Page 38 of Restored

My head spins as he wraps a few more pieces of fabric around my thigh, gentler this time.

His attention moves to my stomach. “May I?” He fingers the hem of my shirt.

“Do I have a choice?”

“I’m not letting you bleed out here, not when we are this close.”

I yank my shirt from his fingers and pull it up enough for him to assess. The skin is already purple and blue, but somehow the horn didn’t pierce the skin.

“You got lucky.” Mia peers at my stomach.

“The bite isn’t venomous?” It’s a question, but I feel as if I would have felt the venom by now if it was.

“No, the venom is in their claws.”

“We need to find the horses so we can get out of here.” Mia scans the trees as Ledger drops my shirt.

“Apollo can’t be far; he was caught in some branches back that way before I freed him.” I point in the direction of his horse.

“Mia, I’ll go with Layla to get Apollo. You look for the rest. I’ll drop her with the group and ride back to find you.” Ledger finally stands.

She agrees. “I’ll stay around this area. If Apollo is here, the other horses can’t be far.”

I flail in Ledger’s arms as he picks me up. “Put me down right now! Even though your gashes appear healed, you should certainly not be lifting me. Not to mention I can?—”

“Layla, I’m carrying you, it’s not up for debate.” He shuts me down.

I fight him a little more for good measure and his arms tighten around me. I huff, crossing my arms, but my body never fully relaxes into his hold. We find Apollo in a clearing not too far away. His eyes look wild as we approach.

“You okay, buddy?” Ledger puts me down, and I place my hand on the white patch of fur on his forehead, resting my own on his nose.

He nuzzles against me, and I scratch his neck. Ledger watches us curiously.

“What?” I question.

“Nothing. I’ve never seen him let anyone touch him like that.”

I shrug, and Ledger picks me up. I wince as he places me in the saddle. The wound on my thigh is starting to throb intensely.

Ledger mounts but doesn’t immediately spur Apollo into action. He sits perfectly still, his chest pressed up against my back.

“Thank you for what you did back there,” he says softly as his arms brush my sides, grabbing the reins. I know he means for healing him.

“It was the least I could do. You did jump in front of a rabid creature, saving me from being mortally wounded. You must need my power pretty badly to go through all of this,” I say, but he doesn’t respond and when I turn my head to glance at him, he looks troubled.

“Are you sure you can heal? You expended a lot of power back there, and you’re hurt,” he questions glaring down at my thigh.

“I’m fine, I’ll be fine,” I assure him as we approach the others. I slide out of the saddle as delicately as I can.

“Don’t push yourself too hard, I’ll be back soon.” He presses the hilt of his shiny dagger into my hand. “You keep that, just promise not to use it on me.”

“I don’t make promises I can’t keep.” I swear I see Ledger’s lip twitch as he rides away.

I go to Cam first,remembering how the Kerolu’s horn had pierced through his arm. He’s drinking from his canteen, his other arm hanging limply at his side, blood dripping from his fingertips. My power purrs weakly under my skin at the sight.

“Let me see your arm.” I reach for it, thankful when I see the horn didn’t pierce all the way through.

I channel enough power to stop the bleeding and repair the skin, but he still has a hole in his arm. “Once my power returns, I can heal it more, at least now it won’t get infected.” He nods.

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