Desire Untamed (Feral Warriors #1)(65)

Jag headed for the door. "Dibs on Lily."

Tighe lunged after him. "Only if I can't talk her into taking me instead."

Paenther remained behind after the others left.

"What about you, B.P.?"

But Paenther shook his head, the concern in his dark eyes still running deep. "I'll go later. For now, I'll be right outside the bathroom door, if you need anything." His gaze dipped to Kara. "If she needs anything."

Lyon nodded. If the bleeding spell broke through again, he'd need help. Paenther's guilt was nearly as thick as his own. And Lyon had virtually no ability to sense his emotions as he did Kara's.

"Don't beat yourself up about it, Paenther. You thought she was Mage."

"I'm sworn to protect our Radiant. I would have destroyed her."

"But you didn't."

Paenther nodded once and left.

As Paenther closed the door behind him, Lyon leaned back against the tub, in no hurry to move. He couldn't have let go of Kara in that minute if his life depended on it. And once he let go of her, he might never have her in his arms again. Because it had occurred to him, in that stunned instant when the Shaman pronounced her not Mage, that the Pairing might have been right after all.

Kara, conscious now, if dozing, clung to him sweetly, her body slowly warming. Beneath the blanket, he stroked her back as he marveled at the trust she'd gifted him with. Despite all the ways he'd failed her, he felt her unconditional belief in him like a soft stroke to his heart.

He had been holding her like that for close to an hour when she finally stirred, rubbing her cheek against his collarbone. "Where are we?"

He stroked her silken head and pressed a kiss to her hair. "Safe, Kara. We're safe."

"It looks like a bathtub." She stretched and tried to shift her legs, then melted back against him. He could tell every movement was an effort, requiring more strength than she possessed. "Why do we have blankets in the bath?"

"You bled for hours, little one. This was the only place where it didn't ruin the carpets."

"Sorry."

Her apology, so out of place, made him smile.

"I feel gross," she murmured. "Sticky."

"If you're awake, we should get you cleaned up and into bed."

Her grip on him tightened. "Stay with me. Please."

Always, his beast cried. But the man wasn't at all sure the fates would allow it.

"Of course." He kissed her temple, then called for Paenther's help. As much as he hated to release her, it was time he got her clean and warm.

Paenther took her from him while he climbed out, removed the blood-soaked blankets, and rinsed the tub. Filling it again with warm, clear water, he stripped off the rest of his clothes and took Kara back into his arms.

As Paenther gathered up the soiled linens and left, Lyon sank into the warm water with Kara in his arms and bathed them both, Kara more asleep than awake. He loved touching her, loved the feel of her curled against him, and though his body stirred as it always did whenever she was near, no real need built. Both he and his beast were more than content simply to hold her. To protect her. To cherish her.

When he felt her shiver, he knew he'd squeezed every moment he could out of the bath. He dried them both, then wrapped her in an oversized towel and carried her into the bedroom, where Paenther waited.

"Go, B.P. Get yourself cleared. This battle's won."

Paenther nodded and left.

Lyon dressed Kara in the pajamas Esmeria had left for her, then tucked her into bed already asleep. He pulled on the sweat pants and tee shirt that had been left for him and hesitated, suddenly uncertain where his honor lay. He'd pushed Vhyper aside and claimed Kara for his own when he thought her Mage. Now that he knew better, he should back off. Stay away from her.

Yet he wondered now. Had that cantric, and the dark charm still inside Feral House, fouled the Pairing anyway? That was a question for later. For now, he would watch over Kara and keep her safe as he'd failed to do before. As he slid under the covers and pulled her against him, he told himself he was just taking logical precautions. What if the bleeding broke through again, and he didn't realize it? She could bleed to death without him knowing.

He rubbed his chin against her damp, clean hair and told himself he was just being careful.

But deep inside, his beast shook his maned head, telling him he was a fool if he thought he'd ever allow him to let her go.

* * *

Chapter Nineteen

Kara woke with a jerk, terror lingering in the crevices of her mind.

"Shh, little one. You're safe, now. No one's going to hurt you."

Strong, gentle arms went around her, pressing her against a warm, hard body. Without opening her eyes, she knew she was lying on her side on a bed, Lyon's warm scent surrounding her. She tried to move closer to his warmth, but her strength was gone. The hazy memory of something awful lingered still, but she couldn't remember.

As Lyon's strong hand stroked her hair, she opened her eyes and blinked, but all she could see was the dark tee shirt that covered his chest.

She lifted her head to see him. "What happened?"

Her throat felt dry as sand, the words little more than a rasp. Her head was too heavy, and she let it fall back to his arm.

"I rescued you." A deep shudder went through him as his hold on her tightened. "We locked up Vhyper again and brought you to the healer, at the Georgetown Therian enclave."