“Yes.” My voice was hoarse from being strangled.
“That bitch is the one who started this, walking in with a dagger and attacking us like it was nothin’.” The man speaking then pointed at Quill. “And that one killed Fang. Just stabbed his sword through ‘em.”
The soldiers glanced in Quill’s direction, then looked back with raised eyebrows. I met Quill’s eyes, the rising and falling of his chest, and the sweat beading along his hairline, portraying just how terrified he was. But instead of them asking Quill questions, they asked the man, “How much have you had to drink today, sir?”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” he snapped. “You all turn a blind eye to injustice just cause he’s one of you!”
“Do you need medical attention?” the soldier asked me, his blue eyes laced with concern.
“No,” I said softly, touching the cut on my face and wincing. “Just a scratch.” I let out a nervous laugh and looked back over to Quill, whose brows were tightly knit.
He was pissed at me, and I couldn’t blame him. I stood as the men involved were arrested and the body of the man named Fang was being dealt with. The soldiers asked if I needed to be escorted home, but I insisted I could make it myself. Then I rushed away, Quill following.
We walked together silently for a couple of minutes, Quill just slightly behind me. Then he grabbed my wrist, whirling me around to face him.
“How could you do something so stupid, Lena?” Quill fumed.
I bit back tears. “I was worried you—”
“Yes, you already said that.” He ran his hand through his raven-black hair. “The first thing I told you when I started to train you was you cannot let your emotions lead you to make poor decisions.” He put his hands on my shoulders, his face just inches away, his honey-colored eyes looking deeply into mine. “I don’t care if you thought I was in there or not. I would have never wanted you to do what you just did—risk yourself for me.”
I crossed my arms, tilting my head as I assessed him. “Would you have done it for me?”
He tightened his jaw. “That is not the point,” he gritted out. “I am well-trained and actually would have stood a chance.”
“So, you’re saying I’m not well-trained?” I challenged.
He sighed, eyes trailing over the fresh cut on my face. His thumb brushed just next to it.
I hated him being angry with me. I just wanted us back to how we were before. His eyes trailed down to my lips, and when they met mine again, they softened.
“I have been training for many years, so even though I am training you well, Flower, it is not enough. Not yet.”
“Are you saying you will train me for years then?”
A slight smirk appeared. It was an effort not to plant my lips on his, but before I lost control, he lowered his hand and wrapped it around mine.
“Let’s get you home and cleaned up,” he said quietly.
We continued the rest of the way in silence. His hand in mine was a source of comfort, yet the feeling gave me so many flutters I feared I'd fly away. I was grateful for it, though. Otherwise, the hum of pain radiating from my ribs might cause me to keel over.
The creaking floorboards welcomed us as we entered my home. Thankfully, Mother hadn’t returned from the market yet. The stinging in my cheek was bothersome but not too painful.
“Where do you keep your first aid? This cabinet, yes?”
“I-I’ll grab it.”
I trembled as I walked over to fetch the supplies. I knew Mother kept the spell book in the same place, and we didn’t need him finding that. If he wasn’t here, I knew I could just heal my cut myself.
I gathered the items and began to take them to the bathroom to clean my face when Quill stopped me.
“Allow me?” he asked softly.
I nodded as he motioned for me to sit on the couch. I gently sat and watched as he went to retrieve water from the sink, mirroring what I had just done for him the week prior. His brows came together as he began to fill the small bucket, the water grazing his fingertips.
“Does it not get warm?”
“We’re in the Outer Ring, Quill. The only time we have warm water is if we heat it ourselves,” I commented as I motioned towards the stove.
