Page 72 of Under Crimson Blades

Zeke spoke first. “Luna, Nero. Thank you for coming.”

“Of course.” Nero’s smile dissolved when he looked to Remmus. “He’s seen no change?”

“Nothing. We’ve tried everything, but he hasn’t even moved.” Kaien scrubbed a hand through his hair, his anxious energy crawling across Ava’s skin.

Luna’s attention shifted to Ava. “What do you feel from him through the mating bond?”

She jolted, caught off guard by the woman’s comment. Luna—the healer—hadn’t been advised she was Remmus’ mate. Though she’d have readily replied after introductions, the animal beneath Ava’s skin was anxious, uncertain, and it had the unintentional side effect of rendering her mute.

“Ava, Luna is an Arbiter,” Kaien explained. “She senses bonds between immortals in addition to healing the mind and the body.”

Relief poured through her, thankful for the explanation, and she responded, “When I reach for him through our bond, it’s like I’m reaching into a black hole.”

“Was it always like that?”

“No.”

A flare of energy emanating from a pensive Luna washed over the entire room. It was undoubtedly her power, and it was overwhelming.

When Luna spoke, her voice took on a husky quality, as if she wasn’t quite here. “Your bond is old, soaked in the blood of the past.” At Ava’s sharp gasp, Luna’s eyes found her, softening. “But worry not, there’s always hope where love abounds.”

Did she love Remmus?

The instant answer was a resounding yes. Even if she hadn’t known his history, or befriended him as a child, it would’ve been yes.

Given the width of the bed, Luna gently sat upon it beside the unconscious Raeth. Then, two fingers touched his temple. Within seconds, Luna’s eyes snapped up to find Nina’s in the crowd.

“He is damaged.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Ava’s wolf snarled in warning. In an instant, her eyes bled to her wolf’s, the animal clawing to get free to defend her mate.

To her credit, Luna didn’t flinch. “It isn’t an accusation; it’s a statement of fact. Remmus’ mind is warped under coercion. Who did this to him?”

“His parents.”

“I see.” The red-haired woman sighed softly. “It is always the parents who scar us the worst, isn’t it? Always our children who bear the burden of our sins.”

No one responded. In silence, Luna sat painfully still as she rooted around in Remmus’ mind. Ava’s wolf shifted restlessly beneath her skin, but she held her at bay, knowing that Luna might be his only shot at surfacing.

“May I ask why his temporal bone was recently broken?”

All the air seemed to be sucked out of the room at Luna’s question, and Ava realized that none of Remmus’ clansmen knew of Aidan’s misplaced rage on the heels of their stolen kiss. Fortunately, the man in question came clean.

“I sucker-punched him.”

“Aidan!” Kaien and Nina’s voice echoed in tandem, both Raeths turning on him with varying levels of anger. Had she been the one fielding their glares, she would’ve whimpered.

“Remmus was kissing me,” Ava explained, cringing. “Aidan thought he was protecting me.”

Kaien’s face was twisted in horror at his brother’s actions. “You didn’t.”

“Have any of you tried to pull him out? To help him surface?” Luna broke the tension.

Zeke cleared his throat. “I’ve attempted to connect with him, but I—”

“Not you, Ezekiel.” Spoken as if swatting a fly from the air, Luna’s voice was laden with resentment. “Remmus doesn’t trust you, and the last time you spoke with him, you unintentionally incited his coercion. Not you. Never you.”

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