The Blood Forest (Tree of Ages #3)(42)

His chewing slowed as he realized everyone was still staring at him, especially Iseult, who was practically boring a hole through him with his gray-green eyes.

Kai swallowed, then met the angry gaze with one of his own. “Have I done something to offend you?”

Iseult stared for a moment more, shook his head, then returned his attention to his meal. Everyone else followed his example, but continued to glance at Kai warily.

He lifted the spoon from his pottage in an attempt to ignore them, then put it back down with a huff. “Could someone please explain to me what in the Horned One’s name is going on? Judging by your speculative glances, you all have some notion of why I woke up fully healed from a near fatal injury.”

Finn’s blush burned even brighter at his words. Why was she blushing? Had they done something horrible to him in his sleep? Was there some massive price to pay for the seemingly magic healing? And what about the scar on his hand?

Finn placed her hands flat on the table, then pushed herself to standing. “Perhaps we should speak in private,” she advised sheepishly.

He sighed, grabbed another egg, then stood. Finn slunk around the table, then led the way back across the common room, her back rigid. Casting a final questioning glance at Anna, he followed. His eyes remained on the stained shoulders of Finn’s shirt, and her recently combed, waist-length hair as she led the way up the interior stairs. Soon they were back in the room where he had awoken, and the silence once again ensued.

Gently shutting the door behind him, he placed his hands on Finn’s shoulders, then gently directed her to sit on the bed.

She obeyed, then studiously stared at her lap.

“Spit it out,” he ordered, staring down at her.

She raised her eyes, her brow furrowed in sudden confusion. “Spit what out?”

“Whatever everyone is avoiding telling me,” he explained, “which I’m assuming has something to do with me waking up with my wound healed, and a fresh scar on my palm.”

“There is much to explain,” Finn began, her gaze returning to her lap, “but to put it quite simply, I mixed my immortal blood with your mortal blood, thus giving you a fraction of my life force.” She met his eyes briefly, then quickly added, “I had little choice, you were about to die.”

Stunned, he sat down on the bed beside her, holding his palm open to stare at the new scar. Finn held out her own hand, revealing a matching mark.

He stared at their hands side by side. “I’m afraid I cannot quite comprehend what you’re telling me.”

“Does it matter?” she asked, her expression pleading. “You are alive and well now.”

He closed his hand and rested it in his lap, then turned to fully meet her worried gaze. “I’m not sure what I should say, or what I should ask, but I suppose I should start with thanking you.”

Her shoulders slumped in relief. He had a feeling there was much she wasn’t telling him, but he’d get it out of her once she was ready. For the time being, he could only think of two important questions.

“Will this change anything for me?” he asked, “Having a bit of your . . . immortal blood?” It was odd to even think of Finn as an immortal being. Rationally he knew she was hundreds of years old, but just being with her, he simply couldn’t fathom it.

“I do not know,” she breathed, gazing distantly at the cold fireplace. “I apologize.”

He nodded, not as worried about that answer as he was about the next one.

He took a deep breath. “Will this change anything for you?”

Her shoulders gave a slight jump, as if he’d surprised her. She turned wide eyes to him, her jaw slightly agape. He had the urge to lift his hand to gently close it, but resisted.

She blinked several times, considering her answer. “I feel the same as I always have, but I’m not sure, really. I believe,” she hesitated, “I believe there will be consequences, but only time will tell what those consequences might be.”

He nodded again, then decided not to resist his next urge. He took her scarred hand in his and gently traced the mark she’d incurred for him. She had resumed looking at her lap, and he finally had to use his free hand to turn her face to him. She still seemed to think he was going to react badly.

He smiled to reassure her. “My thanks, dear lady.”

She shook her head. “Don’t thank me. You may still curse me yet.”

He laughed. “I have cursed you several times already. It doesn’t seem to have worked.”

Finally she smiled. “And I you. Perhaps I’m to blame for your poor luck.”

“Whatever do you mean?” he joked. “It’s not every day a man gets to fight assassins and live.”

She laughed as he stood, then pulled her up off the bed with their joined hands. “We should probably pack up and move on before said assassins come and stab me all over again. I don’t want to push my luck with requiring your blood a second time.”

She grinned mischievously. “A wise choice, as I’d be loath to give it to you again.”

He playfully glared at her, and she tugged her hand free to shove his shoulder.

Together they left the room and went back downstairs to join the others. He was still horribly confused, but there was one thing he now knew for sure. Finn cared whether he lived or died, and that was worth all of the consequences in the world.