Page 24 of Rook of Ruin
“Give her the brace and let her heal herself!” Simon yells, his voice coming closer.
My eyes go out of focus, warm metallic liquid drips down my face, and I fade into darkness.
Cold, wavy light. My eyes open under the pink water. Light dances through, and I can barely make out anything above me. Strong arms pull my body up into the air. My eyes are too blurry, and I can only see leathers.
“You’re okay. Just breathe.” I hear Patsy’s voice waver in fear.
I take a deep breath, trying to focus. I close my eyes one more time and open them to see her ashen face. I pinch them closed again. Water rushes over my face. I flail my arms, and I’m pulled up once more.
Simon and Ossian—Alec are holding on to me in my bathtub. Bloody water drips down their chests. I look past them and see the soft glow of a Rook’s brace. It’s gold and peridotitic, and the owner is a healer. My blue dress is now a brownish red. Whatever face I make has them all on edge. I try to smile, but blood comes rushing out of my mouth, metallic iron making me heave.
“Heal her, damn it!” Simon yells.
The Rook healer yells back, “I’m trying my best! You need to get the blood off her. I can’t—”
“Heal hernowbecauseI’mtryingmybest to have a conscience about feasting on your mind.” Alec’s brace glows bright, but he shows no emotion as he threatens the healer. The Rook healer flinches and purses his lips in concentration.
Well, I certainly did not expectthat. The Spider is being a bit dramatic. Simon, not as much. He’s concerned, surprisingly worried for a man who just met me . . . but at least he’s not threatening a Rook.
The healer’s brace glows brighter, but my body slowly starts to shake. Hells, I’m going into shock. The healer curses, doing his best to heal me quickly, but it’s not fast enough. If I had my brace, I would be healed already—whydon’tI have my brace?Patsy grabs a towel and hands it to Simon, who wipes more blood off my face. The Rook healer stares at me, sweat pouring down his temples. My body pulls together, and I let out a gasp of relief.
“There. She is healed,” the Rook snaps.
“Finally!” Simon is fuming too.
Alec moves out of the bathtub, and I hear Patsy gasp in horror as Simon hands me over to Alec. His arms come around me, holding me tight as Simon shoves the Rook out my bathroom door.
Patsy seems to snap out of a trance and marches over. “Not you,” she says to Alec and tries to remove me from his grasp. I begin to tumble before Alec grabs a hold of me again.
“No.” The word is a command from Alec’s mouth, and it stops Patsy in her tracks. “I’m not letting go of her.”
She narrows her eyes. “Then look away.” Alec complies and turns his head as Patsy redirects her attention to me. “Lady Verlan, I’m sorry.” She strips me of my clothing. My once white cotton and lace undergarments leave little to the imagination.Dark pink beads of bloody water drip down my body, and I begin to shake. Patsy takes another soft towel and gently covers me. “There.” She frowns. “You’re still a mess, but let’s get you into bed.” I barely nod as she wipes more blood off my face. “Sir Caddel?” Patsy yells out, and Simon appears. “She needs agentlemanto carry her to bed.”
Alec scoffs at Patsy as Simon lifts me out of his arms, carrying me into my bedroom. I’m shaking so hard, my teeth chatter. Simon’s warm hands give me a small amount of comfort until he lays me on my bed, pillows under my feet. Patsy pulls the covers over my body, then removes the wet towel and my undergarments. I notice Simon and Alec facing the wall, waiting for Patsy to finish. She kisses my head and then lays her hand on Simon’s shoulder. He and Alec turn, and Simon sits on my bed, tucking the blanket around my still-shaking body. I glance over to Patsy, whose face has me concerned.
“You couldn’t have just pretended to enter her mind? She’s a fellow Rook!” Patsy screams at Alec. “Look! Look what you’ve done to her!” Tears threaten to come down her strained face. The cool, uncaring mask remains over Alec’s face, but his jaw clenches. Patsy seethes. “Show some emotion. She almost died!” She clicks her tongue at him.
“Patsy, the Rook was doing what he was ordered,” Simon says gently.
Patsy glares at Alec. He leans against my bedroom wall and folds his arms, ignoring Patsy. There’s only a flash of worry in his eyes.
Simon takes a large, calming breath. “Patsy, please arrange for dinner here, and will you also notify my valet to bring myself and the Rook some new clothing?”
“I’m not going to leave her unattended,naked, with two men in her bedchamber. One of whom did this to her.” She narrows her eyes at Alec. “You know how rumors start.”
Simon is struggling not to lose his patience. “Patsy, I appreciate the love and loyalty that you have for Lady Verlan. But we were ordered by the queen to protect and care for her, so until she has some nutrients in her body and is able to be on her own, we cannot leave. Please, help her heal.”
Patsy considers her options and then stomps out of my chambers. Simon runs his hands through his hair and paces. Alec stares at me, cocking an eyebrow. I don’t know what he expects me to do. I rest my eyes for a few minutes, then pull the covers up and grab the pillows from under my feet to prop them up behind my back.
“Well,thisis not what I pictured when I thought of myself naked with two men in my bedroom,” I say slowly. Alec rolls his eyes, but Simon at least smiles softly. “What happened after—after I, you know, embarrassed myself by passing out,” I grind out.
They look at each other. Alec gestures for Simon to speak. “O, we tried to get you out of there as quickly as possible, and the queen had a healer ready, but it obviously took longer than expected. What I’m trying to say is we don’t exactly know what happened.” Simon shrugs. “A few marriage offers were yelled out to you as we left, that is, if you survived.” He gives me a dimpled smile.
“I guess there is that.” I sigh.
“Are you okay?” Simon’s brown eyes look impossibly concerned and sad.
Alec stiffens, and my cheeks flush. “I’m okay, Simon.”
