Page 97 of Tristan
He had no idea what the fuck was happening. But he damn sure didn’t like the way that Tristan was rubbing Nim’s back. Possessively. No. Worse than that. Familiarly. As if he had done it before. A lot.
He pushed himself up, ready to demand an explanation, when he realized that he was completely naked. He hesitated, trying to decide whether it was worth punching Tristan with his dick hanging out. Yes. He took a step forward, it would definitely be worth it.
“You’ll open your wounds.” Rafe’s voice was firm. It made him pause. But not for long.
He opened his mouth to reply, but Tristan beat him to it. “I love her. I’m not giving her up. Not even for you.”
Nim lost her death glare and rested her cheek against Tristan’s chest and, just loud enough to be heard, she murmured, “I love you too.”
He took a moment to look at her. Really look at her. She did look tired and too thin. But she also looked happy. He had seen, for all those years, how she followed Tristan around. While his friend had seemed completely oblivious.
He didn’t know how he felt. It was too much to deal with, and he didn’t have the time. He’d think about it later. After.
He pinched the top of his nose and shook his head as the roll of dread crashed over him. “I need my clothes.”
Rafe shook his head. “You’re still healing. I’ve done what I can, but you’re not ready to get up.”
“No choice. I have to go.”
“Go where?” Nim asked, anxiety threading through her voice.
He stood, wrapping the blanket around his waist. Someone would have clothes. “Back to the palace.”
“Fuck, no.” Tristan’s voice was a rough growl. “We only just got the two of you out of there.”
Nim leaned out of Tristan’s hold and laid a reassuring hand on his arm. “Keely’s here. I’ll get her.”
He shook his head and then wished he hadn’t when the world started to spin.
He had tried so hard to keep them out of it all. To keep them safe. To keep his promises. And look how well that had turned out.
His shoulders sagged. “I need to get back to Alanna.”
“Alanna?” Nim’s voice was confused, but he saw the moment that she understood.
He waited for the questions. The judgment. The outrage. But it didn’t come.
“Okay.” She gave a brisk nod as she got to her feet. “We were going to start planning later tonight anyway, but let’s get the squad. We have to do it now.”
She was out of the tent before he could stop her, shouting orders like a drill sergeant.
Val shook his head, trying to get his head around the idea of his baby sister bossing the Hawks around.
Tristan chuckled at the look on his face, but then he grew serious. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
The conflicted look on Tristan’s face sent a spike of horror through Val’s veins like a shot of black ice. Whatever it was, it was bad.
But he hadn’t begun to imagine just how bad.
Tristan sighed and put his hand on his shoulder. He might have thought it was to support him if he didn’t know better.
“They’re going to hang your princess.”
