Page 16 of Valkyrie Restored

I took a deep breath and attempted to expel the feeling. I needed to focus on my happiness for them. And my longing to be with her, with them. Jealousy had no place in our relationship.

With that decision made, I strode deeper into the house, stopping short when I saw Elin sprawled on our couch wearing Hurrit’s shirt and one of her legs propped up on a pillow. The swollen leg sported a lovely shade of blue and purple along the side and continued to wrap itself around the backside that rested on the pillow. I dropped to my knees and crawled to her side. “What happened?”

“Arran, you’re home.” She gave me one of her sweet smiles, but this one held the knowledge of her being completely sexually sated. It was almost a dazed look. One that had my cock responding, wanting to keep her looking like that always.

“I am, lass.” I leaned forward and placed a kiss on the tip of her nose. “What happened to your leg?”

“A branch fell on it, and I couldn’t walk so Hurrit carried me here. He wouldn’t let me go home.”

I smoothed back her hair from her face, brushing my fingers over her ears. When she shivered, I smiled, relieved that I could still make her feel that way with a simple touch. “Of course he wouldn’t let you go home. Not if you were injured. We’d want to take care of you.”

“That’s what he said.”

“Then I’m glad you listened.” Unable to hold back, I brushed my lips across her forehead.

“She had no choice in the matter.” Hurrit bent over me until he could press his lips against mine, sliding them over as he gave a little nip. When I opened my mouth, he dove in tongue first, letting me wrap mine around his, tasting him… and her. My cock jumped in my pants. Fuck. I wanted more.

I growled against his lips as my hands reached up to grab his hair, pulling him down until I could swallow more of him. If this is what his mouth tasted like after being with her then I wanted to taste his cock. To taste her juices off him before delving in to taste her solo.

He nipped my lip as he pulled back. “We’ve got company,” he reminded me. Not that I could forget. The scent of her arousal surrounded me, making me high.

“Oh don’t worry about me. That was hot.” Hurrit and I pulled apart enough to watch her fan herself.

“You little minx.” I winked.

Hurrit stood and placed a hand on her forehead. “How’s the leg now? And the headache?”

She rolled her eyes a little but turned her dazzling smile on him. “It’s better. The tea helped my head, and the ice has helped my leg.”

“But let’s let Arran take a look at it, like you promised me.”

“Fine.” This time she really rolled her eyes, bringing a chuckle to my lips.

I lifted her leg a little, sliding my hand underneath, feeling the increased warmth of her skin and the swelling. How was she functioning and so happy with her leg the way it was? We didn’t keep any form of strong human medication in the house so other than some Tylenol and a few healing herbs, she had to be surviving on her own fortitude. Something a mere human should not have been able to. But I pushed that observation to the back corner of my mind—to be examined later—when a soft gasp left her mouth. I lightened my touch as I continued to poke and prod, releasing what little bits of healing magic I’d learned from the druid healer, who was my grandmother’s friend, many centuries ago. It wouldn’t be enough to really heal her—the damage was too extensive for that—but I hoped it would help whatever it was that kept her from feeling all the pain she should have.

“Was it just your leg that was injured?”

“Yes.”

“No,” Hurrit growled. “She wasn’t conscious when I reached her, and she has a small lump on the back of her head along with stiff neck muscles.”

She glared over my shoulder at him, bringing another chuckle to my lips. I loved watching her call him on his shit. It wasn’t as fun when she did it to me, but I knew that Hurrit felt the same I did when she berated me.

But it was just as fascinating to watch when Hurrit wouldn’t let her get away with a lie. For most people, he wouldn’t have cared so to see him itemize her injuries for me, to ensure I healed them all—something he wasn’t adept at—revealed just how much she’d gotten under his skin.

“Any headaches? Blurred vision? Memory loss?” At the last one, her nose scrunched up. “You’ve got some memory loss?” I asked. “What’s the last thing you remember before Hurrit rescued you?”

She bit her lip. “I remember everything including the branch hitting me, knocking me to the ground.”

“Then why—”

“—I have no memories of my life before five years ago.”

I dropped back onto my heels as a gasp left my throat.

Hurrit dropped to his knees beside me. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have forced the hospital issue.” He brushed the side of her face with his fingertips before jumping back to his feet. “We need to take you now. Check you checked out. Winnipeg. That’s where will go. They’ll have the specialists and the machines you need.” He whacked me on the arm. “Arran, grab some drinks and snacks. I’ll grab some blankets and some sweats for Elin to wear.”

“Stop. Stop.” Elin wrapped her hand around Hurrit’s forearm, stopping his frantic motions in their track. She blew out her breath, moving the wisps of hair around her face. “I’m doing this all wrong,” she said under her breath as she struggled to sit upright. Hurrit and I jumped in, lifting her and shoving pillows behind her.

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