Page 61 of Crown of the Fae King

When we learned that monsters had arrived in Corsica.

26

Fresh Hell, Today Only

Ashout woke me, and I ran out into the hallway to find Sophie and Dezi had heard it too. Together, we headed for the heart of the house.

Wickham had returned, along with Dr. McAvoy, Everly, and a barely conscious Urban whom the men struggled to hold up. Everly was a warrior woman possessed. With both hands full of silver, she guarded her husband while he was hauled to the bedroom, limping slightly. She refused to believe they were safe, growling at anyone who came close, refusing to leave Urban’s side. With her ponytail removed, she looked like a dark-maned lion, her tense muscles rippling beneath her dark tan clothes half-covered in blood. One pant leg had been sliced open, her thigh covered by a thick bandage.

Finally, it was Sophie who got her attention. “Everly, Urban needs water. Can you get that for him? I’ve got my silver blade, and I’ll stand right here until you come back. I won’t let anyone near him.”

Everly blinked at her, then nodded. She completely missed the carafe and glass of water sitting on a tray at the side of the bed and limped from the room, as if hypnotized.

The doctor thanked Sophie and checked Urban’s bandages, blood pressure, then showed us how his leg must be propped so the wound would remain higher than his heart. “Otherwise, the pain will be unbearable, aye?” He gave Sophie instructions for pain meds because he didn’t trust Everly to remember them, then he handed over his phone number. “I’ll be back in the mornin’.” He glanced at Wickham. “Strike that. I’ll be stayin’. I’ll check on him first thing, but if he starts a fever, ring me immediately.” At the door, he paused and glanced pointedly at my arm. “We’ll talk about this in the mornin’ as well.”

Everly returned with a new tray filled with a water carafe, three glasses, and her two silver weapons, the cake server and a small knife that matched the one in Sophie’s hand. Dezi caught my attention and gestured to the bedside table. I hurried over to get the first tray out of sight.

Everly placed her tray on the other side of the bed and never noticed, then was finally persuaded to lie on the bed too. Wickham followed the doctor out the door. Dezi and I slipped out as well.

Urban and I hadn’t grown terribly close in the weeks since we’d met. But until I saw him vulnerable, I hadn’t realized I’d do anything for either MacKenzie. Dezi helped me move a chair from down the hall to just outside the master bedroom where I took up watch. If those monsters came to finish off the big Highlander or his brave defender, they wouldn’t get past me. I could at least sound the alarm.

Ten minutes later, Wickham was back. He gave me a funny look, then ducked inside to check on the patient. When he came out again, he showed me a little black knife with a silver blade, slid it into its sheath, and handed it over. “Ye’ll need one of yer own. I trust ye willnae harm yerself with it.”

“I won’t.”

"He's all tucked up and medicated. Sophie is going to bed, but she'll be back to dose him again in a few hours."

"I’m worried about Everly."

"Ah. So was I." He patted my arm. “But the shock is fading, and she kens she’s surrounded by family.”

I almost believed I was included in that statement, but I didn’t dare hope.

Sophie slipped out the door and joined us. "Are you going to tell us what happened in Corsica? I don't think we'll get anything out of them for a while."

He shrugged. "I don't yet know. I found them in a pool of blood hours ago. Everly was bit by...whatever it was. Said the monsters were dead, but she barely had the strength to do that. I got them to the hospital in Edinburgh. MacAvoy stitched them up, then I got them out of there before we had to answer questions. But don't let her fool ye. She's terribly weak."

Sophie sighed. "Got it."

"McAvoy is ours until further notice."

I worried about the others. "What about Persi and Kitch?"

"I'll collect them tomorrow. Two of our best hunters is obviously not enough to face a pair of O’Ryan’s dogs. We'll hunt in packs from now on, or not at all."

"Maybe we just need a bigger pack."

His eyes cut to mine, then crinkled at the corners. "Maybe we do at that."

I fell asleep on watch,but I was still hyper alert, knife at the ready. I jumped when I felt the air move around me, but it was only Sophie coming to bring Urban his next dose.

“Go back to sleep,” she whispered. “Wickham said the two attackers were killed. No one is coming, and the night is nearly over. If you want to get some sleep, I’ll take the chair.”

“I know I wasn’t protecting anyone, but I wanted to feel useful.”

Everly opened the bedroom door, her eyes clearer than they had been the last time I’d seen her. Thankfully, she’d changed out of the bloody clothes. “Urban’s burning up.”

The house came to life again. Sophie rang the doctor, who came quickly, with Wickham on his tail, carrying his boots. Sophie dropped into the chair. I went in to be with Everly.

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