Page 176 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

Freya

Ansel and Lana were waiting when Brody set me on my feet on Reyna’s front porch. The Old General was beside me in a heartbeat, his calloused, scar-flecked hands reaching for mine where I cradled them against my chest.

“Jesus Christ, babygirl—you broke both your wrists.”

“Got out alive, though,” I said halfheartedly, wincing as Ansel sent healing light into the joints. Whatever they’d injected me with…now that the conflict was over, there wasn’t an inch of my body that wasn’t screaming in pain.

“That was ballsy as fuck, little Wraith,” Brody said, rotating his sword arm.

Soap Boy—aka Jax—stood beside him, eyes locked on me with stern, brotherly disapproval.

“Thanks, Jax,” I breathed.

He lifted his chin.

“I knew I’d been practicing my ragdoll impression for a reason.”

A begrudging chuckle slipped past his lips, but he didn’t say a word—just crossed his bulky arms. The man had tossed me over his shoulder and hauled my ass the hell out of Dodge the moment he reached me.

We hadn’t even made it two steps into the estate before a blonde blur collided with me.

Reyna.

Reyna Gwyne, Queen of Bellaton, buried her face in my shoulder as I hissed in pain and pulled my hands free with a grimace.

“You are one crazy bitch,” she breathed in a rush. “How could I ever thank you? Christ have mercy, Freya Porter, look at you. You’re a damn wreck.”

“Gee. Thanks,” I deadpanned.

“Come inside and sit with the healers.”

When she peeled away, barking orders like a whirlwind, a legion of healers appeared beside the exam room. I stood there blinking, momentarily dazed as I glanced between Brody and my parents.

“You have my sword,” Reyna declared. “And those of my people. My allies as well. I was goin’ to tell you in this week’s meeting, but fuck formality. You’re a psycho—but you’re my kind of psycho. And if Aren trusted you to bring Bellaton home, that should’ve been enough from the start.”

“Reyna!” I gasped.

“What?” she snapped. “You saved my son, Freya Porter. I think that earns my loyalty, don’t you?”

“I saved my friend,” I corrected. Blaz’s title had jack shit to do with it.

“Lucky man, to have a friend like you,” she said, her eyes shimmering. I shifted my weight. If she cried, I might actually die.

“Where is Blaz?” I asked, following her cautiously into the side room.

“Here,” he said, hopping off the counter with a grin. “You came after me,” he added, like it still surprised him.

“Duh,” I grumbled as he crossed the space toward me. “No hugs, please. I’ll squeeze the shit out of you later. Can someone put these back together first?”

I would’ve lifted my arms if I had the strength. Didn’t matter—Reyna’s healers descended at once, and Blaz guided me into a chair as their hands lit up against my skin.

“How’s your head?” I asked, eyes locked on him.

“Good as new,” he promised. “Thanks to you.”

Tingling magic soothed through my extremities. Everyone Reyna had on-hand fussed over me, but my gaze kept drifting back to my soul parents, where they stood with a strange mix of relief and tension. As the bruises and welts faded from my skin, I finally got a clear look at them.

Ansel had…a telescope?