the edge of her jaw, I could see a purple bruise forming.
“I’m sorry.” I lifted a hand to touch her skin.
“I’m tougher than I look.”
But she wasn’t. I’d already hurt her too much—not trusting her, putting her in prison, bruising her.
No more. I’d do whatever it took to never hurt her again.
Imogen
As Killian stared up at me with watery eyes, my panic began to recede. But only slightly. It was one thing to see his energy and magic slowly fade away. It was another to witness him cry out in excruciating pain and seem to lose a sense of where he was. Who he was.
I’d been even more frightened than when the sluaghs appeared in the forest. If Flynn and Ronan hadn’t shown up when they did...
I didn’t even know what. I’d thought I was equipped to help Killian in any way he needed. But I’d been struck dumb, unable to do anything but watch as he curled into a ball.
Still gazing at me, he gently stroked my jaw with this thumb. “I never want to hurt you.”
My love for him expanded in my chest until I was certain I would float away from how it filled me. Before, he’d been precious to me. A friend and impossible crush. But, now? Now, he was air.
Pressing a kiss to his damp forehead, I said, “I know.”
He slid his thumb down my neck and over my shoulder. And...that’s when I realized I was completely and utterly naked. Son of a motherless goat.
I jerked my attention up to Ronan and Flynn, who were both averting their gazes. Not that it mattered now. They’d clearly already seen the goods. And, most likely, guessed exactly what had happened between me and their brother.
Gods. This was embarrassing on so many levels. Ronan had kissed me and slept in my bed a mere two nights ago. And I would be lying if I said I hadn’t imagined being with Flynn for decades.
Still, there was no way I would regret my night with Killian. It was more than I’d ever dreamed of, and nothing would taint that memory for me. Not even my feelings for Flynn and Ronan.
I cleared my throat. “Will someone please get me a towel?”
“Don’t cover up on my account,” Flynn said as he turned just enough to shoot me a wink.
Ronan smacked him on the back of the head before handing me a fluffy white towel with the royal seal embroidered on it. Fancy.
Carefully extracting myself from Killian, I took the towel and wound it around my body. Plenty of skin was still showing, but at least I was no longer completely bared to the brothers.
“I’ll, um, go get dressed,” I said as I quickly headed for the door, not giving Flynn the opportunity to comment further.
As I stepped out, I was hit by the fleeting scent of something rotten, but it was so fleeting, I must have imagined it.
It took longer than I would have liked to find all of my things, but by the time Ronan and Flynn appeared in fresh clothes, I’d dried off and slipped mine on. Knowing my hair would end up looking like a wren’s nest if left alone, I braided it and tied off the end.
Once that was done, I stood against the wall and waited. I didn’t know for what, but I honestly couldn’t think of a single thing to say.
With a flick of his wrist, Flynn made the temporary bed disappear, and the couches were back. I was sad to see it go, but I understood. This was the gathering room, after all. The guys needed to, you know, gather in it.
“Killian’s taking a bath,” Flynn said to me. “I’m sure he would like you to join him, but he needs the rest more.”
Pink tinted my cheeks, and, still at a loss for words, I kept my mouth shut.
Ronan dropped onto one of the couches and stretched out his big body. “We need a plan.”
Flynn took the couch across from him. “What did you have in mind?”
“Given everything we know, who is the most likely culprit?”
I waited for them both to turn to me—out of habit, if nothing else—but they didn’t. I was truly pardoned. Finally.
And I felt...nothing. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. It was just, after imagining this moment so many times, I couldn’t seem to conjure anything more than relief. I was too worried about Killian to experience the elation and vindication I’d envisioned.
“Anlon,” Flynn answered.
“Exactly what I was thinking.” Ronan ran fingers