s words ring true in my ears.
“Galen will end either by your hand, or by mine.”