Page 98 of From Frost to Flame

“It sounds like they made their choice,” he said, leaning into his side. “You should stay here. At least for a little while.”

Vega sauntered over and held out his crown with a tired smile. “Long live the king.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Lex

“Where is Silas?” Lexpouted in frustration as he sat up on a twin-sized bed with stark white sheets. Silas had carried him into this private infirmary while he was half asleep. Now awake, the sterile room with trays of supplies, empty walls, and a single window made his heart race.

“You’re up. Silas will be back shortly,” Ricci, a lower ranking werewolf from Silas's pack with a head of black curls, freckles, and sweet smile explained. “In the meantime, Aurelian and I were tasked with getting you patched up. I don’t mean to be invasive, but can I see your chest for just a moment? I need to see how much gauze we’re going to need.”

Lex pulled his bloodied torn shirt closed with his one good hand and looked between the two wolves. “No thank you, I’m going to go find him now.”

“Silas said not to overwhelm him, remember? Give him space,” Aurelian huffed. He was a werewolf with chocolate hair in a long braid down his back and rich brown eyes. He set down an uncorked bottle of antiseptic and turned to Lex. “My Queen, please. You need medical attention. The wounds are extensive.”

“You don’t need to call me queen.” Lex took a breath to calm his nerves. “I want to leave. I’ll go help Silas with whatever he’s doing.” It didn’t matter that his right arm hung crushed and useless at his side, or that the claw marks on his chest stung. Silas walked off ages ago and being apart made everything hurt. He projected his thoughts best he could.

“I don’t want to be here. I don’t like it, and everyone is touching me. You need to come back.”

“He’s doing something with the fae.” Ricci held up a roll of bandages. “Can I at least wrap your wrist?”

“Bring me a crutch, please,” Lex insisted, ignoring him. “I’ll go help him with the fae. I know a lot about them.”

“But Silas tasked us with your care,” Aurelian pressed.

“I know.” For the first time in ages, blue flames ignited on both his hands as his emotions flared. The bedsheets caught fire, and in a panic the two wolves snuffed out the flames. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to do that.”

“Little One,” Silas said, leaning on the door frame with an amused smile. “Let’s not burn down a room on your first day back.”

“It was an accident,” he said, embarrassed. “Where did you go? You were gone forever.”

“I was gone fifteen minutes. I was checking on the injured fae in the medical wing. They were very concerned that I planned to slaughter them for waging war.”

“Are you going to kill them?”

“This time, no. It wasn’t their fault they were here.” He sauntered over. “I gave you a private room so you’d be more comfortable. Perhaps I should have just had you in the medical wing with me instead.”

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