Page 174 of Fangs
I huffed a frustrated breath and sat up, unwrapping myself from Mac’s jacket I’d cocooned myself in. Sable took a seat on the bed in front of me as I let the jacket fall from my shoulders, revealing the dark bruises. Wolf made an angry sound through his teeth.
“Gods,” Sable muttered as he gently took my arm and inspected them. “Why didn’t you say anything?” When I didn’t respond, he pushed, “What did he say to you?”
“That he didn’t want my apologies,” I muttered.
“Why?”
“Because Madame used me to torture Mist in front of him.” My voice sounded dull and flat.
“Why did you say you didn’t know who was vandalizing the clinic?” Wolf demanded.
“I don’t know if it was him,” I said, twisting the blanket in my fingers.
“You could’ve at least named him as a suspect,” Wolf snapped.
“I already fucked up his life,” I mumbled.
“That doesn’t mean he’s allowed to fuck up yours,” Wolf shot back.
“Wolf,” Sable murmured.
Wolf took a deep breath and let it out slow, but I kept my eyes on my hands. A rooster crowed somewhere outside.
“Well, he’s disappeared, so that’s not helping him look innocent,” Wolf said, his voice calmer.
“Was it actually your back hurting last night, or was it your arm?” Lee abruptly asked.
I blinked up at him. “My back.”
Lee frowned, pointing at my bruised arm. “You’re seriously gonna tell me that doesn’t hurt?”
“I didn’t notice it.”
His eyebrows arched, and simmering silence filled the room. They were waiting for me to explain, but I had no idea what to say.
“What’s wrong with your back?” Wolf finally asked, his voice rough.
My face was so hot. “It just hurts sometimes.”
“The scars,” Lee added quietly, and Wolf’s expression twisted.
“Do you have any salves to put on it?” Sable asked.
“I have an oil infusion,” I mumbled.
“I have an ointment I picked up from a healer in New Salt,” Sable said. “It’s helped us a lot with aching muscles. Would you be willing to try that?”
I nodded, hoping that would satisfy him, then blanched when he pulled a small tin out of the satchel he carried. I hadn’t expected him to have it with him. My panicked gaze met my brother’s worried eyes.
“Please, Em, can you let him look? If it’s hurting you, you need a healer.”
My fists clenched in my lap. I wasn’t getting out of this without a massive fight. “Fine.”
“Can I stay?” Wolf asked.
I wanted to say no. I knew if I said no, he would leave, but the pleading look in his eyes filled me with even more guilt. I could see my brother clearly in those green eyes, and it extinguished my protests. So I nodded and turned my back to them, holding my shirt over my chest as Sable pushed the back of it up. I tried to steel myself, but the sharp intake of breath I heard from Wolf stabbed through me. Sable didn’t say anything for a moment.
“Did they have to use stitches?” Sable asked, and I nodded. “I’m going to touch your back, alright?” he warned, but I still cringed when his fingers made contact with my scarred skin. He moved his fingers along the scars, pressing lightly, and then his fingers paused. “Did the stitches rip at some point?”
