over to him, backing me out of the way. Torin’s entire body had gone limp. With help from Cole, Eli flung Torin over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Torin groaned in pain, but stayed unconscious. I didn’t care how he carried Torin since he wouldn’t remember anything anyway. Eli paused in front of me, his eyes moving over my body, a smirk hooked up his lip. “Nice shorts. Think I’ll want those back later.” Eli turned and headed for the compound.
Already burning on the outside with the oncoming heat, my insides joined in. This was so not the appropriate time, but my hormones didn’t seem to give a crap lately what was proper or not. I kept it to myself seeing him pick up and haul Torin to the cabin completely turned me on.
I act like such a girl sometimes.
Cal buzzed down to my ear, a bemused smile on his face and his gaze on Torin and Eli. “Oh, yeah, girlie, things suddenly got fun.” He laughed and flew off. Simmons followed, both returning to their posts.
“Yeah, fun,” I mumbled to myself and turned to locate Josh.
He stood in the same exact spot, his eyebrows crunched together. He looked vulnerable and preoccupied.
“Hey, Josh. Are you okay?” I moved to him. His gaze lifted. His soft hazel eyes searched mine. The light breeze rumpled his already messy, sandy-blond hair. It was several moments before he nodded and opened his arms. I engulfed him in a hug. “You scared me. I thought I lost you. I am so happy you are here. That you came back.”
“Yeah. Me, too,” he replied and pulled away. “I think you need to tell me what’s going on, and I mean everything.”
“I know. I will explain it all. Later. Right now let’s focus on you and Torin getting checked out. Make sure you’re all right.”
By the time Josh and I got to the cabin, Torin was already confined to a bed, still out cold. Owen was bent over him. Mom and Kennedy sat together on a bed still in their pajamas having been woken up by the entourage inundating their room. Cole stood at the end of the bed. Thara, on the other side of him, gripped his hand tightly. Eli leaned against the wall closest to the door; his attention was upon me as we entered.
“Josh.” Eli nodded to him.
“Eli.” Josh retorted and moved to the farthest wall away from him. Josh had never been a fan of Eli, out of fear or genuine dislike I didn’t know. It looked like nothing had changed. Strange. With Josh’s love of World of War Craft and the fantasy world, you’d think finding out Eli was one of the most feared and ruthless beasts in the Fae world he’d be in awe of him.
Shouldering my way through the crowd, I bee-lined it for the occupied bed. “Oh, Torin.” It was still a shock to look at him. The swollen, misshaped face was not one I recognized. His torture was on my hands. “I am so sorry,” I whispered hoarsely.
“He will heal.” Owen patted my hand. “Slowly, but he will mend.”
“You mean the visual wounds will heal.” The knot in my throat made it hard to swallow. The room grew hot and constricting.
Owen tilted his head, remaining silent. He didn’t want to say it. He was trying to be kind, but the truth was a boulder on my heart. I didn’t know what the Queen had done to Torin. Knowing about his past with her and what she was capable of, it had to be awful, degrading, abusive, and painful. Both mentally and physically, she would be sure he felt the betrayal and transgression he caused her. How could he get over all this?
“He needs to rest.” Owen hinted at everyone to leave. Only Owen, Thara, Eli, and I remained. My need to stay with him was overpowering. My muscles locked, pinning me in place. My heart and body could not leave his side.
“I will stay, too.” Thara’s words sounded like a challenge.
My eyes leveled at her, and I growled.
“Thara, I think you need rest and something to eat. He will be all right while you are gone.” Owen motioned for her to follow him. She held my stare for a few seconds
Already burning on the outside with the oncoming heat, my insides joined in. This was so not the appropriate time, but my hormones didn’t seem to give a crap lately what was proper or not. I kept it to myself seeing him pick up and haul Torin to the cabin completely turned me on.
I act like such a girl sometimes.
Cal buzzed down to my ear, a bemused smile on his face and his gaze on Torin and Eli. “Oh, yeah, girlie, things suddenly got fun.” He laughed and flew off. Simmons followed, both returning to their posts.
“Yeah, fun,” I mumbled to myself and turned to locate Josh.
He stood in the same exact spot, his eyebrows crunched together. He looked vulnerable and preoccupied.
“Hey, Josh. Are you okay?” I moved to him. His gaze lifted. His soft hazel eyes searched mine. The light breeze rumpled his already messy, sandy-blond hair. It was several moments before he nodded and opened his arms. I engulfed him in a hug. “You scared me. I thought I lost you. I am so happy you are here. That you came back.”
“Yeah. Me, too,” he replied and pulled away. “I think you need to tell me what’s going on, and I mean everything.”
“I know. I will explain it all. Later. Right now let’s focus on you and Torin getting checked out. Make sure you’re all right.”
By the time Josh and I got to the cabin, Torin was already confined to a bed, still out cold. Owen was bent over him. Mom and Kennedy sat together on a bed still in their pajamas having been woken up by the entourage inundating their room. Cole stood at the end of the bed. Thara, on the other side of him, gripped his hand tightly. Eli leaned against the wall closest to the door; his attention was upon me as we entered.
“Josh.” Eli nodded to him.
“Eli.” Josh retorted and moved to the farthest wall away from him. Josh had never been a fan of Eli, out of fear or genuine dislike I didn’t know. It looked like nothing had changed. Strange. With Josh’s love of World of War Craft and the fantasy world, you’d think finding out Eli was one of the most feared and ruthless beasts in the Fae world he’d be in awe of him.
Shouldering my way through the crowd, I bee-lined it for the occupied bed. “Oh, Torin.” It was still a shock to look at him. The swollen, misshaped face was not one I recognized. His torture was on my hands. “I am so sorry,” I whispered hoarsely.
“He will heal.” Owen patted my hand. “Slowly, but he will mend.”
“You mean the visual wounds will heal.” The knot in my throat made it hard to swallow. The room grew hot and constricting.
Owen tilted his head, remaining silent. He didn’t want to say it. He was trying to be kind, but the truth was a boulder on my heart. I didn’t know what the Queen had done to Torin. Knowing about his past with her and what she was capable of, it had to be awful, degrading, abusive, and painful. Both mentally and physically, she would be sure he felt the betrayal and transgression he caused her. How could he get over all this?
“He needs to rest.” Owen hinted at everyone to leave. Only Owen, Thara, Eli, and I remained. My need to stay with him was overpowering. My muscles locked, pinning me in place. My heart and body could not leave his side.
“I will stay, too.” Thara’s words sounded like a challenge.
My eyes leveled at her, and I growled.
“Thara, I think you need rest and something to eat. He will be all right while you are gone.” Owen motioned for her to follow him. She held my stare for a few seconds
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