Page 93 of Dark & Dreadful Brutes

“So she’s desperate,” I said, leaning down again so I could see the wound better. My lips twisted in a grimace as I did. “The coloring on this is weird. Do you think she could’ve poisoned you? Can fae even be poisoned?”

“Yes, we can be poisoned.” He was gritting his teeth. “But her blade was ice, and it’s difficult to poison an ice blade. She would’ve had to dip it before she left, and carry it all the way here.”

“That doesn’t mean she didn’t.”

“It makes it unlikely.”

“Okay, but I’m telling you, this doesn’t look good. Go check the mirror.”

He gave me an exasperated sigh, but left me and my shaky legs in the shower while he went to the mirror. When he reached it, he stared at himself for far too long before shuffling back.

“Well?” I asked.

“It’s poisoned.”

My eyebrows shot upward. “Is there an antidote, or are you dying? I feel like you should be more worried about this.”

“There’s an antidote. Gleam was almost back with the bandages, so she’s heading out for it now. It’s nothing to worry about.”

I huffed at him. “You really need to stop saying that.”

“You really need to start believing me.”

We were never going to agree on that. “Did Ria beat you?’

He scowled at me. “I’m not dead, am I?”

“Well, you are poisoned.” I gestured to his side.

“Only a coward who can’t win with skill alone uses poison. I’m not surprised my sister is one of them. She was always a poor loser.”

I rolled my eyes at him.

He shut off the water and pulled me close, lowering his nose to my hair and inhaling deeply. “Veil, you smell good.”

“I smell like a river,” I mumbled against his chest.

“You smell like my mate.”

My chest burned with his words.

He wrapped me in a towel, and then did the same to himself but tied it at his waist. The way he moved was strange as he walked me back to the bed. I studied his tense shoulders and the tight way he was holding his abdomen. “You’re in pain, aren’t you?”

“I’m fine.”

I didn’t believe him. “Ravv.”

“Lae,” he growled back.

“Tell me the truth.”

He growled again….

But said nothing.

“Veil, Ravv. Seriously, what is your problem?”

The man couldn’t conceal his wince as he lifted a hand to rest on my hip.

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