shrank down into a tabby cat. Still crying, Gabby pulled the cat into her lap.
The pressure in Maeve’s head was making her see stars. And now there was a rushing noise thundering in her ears, making it hard to hear.
“Why do you all look so sad?” Nevis’s voice sounded as if it was coming from the end of a tunnel. “The Chameleon is dead. Cahira’s dead.”
“And we’re alive,” Leo announced as he and Silas strode into the room.
“Thank the Light!” Nevis grinned as he shook Silas’s hand and gave Leo a thumbs-up.
Brody sighed as he remained sitting on the floor. He gave Maeve a sad look. “I know you’re upset. I’m sorry.”
She opened her mouth to reassure him, but couldn’t manage to talk.
“What’s there to be sorry about?” Nevis asked. “We won!”
Brody shook his head. “We’re still cursed. Gavin will be a cat. And I will be a dog. Until we die.”
As Gavin let out another howl, Maeve lost her struggle, and everything went black.
Chapter 26
Brody didn’t know which was worse—the pain of having his wounded thigh cleaned and stitched or the fear that Maeve was avoiding him. Had she given up on him?
His allotted time to be himself was almost used up for the day, so where was she? The last time he’d seen her, she had fainted in the throne room. Had the shock of knowing he was cursed for the rest of his life upset her so much that she’d lost consciousness?
Nevis had helped him limp back to his bedchamber, and now Ruth was torturing him while Nevis enjoyed it. Damn him.
“You’re sure you don’t want more wine?” Nevis asked.
Brody shook his head and gritted his teeth as Ruth made another stitch on his thigh.
“I could knock you out.” Nevis pretended to clonk him with the end of his knife. “I’ve had plenty of practice today.”
“Where is Maeve?” Brody ground out. “Is she all right?”
“She’s fine,” Nevis assured him. “Silas carried her to her room.”
“And I checked on her,” Ruth added. “I’m sure she’ll be waking soon.”
Brody sighed. Poor Maeve. In a week’s time she’d discovered and lost both her parents and found herself saddled with a cursed lover. At least the Chameleon was dead. The Embraced army, defeated. After Alfred had been killed, the rest of the soldiers had gladly surrendered. Nevis had spent the last ten minutes describing everything that had happened outside the castle. He was in jolly spirits after learning that Leo, Rupert, and his father had all survived.
The door swung open, and Brody lifted his head to see if it was Maeve. With a groan, he dropped back onto the pillow.
“Brody!” Elinor ran toward him. “I heard ye were injured.”
He hissed in a breath as Ruth made another stitch. “This is the least of my problems. I’m still cursed—”
“We don’t care!” Elinor interrupted him. “Don’t ye dare use this as an excuse not to come home.”
“No one wants a canine king!” Brody shouted. “Damn!” He jolted when Ruth poured more liquor on his wound.
“I wouldn’t mind a dog king,” Nevis said.
“No one asked you,” Brody growled.
Nevis nudged Elinor. “His bark is worse than his bite.”
“Sod off!” Brody yelled. “You find this is amusing? Did you hear Gavin howling? And Gabby crying? Shit, Maeve was so upset she fainted!”
“I know it’s crappy!” Nevis shouted back. “That’s why I’m trying to cheer you up!”
“It’s not working!” Brody’s heart tightened in his chest. “You think I’m upset for myself? It’s Maeve I’m upset for. She’s stuck with a dog for the rest of her life.”
Elinor sighed. “She loves you, so she won’t mind.”
“She shouldn’t love me.” Brody fought back the tears that wanted to come. Dammit. “Check on her, Ellie. Please. I’m worried about her.”
Nevis pointed toward the adjoining door. “Her bedchamber’s right there.”
“Oh.” Elinor gave her brother a wry look. “That was convenient.”
“Sly dog,” Nevis muttered, and Brody threw a pillow at him.
Elinor gave Nevis a smile before strolling over to the door and going in.
“I saw that,” Brody grumbled. “Don’t even think about courting my sister.”
“Don’t take your foul mood out on me,” Nevis told him.
Elinor rushed back in. “She’s not there!”
“What?” Brody struggled to sit up, but Ruth gave his chest a push.
“You’re not going anywhere,” the old woman ordered. “You’ll tear the stitches. Now lie still while I put a bandage on you.”
With a frustrated groan, Brody lay back down. “Find her, Nevis.”
“Don’t worry,” Nevis assured him. “She can’t be far.” He headed for the door.
“I’ll go with you.” Elinor linked