Page 58 of Desire

He closed the distance between us and held me.

“Focus on the beat of your heart and the sound of your breathing.”

Over his shoulder, I saw Brandle’s gaze shift from me to Liam. The concern etching his features was…discordant.

“Just breathe, Liam,” he said. “Kellen will fix this.”

My first thought was that my magic had managed to harm Liam despite his charm. Then he turned slightly, leaning into Brandle’s hold on his shoulders, and I saw Liam’s back. Little remained of his charred shirt to hide the raw, red and black burned skin beneath.

The world dropped out from under my feet.

“Kellen,” Garron called, his voice distant and barely audible over the ringing in my ears.

Darkness crept into my peripheral, and with it, I heard Eloise—not her words, simply her voice—and I welcomed the abyss.

“I don’tknow,Brandle. She cast more energy than I could ever dream of casting. When Henry cast extensive spells, it took him days to recover.”

“Liam doesn’t have days, Garron.”

The anger and urgency in Brandle’s voice drew me from the comforting nothingness that held me. Thoughts swam just out of reach for a brief moment before I recalled the extent of Liam’s injuries.

“I’m here,” I slurred, struggling to open my eyes.

“Princess,” Darian said. “Are you all right?”

“Fine.” My eyes opened on the fourth try. Five of the brothers stood around me. Inside the cottage. The air was normal again.

“It disappeared when you fainted,” Garron said, noting my searching gaze.

“Good. And the tracker?”

“In the cellar for now.”

“I meant, is he alive?” I clarified as I took Darian’s proffered hand and sat up.

“He is.”

I glanced at the table and saw they already had everything prepared for the tea.

“Wait,” Garron said when I attempted to stand. “Look at me, Kellen.”

I met his gaze and let him search mine.

“What are you looking for?” I asked.

“Any sign that casting now might hurt you.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“You don’t know that, Sparrow,” Eadric said.

Looking them over, I took in their concern and injuries. Brandle’s nose looked crooked again. Garron’s lip was split and swollen. Eadric had a red, puffy cheek. Darian kept his weight off one leg, and Daemon held one of his hands under his arm.

“I know that I feel better than you look. Isn’t that enough? Where’s Edmund? Is he with Liam?”

“He is,” Brandle said. “We need you to make four cups of tea, Kitten. If you can.”

“I can.”

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