Cloud Riders(147)

Lepius could barely hear what Conom said on the phone but the rumbling of his angry tone shook the walls as he spoke, so he assumed Conom hadn’t patched anything up with whomever he spoke to.

Conom pulled up a chair, trying to compose his rage. With those dark pits for eyes, he would frighten the best of them and yet at the touch of her hand, his mood eased. ‘Everything’s fine,’ he lied to her.

Lepius could tell she also knew he was being a little evasive but seemed happy her friends at least knew she was alive. ‘Conom, my knight in shining armour. Thank you, my friend.’ She smiled and his face softened under her gaze. She was playing a deadly game with a man she should not be mucking about with. Could she not see his temper? That alone should warn her about him. At least he had stopped shaking with anger now so Lepius at least felt better she was able to calm him.

He put the needle in her arm and one in her shoulder. He wished he could also jab one in Conom to calm the cranky bastard but thought better of it. He didn’t feel like running at the minute. He sniggered and hoped they couldn’t read minds. ‘I just need a second to let that take effect, Conom. She’s losing a lot of blood so with the pain easing she’ll most likely go to sleep. So don’t go freaking out. Just trust me that she’ll be fine.’

With that, her eyes started to flutter and she closed them. ‘Lepius, do something,’ he growled, and started getting upset again.

‘She’s better being out to it. She’ll feel no pain or sensations now while I stitch her,’ he reassured Conom.

He moved restlessly, agitated, but let him stitch both wounds. You could have cut the silence with a knife. He watched her face and then looked back at what Lepius was doing. Seeing she felt nothing and that her breathing was steady, he settled down.

Bloody hell, he’s like a damned time bomb, touchy as all hell . After he bandaged her up, he removed her bloodstained shirt and a new one just magically appeared. She must have been cold as this one had sleeves and a bit of white fur trimmed around it. Lepius jumped back when it happened. It was the first time he saw Conom smile.

‘She rides the magical horse outside and it can feel she’s cold. Her clothes change with the temperature and mood of the moment.’

‘Well I’ll be,’ Lepius smiled. ‘Never seen that before.’

Conom scooped her up in his arms and sat holding her so gently it amazed him. He could easily see he wouldn’t hurt her in a fit, although he wondered if the ones he stole her from knew that.

‘I think we both need a drink, man. Come back to the palace and I’ll fix us one while we wait for her to come around. It’s okay, she’s not hurting, just sleeping.’

He stood up with her and Lepius transported them back to the palace. Covin was still outside the ward waiting and came back with them. Even though Conom was an old friend, Covin would trust no one around his king, especially one so twitchy. They both watched with interest as Conom carefully sat with her in the armchair and brushed the hair from her face.

‘She’s very beautiful, Conom,’ Covin said. ‘Not your type at all or am I missing something?’

Conom looked up and frowned. ‘She’s taken and very happy but he’s a bloody idiot and does not deserve her.’ He started to get angry again.

Lepius passed him a few stiff shots of whisky in a glass that he drank down in one quick gulp. He was sure it hardly even touched the sides. Conom passed him back the glass. ‘Shit, I needed that. Thanks, doc,’ he said, sounding a little more human. ‘She’s a fast healer, doc. It’ll only take a couple of days. I wonder if I could stay here with her just until she gets well. I need some time to work through some issues and need a safe haven to do so.’

Lepius knew it wasn’t right what he was doing, but she looked no fool and it was better he were here with her where he could control any dangerous outcomes and at least give her some form of protection rather than send them to God knew where, then worry himself sick what he might do to her if she woke and wanted to go home. That was going to be an interesting scenario. Would he be so easily swayed by her demands then? The way he acted, he doubted if God Himself could prise her from his hands in the emotional state he was in.

‘Not a problem. I’ll have a couple of the guest quarters upstairs made up for you both,’ he said, already making up his mind that he would organise for her to have the room next to his. At least he would hear if Conom did get a bit frisky with her. He took Covin aside and explained his plan. Covin went out to organise it with the servants and Lepius watched as they hustled double-time up the stairs to get the rooms ready.