Page 20 of Healing Elixirs & Wicked Crows

Elias reluctantly stood, his chin tilting upward to where my bag hung on a branch above.He retrieved it, bringing it to me as he knelt next to me again."Is there something in here that will help with pain?Are you in pain?What can I do?"

"I think..."I tried to sit up, grunting with the effort.He quickly scooted closer, his hands supporting me with the softest of touches."...that I’m okay."

I pulled my bag into my lap and opened it, peering inside for one of my remedies.More than a dozen scratches marred my skin; my arms, legs, and face seemed to have taken the brunt of the damage.I downed a small vial of my pain reliever, then pulled out a larger jar of medicine that would prevent infection when used to clean wounds.

"Here," I said, passing the jar to him."You can apply it to my wounds.It will keep them clean and provide protection."

He eagerly took the jar from me and the square of cloth I handed him.I remained where I sat while he worked, hissing as the clear liquid oozed into my deeper cuts.He winced every time I made a pained sound.

"I think that's all of them," he said, twisting the lid back onto the jar."Do you think you can stand?"

I stifled a whimper as I prepared to rise, pushing through the pain.Using my knee for support, I pushed to my feet.But when I put weight on my right ankle, a sharp cry escaped, and I crashed down onto Elias.My fall knocked him flat on his back, leaving him staring up at me.

"I think I quite like this," he said, unable to keep that wretched smirk from his lips.

Tears sprang to the corners of my eyes as my ankle throbbed."Quite like what?"I asked between clenched teeth."You like me falling out of a tree and hurting myself?"

His smile fell, and he scooted out from beneath me."What?No!"His hands grasped my shoulders, and he eased me back to a sit on the ground."I didn't mean...Never mind.It's your ankle, isn't it?"

I nodded, worrying my lower lip between my teeth.My ankle felt swollen.We would need to wrap it, but even so, I wouldn't be able to walk far or fast.

"Do you have a remedy for it?"he asked, a flash of hope behind his worried gaze.

"There should be a pale pink cream in one of my vials.You can rub that into the swollen skin, then wrap the ankle.It will still need time to heal, but less than if we didn't use the cream," I explained.

"This will probably hurt some, but I will try to be as gentle as possible," he warned me as his fingers gripped the heel of my boot.

I sucked in a breath and held it, nodding for him to continue.In one fluid motion that was somehow both quick and gentle, he pulled my boot from my foot, baring my swollen ankle to the morning light.It was, indeed, quite swollen.Another tear slid down my cheek, and I turned my face away from him.Whether he saw my tears or not, he didn't let on.He worked to apply the healing cream to my ankle before firmly wrapping it with the bandage.

"It isn't broken at least," he said as he put away my things.

He sat close, his hip against my leg, and his silver eyes held such emotion that my breath caught for reasons beyond the pain of my fall.Warmth spread within me as his gaze, usually masked by snarky remarks, showed unexpected tenderness.

"I think I'm ready to try standing again," I said, looking away from his penetrating stare.

Elias extended a hand to support me as I stood.I could manage if I leaned heavily on my left leg, but the instant I shifted weight onto my injured ankle, pain shot through me, and I almost collapsed.Elias caught me just in time, his strong arms holding me close.He bent to grab my pack, slinging it over his shoulder alongside his own.Then, without missing a beat, he moved forward, leaving the shelter of the tree and venturing deeper into the woods.

When I got over my shock of him carrying me like a child, I exclaimed, "You can't carry me the entire way!"

"I will carry you for a bit," he replied, lifting my arms until they circled his neck."You can hold onto me.It will make it easier on us both."

We walked for a short distance in awkward silence.When I thought I couldn't endure the silence anymore, Elias broke it with an asinine question.

"Have you any males who will miss you during our travels?"

There was something hidden within his tone that reminded me of jealousy, though that made no sense.

"Not that it is any of your business, but no.There are no males who will miss me during our journey."

He smirked."Females then?"

I swatted his chest as I rolled my eyes."No.There was a male once, some time ago, but there's no one currently."

A muscle twitched along his jaw."And where is this male now?"

"He was a man, and he passed away from old age about twenty years ago."I shrugged, not really wanting to discuss my romantic history with this unseelie fae.

Elias, however, couldn't take a hint."How long were you together?"