Page 43 of Taken By the Blood God

Chapter

Nineteen

Minerva

The first thing I was aware of when I woke up was that my chest ached. The second was the feel of soft breaths against my temple. I opened my eyes, blinking when I saw a familiar ceiling.Mybedroom ceiling. Based on the light seeping around the curtains and the shadows dancing on the walls, it was very early in the morning.

How did I get here?

Turning my head, I looked to my left and saw Talant stretched out on the bed next to me, his face only inches from my head with one arm tucked beneath his head and the other resting across his abdomen, his hand dangling onto the bed right next to my arm. He was close and facing me on his side, but he wasn’t touching me.

I moved slowly, my head fuzzy and light, and looked down my body. A light blanket was draped over me, covering me from my chest down. The pain in my chest reminded me of the heat and fire that hit me when Talant broke free from the trap created by the coven. I lifted the edge of the blanket expecting a severe burn, something that would require serious healing magic.Instead, my skin was only red and peeling as though I’d gotten a nasty sunburn.

I blinked at the sight of my mostly whole sternum. Someone had healed me because there was no way my skin would be sealed and mostly smooth otherwise. I also should have had a gnarly scar.

Talant stirred next to me, so I tucked the blanket back against my skin, wincing when it touched the tender new skin that ran between my breasts.

“You’re awake,” he murmured, his voice raspy with sleep.

I tilted my head to the side to look at him. “Yes. How long was I out?”

He sat up, looking down at me so I didn’t have to crane my neck to see his face. “A little over twenty-four hours. Maybe closer to thirty.”

I gestured to my chest. “Who healed me?”

“I did.”

“You have healing magic?” I asked, unable to keep the incredulous tone from my voice.

“Yes. Specifically for damage caused by fire and heat.”

I supposed that made sense. His power seemed to be based in fire and blood.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Don’t thank me,” he rumbled, leaning over me and reaching for the edge of the blanket.

I held it down to keep him from tugging it away from my chest. “Why not?”

He paused when I wouldn’t release the material, his eyes flicking up to mine. “Because I’m the one who injured you in the first place.”

My memories of the cavern were foggy at best. “Are you sure? There was a lot of magic flying around the cave.”

“I recognize the damage caused by my power,” he replied, his eyes intent on mine.

His fingers tugged at the edge of the blanket. “Let me see the wound.”

I refused to release the fabric. I was naked beneath it, and I had a feeling he had already seen too much of me.

“I look like I have a bad sunburn. It’s red and peeling, but that’s it,” I said.

Talant cocked his head as he studied me. “I still need to look.”

“No, you don’t,” I argued.

The blanket started to slip from my grip, so I curled my fingers into the edge, anchoring it to my chest.

“Minerva, I’m the one who cared for the wound when I brought you home.”

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