throat, mind racing for ways to get out of this. Why wasn’t Auro bursting in, sword at the ready —?
The door slid open softly, the knob tapping the wall. Jamie almost fainted with relief. Even though the delicate tap sounded more like a bomb, her shoulders still slumped.
“Lyne, I must speak to you.”
Auro floated into the room, eyes like frost as they drifted over her. She wrapped her arms around her waist, avoiding his eyes. There was such hate, such aberration in them. Jamie was grateful that he had come in when he had, though. A second later and Lyne would have been over her in a heartbeat.
Lyne reluctantly dropped his arm from her shoulder, turning liquid crimson eyes his way. Jamie almost gagged when Auro stepped forward to place a gentle hand on his chest, his intent clear. Lyne’s features changed dramatically.
“Ivan,” he snapped, though his eyes held his brothers. “Take her to Talon.”
A large hand came out of nowhere, latching onto her arm. She went willingly, turning away from the passionate brothers. Her stomach churned as he took her from the room.
“You’re lucky you aren’t dead right now,” he hissed at her ear, hand wrapping around her arm impossibly tight. She held in her wince, turning her chin up at him.
“You’re lucky you can still have kids,” she returned quietly, the steel in her voice only making him incensed. He yanked, dragging a groan from her as the throbbing in her shoulder returned.
“Just wait until that man is done with you,” he sneered, raking his eyes over her body. “There won’t be much left.”
Jamie swallowed, not replying.
The room she was pushed into several minutes was the same as the one she had been in before. Expansive cream walls were the same, the carpet as spotless as it had been. The only thing wrong was the bed. Laying on the spread, still as stone, was the man. She tried to remember what Lyne had called him, but shrugged it off when she saw him move.
Ivan left, slamming the door behind him.
Relief coursed through her. She forgot about the danger he possessed, how he could — and probably would — snap her neck. If Jamie was going to rely on him to get them out, then she might as well take care of him.
Her feet carried her to the bed, a feeling of deja vu coming over her. She could see herself, an apron clutched in her hand, soft leather shoes tipping over the floor as quietly as she could... He was there, laying, armor next to the bed. His hand was holding his head, a day's growth of stubble making him look like a rogue.
The site of dark red blood snapped the vision from her mind. Her cheeks flushed brightly. It had almost seemed as if they were man and wife, close as no other could be. She shook the feeling off, sitting on the bed. His back, bruised and damaged, was to her, his bare legs drawn to his chest.
As Jamie stared at him, her heart started to break.
She bit her lip, noticing his head wasn’t even on a pillow. His skin was dark, scarred, rough-looking. Hand shaking, she started to reach for the pillow closest to him, her other hand slipping under his neck.
At the light touch, her breath stopped. Not because it was frozen cold, or because it was so thick, but because of the sharp tingles that ran up her arm. Jamie stared down at him, confused, frightened, but still lifted his head up.
She peered over his shoulder, her suspicions confirmed. He was asleep. Feeling braver now that he was unconscious, she stood and tugged the heavy duvet back, pulling it from under his body.
Slowly, Jamie covered him with the blanket. Immediately, shivers had him convulsing. And still, he was asleep. She hoped so, at least. She stared around the room, at the door in the corner. Going to it cautiously for reasons she didn’t know, Jamie pulled open the door.
A grin lit her face as she looked at the bathroom. Towels were stacked in the corner, a large bowl placed near the sink. Jamie peered into the bowl, a smile lighting her face once again. Flower petals. Dumping the petals into the sink, she turned the water on hot, grabbing a towel. She had never taken care of someone like this. Her mother had always been there for her, and had relied on no one through her hardships. The only person she had taken