Page 151 of Into the Isle

Grim growled at him. “Is that so? Because it didn’t seem much different during Lunar Night, when you ambushed us.”

Sven crossed his arms over his chest. “I wasn’t in my right mind then.” His smoldering dark eyes landed on Grim’s, saying more than his words. “None of us were.”

Grim opened his mouth to continue arguing.

I lifted a hand and called out, “Grim, it’s okay.”

My giant protector looked over his shoulder at me, dismay written on his face.

“I believe you, Sven,” I said, though I wasn’t sure I even believed myself when I said it. “You’ve seen me. You’ve said your words.” I ground my teeth together. “Now I’d get the hell out of here before my friends rip you to shreds.”

Sven’s perfect jaw line flexed as he gave me a firm nod. “Very well. Good luck in your recovery.”

I could tell he wanted to say more—he hesitated to leave, opening his mouth. But with a sigh and headshake, he thought better of it and turned around, leaving.

The entire room let out a collective breath once the wolf pack leader was gone.

The hell was that about?

Magnus rounded to the right side of my hospital bed, where no one else had crowded. He bent over, kissed my forehead, and said, “Rest, love. We’ll figure this out. Astrid won’t get away with it.”

Arne and Grim glanced at each other when Magnus called me “love.”

There was definitely a love triangle of sorts going on here. Or maybe a love square. I didn’t know how to explain it, and I was in no condition to try.

Truth was, I had fallen for each of them. I would tell them when the time felt right, and hope for the best—that they’d be able to get along for my sake. They were doing a good job of that so far, even if it was only because I was in poor shape.

“Magnus is right,” Arne announced, standing straight. He cleared his throat, trying on a leadership role. “Ravinica needs her sleep. Let’s give it to her.”

Randi and Dagny nodded glumly. They told me they’d see me soon, and to get better.

Grim said, “I’m not leaving her alone in here, in case Astrid gets the bright idea of trying to finish the job.”

“If Astrid wanted her dead, Rav wouldn’t be here, big guy,” Arne said. “She’d be in the academy graveyard.”

“Or an unmarked grave,” I muttered, “given who I am.”

Grim’s amber eyes flared, landing on Arne, as if daring the smaller man to try and stop him. “Doesn’t matter. I’m standing guard outside.”

Arne squared his shoulders in a comical expression, puffing out his chest to try and look as intimidating as Grim Kollbjorn, which was literally impossible.

“Fine,” said the iceshaper, “then I am too.”

“I have a better idea,” I said, and the two men swung their gazes my way. “Why don’t you find Astrid and bring her to me, instead of playing protector? I can handle myself.”

Arne folded his lips, and Grim tilted his head. They didn’t like it, and I suspected I couldn’t handle myself in my current state.

Yet they obliged me anyway, looking back at each other with slow nods.

“We can do that,” Arne said.

“Gladly,” Grim added.

Magnus had already left the tent, escaping while Grim and Arne got into their little spat. I guess he didn’t find the need to keep watch over me.

I wondered if Magnus had discovered something. Maybe he found the family tree tucked away in my shirt? Or maybe he was respecting me by giving me space and time to rest from my wounds.

I repositioned myself on the bed, and realized the folded notepad pages were gone from where I’d kept them near my heart. Probably because the doctors had had to get to my body to check out my wounds.

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