Page 118 of Chosen By the Fae King

“Saxon?” I inquired.

“At your service, my lady,” he replied bowing gracefully to me, then, “Lady Raina. It is always a pleasure to gaze upon your face.”

Raina crossed her arms. “My face is covered in blood.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “A wonderful excuse to stare.”

Raina chuffed, shaking her head, and gave me a quick hug. “Don't worry. I’ve got this.”

Before I could produce a reply she and Saxon were walking off, side by side. I spun to look for Nox and found him coming through the arched doorway.

“Who is Saxon?” I asked.

“Someone nobody fucks with. He isn't here often and when he is he prefers to go unnoticed.”

“That tells me nothing.”

Nox laughed, pulling me to him by my hips. “I'll tell you more about him another time. Right now I need to take care of this. I think the bastard plated the blade in iron.”

I followed his line of sight to the gash in his thigh, only a few inches above where he'd been stabbed. How was he even walking?

“Nox!”

“I'll live. I just need it cleaned. And a little something to stop the bleeding so it will heal faster.”

“You need your blood purified! And stitches! Shadow us to your sister or I'll get Lorne to carry you.”

Nox leaned close and nipped my bottom lip. “What do I get if I do what I'm told?”

“Whatever you want.”

“That's a dangerous thing to offer a male like me, little hellion. But I would never refuse something so tempting from my mate.”

The next thing I knew we were in the infirmary and Nox was barking orders to get him fixed fast because he had pressing matters to deal with immediately.

Despite my best efforts not to, I laughed.

I sat beside Nox on the large bed, watching his chest rise and fall with each breath. Sage said he was healing and some sleep would help him do so faster.

As soon as she’d released him from the infirmary, he brought us back to the royal quarters, stripped us bare, and had me pressed against the shower wall.

Soon after, we tumbled into bed where I found no peace. The bloodshed and death I'd witnessed played behind my eyes when I tried to sleep.

My gaze drifted to the window, taking in the afternoon sun. Only a handful of hours had passed since Portia and Rodrik had made their play. I'd tried to call forth my baast and was only able to partially shift. Sage assured me it would wear off.

I sighed, raking a hand through my hair.

So much had changed since arriving at Thornewood when I'd only wanted to keep Sofiya and I alive. Now I felt the weight of protecting so many more.

My baast was simple enough. Strong and quick and capable of keeping me safe to a degree. I was more concerned about what my touch could do.

What good was the power if I couldn't be thorough enough, or trusted enough, to clear an innocent like Raina? If I didn't learn to master it and be thorough with it, I'm not sure I wanted it.

Then there was the whole touch thing. I didn't want to see inside the head of everyone I touched. The thought terrified me.

I was no dark sorceress, desiring power for its own sake. I only wished to help others, to use my gifts for good. But how did I shut it off? I had no teacher, no one to guide me. I was stumbling blind through a world both familiar yet strange.

A soft groan drew my gaze. Nox was waking, iron-grey eyes blinking open to meet mine.

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