Page 5 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

Tavish’s head jerked in his direction, and he scowled. “She just came to, and that’s the first thing you say to her?”

“What?” Finnian’s brows furrowed. “She came back from the dead. I’m telling you, that’s something. No one else here can say that.”

I tried licking my lips, but it didn’t accomplish anything since everything inside me was bone dry. Still, I tried to focus on what Finnian had let slip. “I died?” The peaceful darkness now made sense.

“That’s what it sounded like, but maybe your heart just became very weak.” Finola patted my arm. “But we’re mending you.”

I turned my head toward her, only to see her holding a hooked needle and thread. Golden blood covered the needle, telling me everything I needed to know. Mending me must mean stitching me together.

I lifted my head a little and stared at my injured side. The skin was closed with gray silk stitches, and the bleeding seemed to have stopped. But that wasn’t what worried me. It was the black blood that coated every other inch of my body.

Dammit, I had nightmare snake and Unseelie blood all over me. The ickiness brought up the horror of the final gauntlet.

“What’s bothering you?” Tavish leaned forward, scanning the bed.

I flinched, the pain intensifying for a second. “I’m drenched in blood and in your bed.” He should have put me on the floor. It would’ve been easier to clean.

“Where you’re supposed to be.” His jaw clenched, and his irises smoldered.

My heart skipped a beat. I didn’t know what had changed, but Ireallyliked him saying that.

“Your Majesty.” The dark-blue-haired guard cleared his throat. “Ihateto interrupt you, but Eldrin…”

Tavish hung his head, and I could see the weight of the guard’s words impacting him. Eldrin had a way of sneaking up and ruining the precious moments we shared.

“I can go in your stead,” Caelan offered.

I located him against the wall next to the bathroom door, and my lungs seized. I hadn’t noticed him until he’d spoken.

Tavish sighed. “As much as I want to accept that offer, I can’t. With Eldrin’s new status, I need to be part of the search.”

New status? I didn’t like the sound of that. I wanted to panic, but before I could ask questions, Tavish bent down and kissed me gently… in front of everyone here.

Butterflies took flight in my stomach, and if I hadn’t been covered in blood, I would’ve deepened our kiss.

“I’ll return as soon as possible,” he vowed, cupping my face. Then he turned to address Finola, Finnian, and Caelan. “You three, stay here and keep guard, and Faelan will join me. I worry Eldrin will attempt to finish what he started.”

A lump formed in my throat, making me more desperate for water. I hadn’t ever been this parched before, not even during the second trial when I’d almost been burned to a crisp.

He released his grip, and I wanted to beg him to stay. But I refused to become the sort of needy woman who couldn’t survive on her own. “Just hurry back.”

The mattress moved, adjusting to him standing, and he paused. “That will be my motto from here on out, sprite.”

He hurried to the door and left with Faelan.

When the door shut, Finola walked around the bed to my other side while Finnian dropped to the spot next to me on my left.

My body jarred, and I hissed as my wound pulsed.

“Easy. She may be mended, but she’s still injured.” Finolatskedand rolled her eyes as she settled by the side of me that wasn’t as brutally injured.

He winced. “I wasn’t thinking. Is there anything you need?”

Two things that seemed equally important leaped into my mind. One took precedence, and my mouth answered based on survival first. “Water.” Some dirt and sand kicked into my airways, causing a coughing fit. Each time I coughed, it felt like my stitches were going to rip, and nausea roiled inside me.

Finnian readied to jump from the bed, but Caelan growled, “Stop moving and stay put so you aren’t bothering her injuries more. The last thing we need is Tavish becoming more unreasonable about her.”

Unreasonable.

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