Page 46 of Claimed By the Fae Lord

Before he could lower himself deeper into his self-recrimination, I covered his mouth with my palm. V's formed between his eyes and he quickly looked like his old self.

"Most of these are from fists. And a few kicks. Maybe two blades. Three at most. Nothing life-threatening. Nothing I haven't experienced in combat training."

"Nothing?" Saxon checked, hovering beside Lorne.

Both of them were looking at me as though I was about to break. It pissed me off.

"Nothing," I stressed pointedly. "Not that it's any of your business, son of Lugh."

Saxon's lips tilted and he lifted his palms, stepping backward. "Message received."

Lorne patted my head, like I was a puppy. It was odd, yet made me smile.

"Saxon and I have a meeting with Nox," Lorne informed me, rising to his feet, "but we'll be back later. I'm sure Nox will have questions but he knows not to irritate our sister. Sage told him to leave you alone until she gives him the go ahead."

I was beginning to see why Aeryn was so fond of the healer.

Saxon winked and followed Lorne out the door. With no visitors, I didn't feel the need to stay awake.

I'd just gotten comfortable when Sage came in carrying a tray laden with poultices, bandages, corked vials, and a steaming bowl of something that smelled wonderful.

The healer gifted me with a kind smile as she set the tray down on the bedside table. "How's the pain," she asked gently.

"Not terrible."

"Hmm. That says a lot about the pain you must have been in before they brought you back. Since I'm supposed to be a halfway decent healer, let's see if we can get you to be better thannot terrible."

I nodded, appreciating Sage's bedside manner. Then my stomach growled so loud I was sure the entire castle heard it. We both laughed.

"I brought you some broth. There's water already poured in this glass next to the pitcher. Why don't you take a few sips while I start with your feet and work my way up?"

Sage handed me the glass and set to tending my wounds. Her touch was feather-light, and her healing magic enveloped me like a warm embrace.

I felt more of the pain ebbing away, replaced by an odd sensation of comfort and safety. And drowsiness.

"Thank you, Sage," I replied, my voice barely a whisper.

"Raina, you're healing, but you still need to rest. The prolonged exposure to iron zapped you and has slowed your healing. I think in a couple of hours your healing ability will be almost back to normal," she reassured.

I mumbled an acknowledgement and yawned.

"I know you'd like to fall back asleep, but I want to get some broth and more medicine into you first."

Sage basically force fed me from the hot bowl as though I were incapable of doing it myself. Then she poured vials of medicines and tonics down my throat.

I didn't remember what was in them, and I definitely didn't remember falling asleep again. Whatever they were, they worked because I awoke refreshed with only mild stiffness.

Needing fuel, I ate what had been left on the bedside table and then cleaned up in the bathroom. It took more energy than I anticipated, but I still felt good.

When I exited the bathroom, Nox and Aeryn were sitting at the small table on the far side of the room. Their sudden presence in the room made me tense up inadvertently.

Aeryn came at me fast and pulled me into a bear hug. I would have returned it but she had my arms pinned down.

"Kitten, I'm not sure Raina can breathe."

"Shit!" Aeryn let go immediately.

I laughed. "I'm fine. Truly."

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