Page 70 of Courting War
Cecile’s eyes were red and puffy as she held back tears. She brushed off the embrace and backed away. A deep hurt was etched into her features. There was no way that Theo believed the pirate who trafficked in human flesh. It was a tactic to control, make Cecile unstable and question her beliefs.
“It doesn’t matter. It was a long time ago.” Cecile swiped her tears away with the back of her hand.
“It does matter.” Theo’s eyes held the girl’s, and she tried to create a space of warmth and safety with her expression and demeanor. She tried to be comforting for perhaps the first time in her entire life. She tried to change as Havyn suggested. “Because you matter, Cecile.”
“It’s fine.” Cecile visibly swallowed. “Let’s drop it.”
They sat in silence for a while until Theo slipped back into sleep. The fever’s talons gripped her and pulled her under once more. Sleep was coated in nightmares. She was consumed by visions of Theoden champions repeatedly dying. It was like a god was feeding the dreams to her. But which one?
It wouldn’t necessarily have been Andromache. Havyn could dream walk. Maybe it was her. Death was always cooking up plans in the background. She enjoyed playing with humans and the gods like chess pieces, moving them on a playing field. But Havyn had never meddled with Theo before, so why start now?
Theo awoke to her teeth chattering. The fever was back. Buthewas there pressing a cold compress to her forehead.
Their eyes touched.
His were a beautiful chestnut with concern painting the edges.
Her heart jumped into her throat, and she held her breath. Theo liked his concern. She liked his hands on her. Kellyn was like no one she’d ever met. She wanted to run from the feelings stirring in her stomach. It was like butterflies breaching their cocoons.
“You’re awake.”
“Yes,” she said, her voice like sandpaper. “Thank you for helping.”
He grunted, his eyes flashing to his friend, almost like he wished it was him awake instead.
“You love him.”
“Of course.”
“He’s horrible to you.”
“He’s hurtful, not horrible,” Kellyn said, his gaze attached to his friend. “It’s impossible to go through life without hurting the ones you love. Hurt is inevitable. Harming isn’t. True friendship is accepting that we will be hurt and extending grace and forgiveness when it occurs. I’m not perfect. I have done many things to deserve his ire.”
“Grace . . .” Theo thought about grace and her lack of it in her punishments. She gave no mercy to the men she haunted and flayed. She didn’t believe in mercy for men, and she didn’t think men were capable of anything but horror. But that stood in direct opposition to the honorable man standing in front of her. The man selflessly aided her when he didn’t have to. “You’re very wise, Kellyn Ellis.”
Theo’s gaze rested on the Goddess of Love aiding her champion after a challenge. “I was wrong.”
“Wrong about?”
“So many things . . .” Theo gulped and grasped the hand of her champion. “Thank you. I’m not very good at showing my gratitude.”
He tensed at her touch, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “You’rewelcome.” His voice was gruff, and he ran a hand across his well-manicured facial hair.
Theo sucked in a breath. The sight was too tempting. She needed a distraction. The friend would do nicely. “I think he’ll live.”
“No thanks to you,” Kellyn said, pulling his hand from hers, his countenance covered by a thunderstorm. “You would have killed him.” Without another word, he marched out of the infirmary, leaving her alone.
Chapter Twenty-One
KELLYN
Champion of Theoden
CHAMPION’S QUARTERS, CITY OF THE GODS
The day was written in cursed spells.
Fury and pain felt like leeches on the skin. Sucking and draining. Kellyn had nearly killed his best friend, and the guilt of it stewed in his stomach.
