The Blessed Curse (The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 4)(8)

Kadan watched him silently, his dark eyes flickering once to Zyi’s body then back to Neph’s face, his expression still neutral. He shrugged as if the point wasn’t one worth arguing over. “Say what you will about it, Neph, but Father is the one that will determine what is done with her remains, and he sees her as a coward,” The cold practical logic of Kadan’s voice burned through Neph’s mind.

“Why are you here?” Neph demanded. His temper was burning so hotly now he didn’t even consider his wounds anymore. Carefully, he sat Zyi’s body down behind him and turned to face his brother once more. Kadan was older and better trained, but Kadan was predictable in his fighting. If his brother answered poorly, Neph would guarantee he bore the scars for his words for the rest of his life.

“I was waiting for you,” Kadan explained calmly. “Father said you would die. I knew better. Technically, you have accomplished the task he set for you. You have made it back down the mountain, and I can assist you to the healer now.”

“Assist me in burying our sister, Kadan! Do that much and I might find a shred of forgiveness for you,” Neph snarled.

“I don’t seek forgiveness, Neph. I’ve done nothing wrong. You are the one that broke our laws. A coward hangs, you know that, and Ren declared her a coward,” Kadan replied with another shrug his eyes moving past Neph to scan the forest behind them.

“I told you not to call her that,” Neph snarled as his fist slammed into his Kadan’s jaw with bone breaking force. His brother’s attention had been elsewhere, and technically it was a sucker punch, but that didn’t matter at all to him at the moment. All rational thought fled his mind as he hammered his anger into his brother’s flesh. Neph didn’t bother to defend himself when Kadan started fighting back. All that mattered was delivering punishment to his brother. He didn’t care if he was wounded further. It was their fault that she was dead. Kadan had left her to die, and Neph had failed to save her. Both of them deserved to feel pain now.





*





“As stubborn as your mother was.” The voice echoed through his mind from what seemed like a thousand miles away. “You almost died, you know,” The words continued and slowly Neph’s fogged thoughts registered the sound of Kes’s voice. A damp cloth brushed at his face and he lifted his arm feebly to brush it away. “Stop it, Neph I’m wiping the blood from your face. Or what’s left of your face anyway. What were you thinking picking a fight with Kadan when you were already wounded?”

“Get away from me,” Neph mumbled as he forced his eyes open. The world blurred around him, then slowly came into focus. Bright sunlight showed through the window illuminating his room in the Delvay keep. Kes frowned down at him from beside his bed, her hand poised to deliver another swipe of the wet cloth. “Get away from me!” Neph snarled with more conviction and forced himself to sit up. Pain echoed through his body. Every inch of his flesh seemed to be bruised or bleeding.

“You haven’t had a healer, Neph. You are going to tear the wounds back open. Lay back down,” Kes ordered in what had to be her best impression of a motherly voice. Her tanned face was creased with worry and he could see glassiness in her dark green eyes.

“You brought her to him. I saw you in the woods Kes. How dare you even come near me after what happened,” Neph growled. Ignoring her words, he pulled himself from the bed. His knees wobbled beneath him, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to remain upright.

“I had no choice about that, Neph,” Kes said softly. She started to move toward him, then hesitated and shook her head at him. “Please, Neph, lie back down. Lord Delvayon won’t let a healer in to see you, but he says if you live you have passed the trials.”

“Fuck his trials,” Neph snarled, his gaze searching his room for his armor. “Neph, please lie back down. You are hurt worse than you think,” Kes repeated.

“I’m leaving,” Neph informed coldly. Staggering on his feet he moved to his closet and began to shove his travel bag full as quickly as he could.

“What? You can’t be serious, Neph you can barely cross the room,” Kes argued as she moved up behind him and tugged at his arm trying to pull him back toward the bed. She wasn’t forceful, but the little strength she used threatened to unbalance him. Shrugging her off, Neph turned and glared at her, allowing her to see just a glimpse of the hatred he felt. With a gasp she stepped back, staring at him in shock.