Page 147 of Fires of the Forsaken
A few gasped or covered their mouths. Multiple people cried, asking if he’d died.
“No,” the man riding with Cheriour responded. “No. He isalive.”
Alive, but unresponsive.
Quinn emerged from the castle to greet us. Like he had the first time I rode into Niall. Thankfully, he didn’t lob a knife at my head this time. But he sure didn’t seem happy to see me.
“What happened?” Quinn hovered by my elbow as I slid out of Navigator’s saddle. He didn’t shout. Or curse. But the fact that he directed the question atme, not at Braxton or any of the other soldiers…
This fucker was trying to put the blame onmyshoulders.
Acidic hatred flooded my mouth. And I almost,almost,went right back at the slimy bastard.
Until I got a good look at him and saw the worry crumpling his face. The way his lower lip quivered, despite his best attempts to still it.
And, fuck, I hated being a softie. Because even though I wanted to scream and smack his fugly face, I couldn’t. He was a raging asshat, yes. But he was also a man in pain. So I tried to rein my response back.
Tried.
“We were ambushed,” I said.
“Aye. It was Elion, Quinn,” Braxton added.
A vein pulsed in Quinn’s temple. He stared at me, his forehead briefly puckering when he got a good eyeful of the blue/pink shirt, and then looked at Cheriour. “He protected you, didn’t he?”
“No—”
“Don’t lie—”
“I’m not.”
“He was upset I sent you to Sanadrin.”
“Well, that was a dick move.”
“And Iorderedhim not to put himself in danger protecting you.” Quinn’s face turned a deep, vibrant red. Like a stop sign.
“Mind your blood pressure,” I said, “before your head explodes.”
“You areincompetent!And yet you stand there, unharmed, while…” he turned to the still-unconscious Cheriour and blinked once. Twice. As though fighting back tears. “And now you expect me to allow thisbeastinto my city?” He jerked his head toward Abby Normal.
She stood a few feet behind the group, eyeing the city people warily. And they watched her like she was a ticking time bomb. A few drew weapons. One woman looked ready to hurl her meat fork into Abby Normal’s neck.
“Oi! Quinn!” Braxton hopped down from his horse and snapped his fingers in front of Quinn’s face. “That’s enough, eh?”
“Where is your sister?” Quinn snarled.
“Not here.” Braxton’s face paled. “But if she’s still alive, I’m sure she’s on her way. And ye may be soon overrun with wounded, so how about ye stop throwing yer tantrum and help me get Cheriour into the castle? Afterward, perhaps ye should work on an apology. We wouldn’have gotten Cheriour here alive if it hadn’t been for Addie and that Púca.”
If looks could kill, I would’ve dropped dead from the vile glare Quinn tossed in my direction.
The twitch in my eye worsened. I 100% sympathized with his concern, fear, and anguish. But I wouldnotbe the punching bag he lashed at to make himself feel better. “How about instead of an apology, you treat me like a human being?” I snapped. “You don’t like me.I get it!I don’t like you either, but I’ve at leasttriedto be respectful. Whereas you’ve thrown toddler-level tantrums. Act your age, not your shoe size. ‘Kay?”
“Quinn!” Braxton shouted, derailing Quinn’s response. “Can ye heal Cheriour, or no’?”
With great reluctance, Quinn turned away from me and studied Cheriour. “I don’t know.” Quinn’s hands trembled. “His wounds are deep, and my ability,” his jaw ticked, “has been stretched thin. Bring him inside. I’ll do what I can.”
He gave me an evil,I want to chop your friggin head offglare and turned away.
