Page 51 of The Nightmare Queen

“He took a sword to my knees!” He shouts as if that’s a good enough explanation.

“Then you take that fucking sword to the knees. Better your lose your legs than she her life.” He’s at a loss for words, the knife dropping down to his side as he backs away. The smell of tonics, antiseptics, and ointments fill the air along with our silence. The mages are tense from the outburst their combined mists glow so brightly it almost hurts as they work to stitch back together what they can of her abdomen.

It’s going to leave a nasty scar with a wound that deep. His eyes flick to her for a moment as regret washes over his face. I snatch his wrist before he can take any steps towards her. “Back outside,dog.You don’t deserve to be near her right now.”

He stalls, glaring at me instead of moving. “Wake.” Axels snaps, “go back outside.”

Once he’s gone I resume my role staring at her counting each of those, painfully slow, shallow breaths. “Open those eyes, Nightmare. You weren’t supposed to close them…please open them.”She doesn’t say anything back, her body laying as still as a statue, while the rest of us wait.

Three hours later and the three of us are still here watching her. Waiting. Will and the rest of her men wait outside. Ezra tried to come back in at one point only for Axel to chuck one of Eveera’s stars at him. I appreciated that, I won’t lie. Saved me from doing something similar.Except I wouldn’t have purposefully missed.

“Ror.” Bennett steps in, briefly glancing at the queen in her state. “The captains, they all want to speak with you. Breakdown on casualties, resources, and whatnot.”

I shake my head, “can it wait?”

“I’ll go.” Armond speaks up. He places a kiss on Eveera’s head, mumbling something meant only for her ears.

Axel speaks quietly once Armond leaves. “I told you she makes terrible decisions.” He mutters.

“She didn’t choose to be sliced open across her waist.” I snarl.

He lets out an agitated sigh. “Not the wound.” He snaps motioning towards the opening of the tent. From the slight crack I see the blonde’s head.Ezra.

Now that we can both agree on,I say in my head.

“I have to tell you though if she dies while on this escapade for you? I’ll split you open, balls to chin.” I nod threading my hands through the sweaty mop of hair on top of my head.If she dies, I’ll let him.

“Only fair.” I grunt.

“Then we understand each other.” He says, satisfied with the threat.

I understand, alright.

Armond came back another hour later, the three of us sitting in silence again until a shallow rattled breath gasps out in the tent. All of us jump up to our feet at the noise.

“E?” Axel asks tentatively..

“Ugh, bleeding gods that hurt.” A strangled sort of sob left her man as he threw himself on her. “Oof.Easy there you big softie.” She pats his shoulder as best she can from her position.

“Axel, if you add to her pain, you’ll be the next one needing healer mages.” I gripe. Her piercing gold eyes flit over his shoulder to me. “You had me worried there.”I say.

Her brow cocks, “scared you’re shiny new toy was busted, were you?”

“Glad to see being almost disemboweled hasn’t affected that mouth of yours.”

A dangerous smile graces her face, “thinking about my mouth now, too?”This damn woman.

Axel looks between the two of us, confusion marring his dark eyes. “Uhm, not to interrupt whatever…” He waves his hand between the two of us, “this is. But, she just got fucking split open. Can we do the weird stare off contest later?” He strokes a hand through her hair, his eyes going soft again. “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”

Sweetheart? An uncomfortable feeling flickers to life in my chest at his use of the endearment.

“I feel like I almost died. How the gods else am I supposed to feel? You try being gutted and then hauling ass on a horse with your insides dangling from you.”

He grimaces just as Bennett comes in to find me again. His face grim from whatever news he’s brought with him. He motions for me to follow him and I look back at Eveera. “I’ll be right back.” I say to her.

Her face screws up into a frown “I’ll come with.” She states matter of factly.

“You weregutted.”I argue.

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