Page 21 of Forsaken Secrets

9

Kaiya

Wind whipped my hair. And for a moment, I ignored the handsome ass atop the cliff and imagined I was on the back of a huge dragon, soaring through the air and exploring the ruins of the world.

But then the rope around my waist snapped and fire spread through my stomach, knocking the wind out of my lungs and sending a searing pain through my lower back.

I'd almost forgotten about that old scar, but damn, it hurt.

Hopefully that hadn't torn it open.

I glared up at Lynk. He stared down at me with cool detachment.

What in the seven hells was he thinking?

Pushing away the pain, I rappelled the last few feet until my toes hit the ledge.

Phew. Step one of the rescue was done, and I was mostly whole.

Adrenaline pumped through me as I tied the rope around my waist and turned to the injured man.

He was awake … and staring at me.

His deeply set green eyes were wide with shock, and blood crusted his inky black hair. It looked like a good lump was forming on the right side of his head, too.

His coat and trousers had large tears in several places, the rich brown fabric no match for that drop. But there didn't seem to be much blood.

That was always a good sign.

"You — you just came down?" he said. "How did you know how to do that? I thought I was vrytra food, for sure."

"Practice. Hours upon hours of practice."

His brow lifted. "Just how would a lady get practice rappelling down cliff walls? From what I've seen, ladies here sit in sitting rooms practicing cross-stitch."

Here? I tilted my head to the side. Where was he from that things were so different? "I am NOT a lady. But I do need to examine you. Does it hurt anywhere?"

"Everywhere. But my head is the worst." He pointed to the bloody side.

"Do you mind if I check?"

He shook his head and leaned back, grimacing with the movement.

"What were you doing up here, anyway?" I asked, trying to get his mind off of what I was doing. "This is private property."

I slid my hands down his legs, the smooth fabric doing little to conceal the lean muscles beneath his trousers. There didn't seem to be any broken bones, at least..

"I — uh — was doing some research for work." He tilted his head to the side and gave me a dimpled grin that would have been charming, if not for the blood crusting the right side of his face. "Promise not to tell the owner on me?"

My brow arched, and I picked up his booted foot, rotating it gently. "That might be difficult since you're speaking to her."

"Damn." He sat up straight. "I'm sorry, my lady." Sweat beaded on his brow. Poor man must be in some serious pain, and our conversation couldn't be helping things.

"It's fine. Just stop moving! Do you have any aches in your chest or stomach?" I motioned towards his blue brocade vest. "With that long of a fall, I'd expect some broken bones or internal bleeding."

He shook his head. "I — I feel mostly fine."

I sat back on my heels and looked back up the cliff, then let my eyes drift back down to him. He'd fallen that whole way with no serious injuries? It seemed … suspect.

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