Page 123 of A Touch of Stars and Stones
Perrin can’t help, not today. Nobody can help. He does offer me the tonic, which I gladly accept.
“What do you need?” Ten asks from beside me, his words tight. Everyone is sporting wounds today.
“A bath. I’d love a bath,” I breathe gingerly as I imagine the easing of my muscles in the hot water. My whole body hurts, and I hold myself as rigid as possible to stop the throb in my ribs from punching through. My shoulder’s been wrenched backwards, too, so I cradle my arm to my left to prevent the pull from adding any more pain.
Luckily, only one punch landed on my face.
“Do you want to see Kyra?” Micah asks from my other side.
“It’s okay. I think I need to rest.” He nods and puts a hand on my good shoulder, and I reach to cover his hand with mine. I don’t know what Ten’s command at breakfast was all about, but while it might have made me shiver, I won’t let him take everything that touch can mean away from me.
Gratitude and thanks are what I want to give, and I have no way of showing that. Sometimes words aren’t enough.
“You’ll be fine tomorrow. A little healing, and you’ll be all fixed like the rest of us.” Micah hadn’t fared too well, nor had Azur. “Want to go into The Court tonight?” he asks.
“Um, I don’t think so.” My head tips towards Ten after I answer. “I’m pretty beat. And I mean that literally.”
He squeezes my shoulder and then heads off.
Ten continues to escort me back to my room. He doesn’t have more than a scratch on him, from Calix, of course. Although Crimson sure as zuns tried. I bite down the burning knot of jealousy that is never far away when she’s concerned. Theremarks from Calix, her obvious belief she has a claim over Ten, and their shared history all mix in the pit of my stomach.
We arrive, and he pauses in that infuriating position just outside my door.
“You need to rest. Take a bath. And Perrin’s tonic.”
“What is it with you and orders today?” I grin.
“Oh, it’s not just today, Little Siren.” His lips twitch.
I wasn’t sure why that nickname made me feel powerful, but it did, and it set something off inside of me, which I’m convinced he knew.
“You don’t like me hugging Calix.” I state.
“Absolutely not.”
“Or Micah?”
“Nobody. Just because we can touch on a new moon doesn’t erase the importance and significance of it outside of training.” I nod, understanding a little more and seeing it’s the opposite of why I want to offer it. “I don’t want you sharing that with anyone but me. Now, rest. I’ll come and see you soon.” He leaves, and I deflate.
Several hours later, I hear a knock on the door. My body wants to bound up to open it, but the aches force a gentler shuffle.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” I smile quickly and then look out into the hall as Ten just stands, leaning against the door. “Are you going to come in?” I ask, nerves dancing in my chest impatiently.
I soaked, took the tonic and enjoyed just… being. Until I grew fidgety, trapped in my room with only my thoughts, which soon travelled to Lyle and what she would be doing. But I didn’t wantto dwell on things, so I went to collect my dinner from the hall. It was empty. People were finding other ways to spend their evenings, it seemed.
And now he stands…
“Nope. Not yet. Come on.” He grabs my hand, my actual hand, wrapping his fingers through mine. I look down at them, joined together, and beam up at him. He’s grinning, too. “As good as that feels, will you indulge me, Little Siren?” he whispers in the shell of my ear.
Stars, my legs feel weak and shaky from that alone. I’m glad he can’t read my emotions right now, and I do the only thing I’m capable of, and nod.
He pulls on my hand, and I jolt forward out of my room, as he closes the door behind us and sets off at a punishing rate down the hall. But the grip on my hand doesn’t falter. It squeezes tighter.
“Where are we going?” I ask. “And do we have to rush?” The tonic had helped, but I still could feel the bruises under my skin.
“There’s something I want to show you.”
