Page 48 of The Night Vision
The twins and Everly appeared a moment later, looking winded and angry. “He had help waiting on the other side. They were on us and we lost Dùbhghlas in the chaos,” Arawn reported.
Nox shook his head but was focused on Eoin. He had been rolled onto his side and Merlin and Fletcher were inspecting the wound on his back. “I’m just glad you’re all here and no one else was harmed. Let’s get him inside and get Tighe cleaned up. He’s not going to be happy when he recovers and seeing that mess will only make it worse,” he predicted grimly, then nodded when the twins carefully lifted Eoin’s shoulders and feet.
Tighe hadn’t moved and didn’t notice when Silas gave his shoulder a shake. “Hey!” Silas took one arm and Nelson got the other. “Let’s get you inside and I’ll help you take a shower, thenwe’ll get you some tea,” Silas said as they helped Tighe to his feet and turned him toward the house.
His steps dragged and Tighe’s head bobbled. “Where’s my brother? Is he alright?” he slurred, unable to do more than mumble and stumble.
“A shower and tea, Tighe,” Silas said raggedly, too afraid to promise him anything else. “Let’s get you in the shower while Nelson makes us a pot of tea.”
Chapter Twenty
With Fletcher’s help, the twins rushed Eoin into the townhouse and up to the bathroom in Nox’s bedchamber. Silas left a still dazed Tighe in the hallway with Everly so he could check on Eoin’s condition. The spacious bathroom was crowded as bodies—some of them rather large—hovered over the massive Ossor. Eoin’s filthy sweater and shirt had been ripped off and Nox and Merlin rushed in and out with supplies. Fletcher and the twins' medical bags had been retrieved and the three of them whispered and passed each other sterilized tools as they worked.
“He’s in great hands,” Silas said when he rejoined Tighe in the hallway. He was shaking and crying, babbling about hurting his brother and apologizing for losing control. It was obvious that Tighe was disoriented and confused about what had happened before and after he went into a violent frenzy.
“What have I done? It’s all my fault!”
“No! Dùbhghlas did this,” Silas stated firmly. “He kidnapped Eoin and brought him here to force you out and trap you.Hedid this but you whooped his ass and saved Eoin.”
“I need to see him!” Tighe tried to pull away but Silas wrapped him in a tight hug and rocked him. “Soon! I promise. Right now, he’s being tended to by three highly competent medical professionals.”
Everly set a hand on Tighe’s arm, smiling softly. “Bryn and Arawn have been fixing humans for hundreds of years. They were abolitionists and doctors in the Civil War and operated on people right next to the battlefield.”
“There you go,” Silas said with an appreciative nod at Everly. “Those three have seen a hell of a lot worse.”
“Well…” Everly’s face scrunched. “Most of Fletch’s patients are already dead and some of them have really bad?—”
“Thank you!” Silas cut him off before he could scare Tighe. “I bet some tea would make Tighe feel better,” he said and Everly gasped and bolted for the stairs, leaving them alone. There was a yell and a loud clatter as Everly tumbled down the steps.
“I’m okay!” Everly shouted, making Silas laugh.
“So glad he’s married to a medic.” He leaned back and searched Tighe’s eyes to see if more of the fog had lifted. “Fletch and Arawn said it didn’t look like anything critical had been hit and your brother’s a beast.”
“I was a beast,” Tighe sighed as he rubbed his cheek against Silas’s palm. “I thought I hurt Eoin too.”
“No, he’s going to pull through because you ripped Dùbhghlas’s arm off and tore out his throat.”
Tighe jumped, his eyes huge with horror.“What? No!”
“Shhhh!” Silas kissed him tenderly, inwardlyproudof Tighe and mad that Dùbhghlas was able to drag his miserable ass away.
He’d left his arm behind, though, and Merlin had rushed out to collect it. According to Merlin, the arm wasn’t likely to grow back and Dùbhghlas would have to learn to cope without his right hand. For Silas, that was the next best thing to killingDùbhghlas. Every time the bastard missed his arm or felt a phantom ache, he’d remember that he’d fucked with the Ossors and see Tighe’s enraged face in his nightmares.
Everly was able to carry a tray upstairs without a calamity and they shared a pot of tea, cookies, and fruit on the hallway floor. After, Tighe’s energy plummeted and Silas held him as he slept. By the time he woke up, Eoin had been moved to Nox’s bed and was resting comfortably.
“Can I see him?” Tighe asked Arawn and he nodded.
“I don’t see why not. He’s going to need a few days for the swelling around the wound and stitches to subside and we’re going to keep an eye out for any signs of infection, but Eoin should make a full recovery.”
“Thank you!” Tighe threw his arms around Arawn and lifted him. “Thank you!” he said after putting Arawn down, wiping his eyes and smiling at Fletcher and Bryn gratefully. “I was afraid I was going to lose him.”
“Nah!” Bryn waved dismissively. “It would take a lot more than that puny dagger to take him down.”
With that, Tighe was shown into Nox’s room and an armchair was placed by the bed so he could sit with Eoin. He held onto Eoin’s hand and refused to move until he woke up. When Eoin’s eyes finally opened, he let out a rough chuckle.
“Did ye rip the fecker to shreds?”
“Aye,” Tighe mouthed, crying as he nodded. “He still got away.”
