Page 32 of A Dance With Fire
“Yeah, no shit.” Clay bent so he was staring at the wounds. “Do you think they did this to her in that temple?”
“We can’t be sure until she wakes.” Valerio stroked his chin, contemplating the wounds. “You can’t heal it at all?”
Ryker tried again, and Clay could tell he was giving it all he had. His whole body vibrated, and golden light enveloped his skin. Clay watched as her skin started to knit closed in the tiniest of fractions. When Ryker couldn’t take anymore, he grunted and nearly doubled over from the pain of using his magic.
Uric was there immediately, his semi-wrinkled fingers holding the big guy up before he fell face first over the Fire Dancer’s exposed body.
“You good?” Uric asked.
Ryker waved him away and stood on shaking legs. “Fine,” he ground out. But he was staring down at the woman like she was poison to this earth. “Her back…” He broke off on a growl and bent to adjust the material of the dress and accommodate her body onto the cot.
“Put a poultice on it. And clean her hands. She’s covered in blood.”
Ryker didn’t seem to hear Valerio. He was still staring down at her, with disgust suddenly marring his features. “Herears…”
Clay hadn’t noticed before, but now that Ryker had pointed them out, disgust roiled uncomfortably in his stomach. Where pointed ears should have been, rounded human ears sat instead.
Ryker snorted with disgust and started to walk away.
Valerio stopped him with his cutting voice. “Ryker, after you clean her up, I’ll need you to stay with her.”
Ryker’s whole body pulled taut. His movements were forced as he turned his scarred expression to face the prince. “What?” he demanded darkly.
Valerio’s eyebrows rose. “You will stay with her and heal her if need be. Will that be a problem?”
It was a test. Clay knew it was a test, and that Ryker had no choice but to obey. So it was no surprise when he gritted out, “No. No problem.” But his fists were tightened at his sides, making it obvious that itwasa problem, but Clay couldn’t figure out why.
“Good.” Valerio turned to the rest of them. “The moment she wakes, we leave for the mountains. We will rendezvous with Julius and his group of rescued Fae and head to the mountains to meet with my father.” His sharp gaze went to Clay. “Stay with Ryker. When she wakes up, help explain things to her.”
A smirk spread across Clay’s mouth, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Tall, dark, and silent over here doesn’t know how to explain?”
Valerio’s eyes rolled. “We all know how that will go.”
Disastrous, to say the least. Where Clay drew women to him like magic, Ryker repelled them.
“Uric, come with me. We need to prepare the survivors for all possibilities.”
Uric nodded, his silver hair grazing his cheeks. “Yes, my prince.”
The two of them filed out of the room, leaving Ryker and Clay alone with the Fire Dancer. They both stared at her long and hard.
Dark, thick lashes fanned out against her curved cheeks, dark hair spread beneath her, and plump lips opened with dreamy sighs.
She had a body that was perfect for fucking, Clay thought humorously. A body he wouldn’t mind sinking his cock into—
“Don’t,” Ryker growled, snapping Clay from his thoughts.
He stared at the scarred man. “Don’t what?”
“Keep your dirty fucking thoughts to yourself.”
“Well, shit, it wasn’t as if I was saying them out loud.” He paused, observing Ryker. The man usually showed very little emotion, but there was something completely tense about him that Clay couldn’t quite place. His scarred fingers twitched along the side of his pants, and Clay found himself smiling. “Aw, Ryker, do you want her for yourself?”
Ryker’s head snapped so hard it was a miracle it didn’t fall off his shoulders. He glared at Clay with an intensity that was near blinding.
“No.”
And then he was storming past Clay, slamming the thin door behind him so hard, it broke and crumbled in little bits and pieces.
