Page 120 of Reaper’s Curse

“Let’s cut the territory bull. I can make my own decisions. I knew healing Earl would exact a toll, but I wanted to do it, so I did. I shall now deal with the consequences.”

She grabbed Earl’s shoulders and squeezed. “I’m so happy I was able to help.”

Earl tipped his head forward, and Raven did the same, pressing her forehead to his. She gave him a soft pat on the cheek, then pulled away and pushed free of the group. Leaving me, Winter, Earl, and Aoes ogling at her back, Raven made her way across the pub, angling for the bar.

“She should be in bed,” I mumbled.

“Definitely.” Aoes nodded and turned toward Winter. “You shouldn’t have let her come.”

Winter worked his tense jaw, but before he could respond, a crash boomed through the pub.

I sprang into action before I even processed what had happened. Raven had collapsed, crumpled on the floor, and I needed to get to her. My mind raced through an endless supply of scenarios—the causes and possible cures for her current state—and I came up empty. Frost swept through my soul, helplessness igniting in every cell of my body.

Gathering Raven to me, I lifted her in my arms and made way for a room and bed on the upper floor.

I pressed my lips to the top of her head and whispered, “We’ll figure this out. Get you better.”

“Lucas told me not to come,” she said, her voice weak and garbled.

Lucas? Who the reaping hell was Lucas?

“She needs a healer.” I shifted, glancing back at Winter, Aoes, and Earl.

They stared after me with expressions projecting concern and sorrow. I wouldn’t give their doubts any leverage. Not long ago, I had been injured and worn, and I had pulled through. I’d been helped by…

“The girl,” I blurted. “The healer girl. We need her here now.”

“Kira?” Aoes blinked. “Yeah, she could⁠—”

“Camilla’s youngin?” Earl questioned, talking over Aoes.

Winter stepped forward and commanded everyone’s attention. “I assume retrieval is tasked to me. I’ll have her here as quickly as possible.”

He pivoted and strode for the door.

I called after him, “When you get back with the girl, after Raven has been attended to, you’ll show me where you left that glove.”

Winter whirled around. “I dropped it on the table right in front of you. Are you saying you lost it?”

“I didn’t lose it,” I snapped. “You did.”

Winter snarled, then marched from the pub without another word.

I didn’t linger to judge Aoes and Earl’s reactions. Nor did I allow myself to entertain how satisfying I found Winter’s absence. I needed the prince to return quickly, with the child healer in tow.

Pouring all my focus upon Raven, I carried her upstairs and found a clean bed in which to make her comfortable. She moaned and groaned with each slight movement. Her vocalized pain clawed at my resolve, and my heart, as I laid her across the mattress, covered her with blankets, and fluffed the pillow beneath her head. A dash to the bathing room and back armed me with a moist cloth I used to dab at the sweat lining her brow.

The question, Who the devil is Lucas? played on the tip of my tongue, but in her current condition, I refused to bother her with unnecessary matters. I remained silent and vigilant, cooling her skin with the cloth.

“Chace?” Her lashes fluttered, and her hand rose, finding and caressing my own.

“I’m here,” I whispered. “I’ve got you.”

Her lips parted, and her gaze dipped over me, her hand releasing mine and gliding like a petal through the air, straight to my chest. My body stilled, and my heart double-thumped.

“Promise?” Her fingers grazed across the line of my collar, and I bit back a groan.

What was she doing? She wasn’t well and needed to rest, and I should stop her, but…