Page 23 of Their Trials

It was then that I noticed the claw marks on his forearms from holding me back. I gasped, jumping to heal him before thinking. My hand landed on his arm as heat began leaching from me as I started the healing process.

Before I could do much healing though, Callum jerked his arms away from my touch. He growled, “Don't”.

“Why not?” I demanded, hurt that he wouldn't let me heal him. “I did that to you; the least I can do is heal you.”

“I don't need to be healed. This is nothing,” he told me firmly, backing away again as I tried to step forward to heal him anyway.

“Rhowyn, you need to reserve your magic. You, out of all of us, have a more limited amount. With Baer tapped out, we may need what little you have later,” Arryn stepped in to explain, catching the offended look in my eyes. His own shone with sympathy, clearly aware that Callum had hurt me, even if it had been unintentional and logical.

“Fine,” I huffed out, stepping away from them both, unable to face the look in Arryn's eyes and not wanting Callum to see the pain he'd caused me.

“Come here, Killer,” Baer beckoned to me, slinging an arm around my shoulders as he pulled me in close to him. “I may need your help walking. The Ankou really did take a lot out of me,” he muttered softly, barely audible even with my newly enhanced hearing. As if making his point, he swayed again, and his hand tightened on my shoulder to maintain his balance.

I nodded and wrapped an arm around his waist to help hold him up. I wouldn't say anything. I knew how guys could be when it came to showing any weaknesses. I wouldn't bare his shortcomings for the world to see unless he wanted me to.

“So, what now?” I asked the guys, with no one in particular in mind. They all looked at each other, glancing over to Charity and her men, who were still standing around talking to each other.

“I think it best to go our own way from here. We made sure the Chosen found her Consorts. She's no longer our responsibility,” Callum said, glaring at me as if it were my fault we had to fight the Ankou.

Rolling my eyes at him, I glanced to study Charity. She seemed to be recovering well, her men doting on her unlike Callum and Lennox. She stared up at one of them, devotion shining in their eyes as they gazed at each other. Maybe one day I could find something like that. Love. Something I had never truly experienced.

Sure, I had loved Nikki as a little sister, especially after what we’d been through together after facing Jim, and I loved my mother, despite her many flaws, but those weren't the same thing. A part of me wondered if I was truly worthy of that kind of love.

“I agree,” I said, needing to change the subject before I threw myself a pity party, and Callum narrowed his eyes at me in suspicion. “What? I don't think we can handle fighting any more monsters unless they're specifically for us. It makes sense. Besides, she seems to be fine now,” I told him defensively.

“Good, now that we're decided, can we please get going again?” Baer asked us, leaning more heavily against me.

“Yeah. Just let me tell Charity,” I told him, shrugging out of his hold for a moment and walking over to the other group.

“Charity?” I interrupted her interlude with Eoghan.

“Rhowyn!” She turned to face me quickly, beaming at me, engulfing me in a hug that I wasn't quite sure what to do with. Up until the guys, I hadn't been much of a hugger. Other than my girls, I had very little touch among others. At least none that didn’t involve the violence of training.

“Thank you so much for helping us,” she said as she pulled back, still holding onto my arms.

“Don't thank me. It was the right thing to do.” I tried to brush off her gratitude, uncomfortable with the praise.

“Don't be silly. Here in Avalon, most fae wouldn't have stopped to help us, especially with a prize on the line. I'm your competition, and yet you thought nothing of it. That shouldn't be taken lightly,” she continued.

Eoghan spoke up. “You have our gratitude,” he said, with a slight bow of his head at me before glancing at my men behind me. “We are in your debt.”

“Oh. Well, we didn't really do much.” I tried to play off the seriousness of the situation. “But I'm glad we could help,” I told them both honestly.

“I'm sure you're ready to be on your way again,” Charity said, releasing me from her grip finally. “We're going to stay here and rest for a little while longer.”

“Of course. The guys are just eager to get moving again. The sooner we can get out of here, the better,” I told her honestly.

I started to turn back toward the guys, stopping short and facing her again as she spoke. “I'll see you back at the castle, and if you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask.” She beamed at me.

“I'd like that,” I told her honestly. Her gentle nature was such a contrast to mine that I couldn't help but wonder what being friends with her would be like.

I headed back to collect Baer, who was smiling at me, wrapping my arm around his waist, his arm settling on my shoulders. “What?” I asked him, looking up at him.

“Nothing,” he said, still smiling at me.

“Ready?” Arryn asked. I just nodded at him, and he turned to lead the way, Lennox and Callum following behind us down the path again.

We all walked in silence, our pace much slower than before facing the Ankou. The argument and fighting that followed took their toll on us as it settled on our shoulders.

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