Page 17 of Rescuing Nathaniel

“Not your fault,” she reminded him.

Being as gentle as he could, Nathaniel probed the wound, trying to determine if it looked better than when he’d checked it last, which was after he got her to the cave. While he was no doctor, he could do what he had to in the field if a member of his team or someone else needed emergency first aid, but his training wasn't enough to deal with this kind of situation. Still, he was sure the edges of the ragged wound looked a little less red and angry, and some swelling had gone down. Bruises ringed the wound, and when he touched them, he felt Ava tense, doing her best not to flinch away from him.

“You're doing better,” he told her, picking up his canteen.

“Good enough to walk out of here? Because that’s all that matters.”

“If you can't walk, I’ll carry you.” It would slow them down, sure, but he could still likely move quicker carrying Ava than they could move with her walking on her own. He had no idea with her injury how she’d even made it to the life raft to begin with.

Actually, as he looked down at her, he did.

Determination. Pure determination and nothing else.

“I’ll be able to walk,” she said fiercely, and he was struck by how utterly sweet and adorable she was. She was like a little kitten with claws and bravery to spare. It was something he hoped she didn't lose over the next few weeks and months, she was going to need every drop of that strength to survive the aftermath of her ordeal.

“We’ll see how you do,” he said noncommittally. “This is probably going to hurt.”

His warning just earned him an arched brow. “More than someone cutting me open and taking one of my organs?”

“No, not more than that, Aves.”

Nathaniel was pretty sure he winced more than she did when he poured the water over the wound and used a torn piece of her gown to clean away as much of the dried blood and pus as he could.

They needed to talk, he needed to learn everything she knew about the ring from her time being held captive by them. They also needed to formulate a plan on how they were going to get themselves out of there. One with some compromise on Ava’s part because he was pretty sure she would try to insist on acting like she wasn't injured and weak.

But Ava’s eyes were already drooping. The hour or so she’d been awake had pushed her beyond her limit. Talking and planning would have to wait until morning when they headed out because Ava needed rest, and he found he wanted to give her everything she needed.

“Sleep, Aves,” he said gently. “I’ll be right here watching over you.”

The smile she gifted him before her eyelids fluttered closed and she drifted off to sleep, hit him in the gut with as much pain as he’d just caused her in cleaning out her wound.

Hewantedto watch over this woman.

In a way that went beyond just doing his job.

Getting Ava back home as quickly as possible wasn't just about saving her life, it was about saving his as well because the last thing he needed was anyone, including his spunky charge, upending the peace he had carefully crafted for himself.

CHAPTER5

March 2nd

3:32 A.M.

“Ava, wake up.”

The insistent voice burrowed its way into her dreams, nudging her out of the little cocoon of sleep she’d carved for herself.

“Now, Aves. I need you to wake up.”

Panic in the voice gave her a sense of déjà vu.

Hadn't she been woken by a panicked voice earlier?

Only this time it seemed different.

More controlled.

But she still felt the fear behind it.

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