Page 18 of Blood Weaver
Breathing heavily, I managed a weak smirk. “Two life debts now ... you’re in the red,” I said, wincing as the blade was withdrawn.
“Leila!” Selene's voice was filled with dread as she dashed towards me. Though Caelan’s arms were outstretched, she pushed him out of the way and caught me as I fell. Pain rocketed through my body and the world spun as the pain threatened to pull me under.
“Take me to my clinic,” I whispered to Selene. She nodded and started to half-walk, half-carry me out of the pleasure house.
Madam Rose stomped down the stairs where she’d been hiding on the second floor. “And where do you thinkyou’regoing?” she hissed. “I didn’t give you permission to leave!”
Selene whirled on her. “What? Can’t you see she’s hurt? We need to treat the wound before—”
Madam Rose held up a hand. “If she dies, it might be for the best. Unless … the princes or the Crimson Clan would like to save her?”
Sweat beaded on my forehead and upper lip, and my eyes were rolling back in my head. I fought to keep from passing out while the insufferable madam bargained for my fate.
Madam Rose glanced between the men with a calculating gleam and they yelled in unison, “Save her!” Irritated that they were on the same side for once, they glared at one another before swiveling their attention back to me.
Madam Rose grunted. “Very well. Take her, Selene, but do hurry back. You’re still on the clock.”
With a curt nod, Selene whisked me out of the Rose Petal.
6
Caelan ushered our unlikely group outside and into his waiting carriage. With the help of my brother, they gingerly picked me up and placed me inside. Once everyone was settled, Caelan yelled to the driver and gave him directions to my clinic.
Ronan leaned into the carriage and gave me a look, which even in my half delirious state struck me as odd. “I’ll meet you there,” he said. Then he jogged away and vaulted onto one of the horses tied to a post outside the brothel.
Blood seeped steadily, even as Selene applied pressure to the wound. With every sway and jostle of the carriage, a jolt of pain sliced through my shoulder.
“What do you need once we reach the clinic?” Selene asked, worry etched prominently on her lovely face.
I attempted a smile, but it probably came out as more of a grimace. “First, relax,” I muttered. “I’m not dying. This is fixable. So don’t stress yourself out.”
Selene bit her bottom lip and nodded, but I knew she was on the verge of crying.
I looked over at Caelan, who stared at me with a million questions written on his face, in stark contrast to Marcellus, who couldn’t stop staring at Selene. Even in pain, I chuckled.
“What’s so funny? This isn’t funny, Leila!” Selene all but shrieked as she tightened her grip on the bandage.
I grimaced. “I know, I know.”
Caelan cleared his throat. “While I appreciate your assistance, I’m curious as to why you did what you did, Leila.”
I avoided his gaze. “No need to overthink it,” I replied breezily. “Just didn’t want the Prince of Eldwain to die in the Central Plains … much less in a pleasure house. What would people say?”
Caelan narrowed his eyes. “Right … the people.”
He was unconvinced that my motives were purely altruistic, but right then, I was in too much pain to think of a better excuse. Although the wound wasn’t deadly, it felt like my arm would fall off at any moment.
We reached my clinic in record time and the carriage ground to a halt. The driver jumped down from his bench seat and placed a stepping stool in front of the door so we could descend. As soon as we entered the familiar sanctuary of my clinic, I started listing out the ingredients I needed to treat my wound.
“The main ingredient is agrimony. There’s a jar on the top shelf,” I called out to Selene as I shuffled to the cot. “You’re going to have to stitch me up.”
Selene was on a ladder, reaching for the herbs. She turned and looked down at me. “I’ve never stitched flesh,” she mumbled.
I chuckled. “You will today.”
Just then, Ronan stormed into the clinic with wild eyes. When he saw me sitting on the cot, his glacial gaze stared me down. “Are you absolutelyinsane, or do you have a death wish?” he yelled as he stormed toward me.
“Death wish … definitely a death wish,” I joked.
