The Crow King's Wife (The Elder Blood Chronicles #5)(108)

“I’m glad you didn’t go with him.” Dray’s voice was barely a whisper and she could hear a thickness in his voice that spoke of tears.

“I think I am too.” Zoelyn agreed softly.





Chapter 15





Delvay





Gnawing hunger tore through her as she bent lower over Grim’s body. She could feel the curse eating away her willpower, but she knew Grim was too weak to withstand even the feeblest draining if she gave into the desire. She had managed to stabilize him on the flight home, but there was still so much healing to do. The flesh beneath her hand was far too hot and clammy and she knew she would have to put every skill Dominic had ever taught her to the test if she was going to save his life.

Grim’s hand rose weakly to push her away as he tried to sit up for the fifth time since she had begun removing one of the arrow heads embedded deeply in his side and she had to stifle a curse. On the ship he had been unconscious, but he had woken shortly after they had moved him to a room in House Delvayon and he had been a thorn to work on since.

“I am never going to get this arrowhead out if you don’t stop, Grim.” Zoelyn muttered through clenched teeth as she firmly pushed him flat onto the bed once more.

“Shade.” The name was barely a whisper through his lips, but somehow Grim turned the single word into a demand.

“I don’t know where he is, Grim. I’ve told you that. I promise once I have you patched up properly I will go find him.” Zoelyn sighed. He sprawled under he hands once more, but she knew he hadn’t given up. His fever was so high he wasn’t thinking clearly and he was obsessed with finding Shade. Once he had enough energy to attempt to push her away again he would, which meant she only had a few minutes to remove the remainder of the quills from his side.

“He shouldn’t be alone. Do you know what he did? Do you know how he saved me?” Grim mumbled. He turned his head to stare up at her and the expression on his face was desperate. She had never seen Grim act this way no matter what the situation had been.

“I know he saved you. Syrah told me.” Zoelyn replied calmly as she pulled another quill from the wound. Of all things men used to kill each other the Serpent tooth arrow was the one she despised the most. Each tiny quill that lined the edges of the arrow head was designed to break off on impact and typically they were coated in poison. She was certain the quills combined with the potion he had drunk before the battle was to blame for his current condition. The Heroes folly was a potion intended to keep a warrior on his feet long past the point he should have fallen by boosting stamina as well as natural regeneration. The effect had sealed all of the arrow quills deep in his flesh to putrefy and poison his blood.

Grim’s hand rose once more and pushed at her just as she locked onto a stubbornly buried quill with her tweezers. He tried once more to sit up and she fought back the urge to curse as she lost her grip on the quill. Leaning back she took a deep breath and glanced at the small girl sitting at the foot of the bed.

“Syrah, What would your mother do with a patient like this?” Zoelyn asked in the calmest voice she could muster. Between Caleb’s constant interference and the gnawing hunger of her curse her patience was nearly gone. Much more of this and she was going to strangle the man to speed him on his way to Finn’s door.

“Summon Daddy and have him knock him out so she could work in peace on the wound.” Syrah answered in the same rational voice, but the look she was giving her father was one of stern disapproval. Her tiny mouth was pursed into a tight frown and she shook her head in reproach.

“And what should I do since the unruly patient is your daddy?” Zoelyn asked sweetly. She had known how the child would answer. Evanell had taught her daughter well and it showed in Syrah’s every action. When Syrah spoke it was Evanell’s wisdom in a child’s voice.

“Find him Shade so his mind will be at peace.” Grim snapped before Syrah had a chance to reply. With another grunt of effort Grim heaved himself into an upright position and wobbled unsteadily before dropping his legs over the edge of the bed.

“You can’t possibly believe you are going to be able to stand, Grim. It took two guards just to get you into this bed. You haven’t been conscious more than an hour since you fell in Rivana.” Zoelyn objected with every bit of righteous indignation she could summon to her voice.

“He killed his own Mother. He shouldn’t be alone now. Shade wears his guilt like a noose and this much will strangle him.” Grim’s voice was strained but she knew the look of stubborn resolve on his face far too well. He wouldn’t give this up, either she would have to find a compromise with him quickly or watch him stumble out of the room and most likely to his death. He needed the quills out now to stop the poison.

“Lay back down and let me remove the quills and I will send Dray and Syrah to find Shade, alright?” Zoelyn offered.

“It won’t do any good to send me. Shade isn’t in Delvay. He left the moment the children were off the Spell Hawk, and no one can say where he has gone. Neph has been trying to find him for hours.” Dray pointed out from his perch by the door and Zoelyn had to resist the urge to slap him for it.

“What? How long has he been gone?” Grim’s voice grew hoarse as he struggled to his feet. “Where is my sword? I have to find him.” Even as he spoke his knees were wobbling as if they would buckle, but the man seemed to be too stubborn to admit to his own weakness.