Page 110 of Reaper's Quest

She sucked back a deep breath.

I knew what she meant to say. Even after the second child became afflicted.

Winter stepped into view and, crossing his arms, leaned against the doorframe. His attention briefly clung to Kira with a burning intensity then settled on me. “How’s your strength?”

I tensed and stretched my muscles. “Weak and sore from non-use, but otherwise fine, I think.”

His gaze skated over me, appearing to assess everything about my physical state. His focus lingered where I’d taken the most damage at my shoulder and my waist. He then regarded more intimate areas of my body. Where the too-thin material draped over my breasts and stopped at the tops of my thighs.

Despite the desire to cover myself, I held steady. What would have been the point if he’d already seen me naked when he’d cut away my apparel?

“Hungry? I brought fresh produce.” His lashes lifted, and his eyes found mine.

I shrugged with a half grin. As if cued, my stomach growled in response. Hunger did indeed gnaw at me. And thirst.

“Thank you for the supplies.” Camila laid her palm against Winter’s arm, and I couldn’t help but notice the gentle intimacy of the touch or his softening return gaze. “Let me pull something together while the girls finish cleaning this mess.” She motioned to Kira. “Go get the broom.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Kira linked hands with Myla on the way out the door, and the two of them went in search of the broom together.

Before Camilla could slip out the door on their heels, Winter grabbed her arm, his attention zeroed in on a new bloom of blood on her finger. “You cut yourself.”

“It’s nothing.” She shook her head. “Just a tiny slice.”

She started to turn as if to leave, only Winter didn’t release his hold. He slipped her finger into his mouth and sucked the blood away. His eyes trained on her the entire time.

My chest and neck heated, the memory of Chace sucking the splinter from my finger predominating my thoughts.

A tiny sound slipped from Camilla’s lips, and I suddenly felt as if I were witnessing an intimate moment that should have been shared in private.

Camilla’s entire body stilled, and as Winter slipped her finger from his lips, she didn’t appear to breathe. Her cheeks glowed, and Winter’s eyes…

His gaze shifted to me, the recovering patient in theroom. “I believe it would do Raven some good to get out of this small space and move around.”

Camilla yanked her hand to her chest and pursed her lips. “I don’t think that’s a good?—”

“How about you get Raven something more appropriate to wear outside of this room?” He flashed me a conspirator’s grin. “Maybe even outside of this house?”

“What?” Camilla startled then swung her too-wide gaze from Winter to me. “She’s barely healed. Only just woke up. She can’t leave so soon. It isn’t safe.”

I had no idea what might have happened while I’d slept and healed that resulted in Camilla being unusually attached, but it had me wanting to escape to something familiar. Or at least more familiar. The pub, Aoes, even Chace.

I rolled my shoulders. “I have people who…”

The look in Winter’s eyes stopped my words mid-sentence.

Had my stomach just turned to stone?

He dropped his hands at his sides and stepped forward. I couldn’t properly decipher his expression, but if I were to venture a guess, I’d peg his reaction as a mixture of concern and apprehension.

He pressed a gentle hand to my upper arm. “I hear Mr. Aldine has made a full recovery. We can go see him after we get a little food in our bellies.”

Aldine’s better. Aldine recovered.

My heart swelled and warmed at the news.

I silently agreed to Winter’s suggestion, sensing more remained unsaid. More I needed to know. And I would knowwhen we were no longer in the company of Camilla and her children. And when I had more clothes on.

Reluctantly, Camilla left the room and returned a few minutes later with a short pile of folded pieces for me to wear. She set the garments on the bed as well as my few salvaged items, then she grabbed Winter’s hand and dragged him from the room.