Page 49 of Swords and Curses

"I'm not arguing with you. I know that you care about him, and I know that something had set you off long before he stepped into the kitchen," Balthasar replied.

Rosa paced about, kicking at the few uneven pavers with her gumboots. "I went to check on him and Nimue this morning. He healed a lot more than an arrow wound last night."

Balthasar frowned. "Eli told me. This is a good thing. We know we can trust her, and the queen no longer has her claws in her. You don't think she still harbors animosity towards you?"

"No! Of course not."

"Then what's wrong, Rosa?"

"I helped her undress for the shower because her body is still healing," Rosa replied, her arms tightening around her. "I helped her the other day if you remember when she was released out of the cells and the queen was still in her head. Her skin and body were perfect, like not a mark or a freckle, nothing." Rosa started pacing again, unable to get the words out.

"Just tell me, Rosa," Balthasar said softly.

"When I helped her this morning, she was…covered in scars. I meancovered, Bal. She'd said the queen had tortured her, but she'd been so disconnected when telling that story to Eli. I don't know anything about torture, Bal, but she's been b-burned, and I think whipped up." Rosa pushed the hair out of her face and tried to stop the tears in the back of her throat.

"I touched one of her scars, and Isawher begging Ryn to save her, and the fucker didnothing.He just stood there. What kind of person, a father, stands there and lets that happen to their own blood? I thought that Nimue would hate me for killing Ryn, but she is relieved that I did. How could…"

Rosa didn't have to finish as Balthasar's arms came around her. She turned to him, burying her face in the groove of his shoulder. The pain in her chest eased as he kissed the top of her head, his warmth seeping into her and making her feel safe again.

The queen had been horrible to her, but her stint in the Faerie court could've been so much worse. She had insulted thequeen on a far greater level than Nimue had. What would the queen do to her if she managed to capture her again?

Balthasar sighed. "My dear Rosa, I forget how new you are to this world sometimes. You'll see more beauty and wonder in this life, but also the greatest violence and cruelty. I can't shield you from it as much as I would like to. I can promise that I'll do everything in my power to protect you from the queen. I risked the wrath of both worlds to get you back the first time, so don't think for a moment I wouldn't do it again."

Rosa lifted her head to kiss his jaw. "It's one of the many reasons I love you, Balthasar Vane."

He brushed a stray curl behind her ear. "Many reasons…I like that. You still haven't told me why you yelled at Eldon."

"I yelled at him because he's a sulky git. He has no idea what Nimue's gone through because of him. I get that he's got his hurts, but if he knew what the queen made her suffer because she protected him, he wouldn't be so quick to judge."

"He needs to see it for himself, Rosa. It's between them."

"Nimue won't show him, and she feels worthless in his eyes. You don't get this because you're a man, but women worry about their bodies. I know it sounds stupid to you, but Nimue has always been known for her beauty. It's the one thing that the legends got right. She already thinks Eldon hates her, and she's going to hide her ruined beauty from him as much as she can."

"You don't seem too concerned about all of my scars," Balthasar pointed out.

"You're a warrior. For you, they are a mark of all the battles you've won. You weren't tortured because you were more beautiful than the queen."

"You think Eldon is shallow enough to care?"

"Of course not, but Nimue doesn't want to be pitied. Eldon might never love her again, and he certainly isn't the same manshe fell in love with, but she has a right to protect the memory he has of her before the queen broke her."

"I know you are angry at him, but Eldon is only projecting his own hurt and failures. I know, I know, he shouldn't, but immortals are just as ridiculous as humans when it comes to emotions and matters of the heart. Eldon isn't stupid. He'll come around, and you gave him the wakeup call that no one else could give him," Balthasar replied.

"He can stay as angry at himself as he likes, but I won't let him take it out on her anymore."

"You seem very protective of someone that you were threatening to bake into a pie," he teased, and Rosa poked him in the ribs.

"Call it a girl code. She's a different person without having the Bitch Queen whispering in her head. There is no way I could feel threatened by her, especially with you. Eldon might not be the same man anymore, but he's the only one she thinks about."

"He might be a sulky git, but he isn't a total idiot," Balthasar admitted. "He will figure it out. Now, I have some other news for you."

Rosa gripped his coat tighter. "I don't like the sound of this."

"It's okay, Rosa," Balthasar laughed. "I just got off a call with Vincenzo. He heard about the attacks, and he's coming to Gwaed Lyn. I don't think he likes being outdone by Zalan."

"Really? Wow. All three Unseelie brothers together. Are we sure this is going to be a good thing?"

"Probably not, but it means more warriors to protect you. The queen won't stay gone for long. That last little raiding party was to assess what kind of strength we have. She has the entire Aos Si she can command to take up arms against us whether they are warriors or not. Lily is going to stay in Italy to protect Vincenzo's kingdom, and Saul is coordinating the Southerners with the help of Zalan's generals."

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