The lighting in the great hall was softer than in the foyer, and immediately the throbbing in her temples eased a little. A faint scent of jasmine wafted around her, sweet, and soothing. Candles burned all around the room, giving it a cozy feel.
Jace carried her across the massive room to a cushioned platform. It looked almost like a low stage with thick red cushions covering the floor. He set her down near the center, then knelt on his knees next to her. “I’m going to have to take some clothes off to assess your injuries. Maybe Stella has a robe you can borrow if it makes you uncomfortable.”
“No, it’s okay. As long as no one else is around, I don’t mind.” It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen her naked only a little while ago. As a dragon, she was used to a certain amount of nudity. Not that she wanted to parade around the house in front of the other men, but baring her body, especially to her mate wasn’t a hardship.
Before he could do anything more, a tall, slender woman with long, blond hair falling in glorious curls down to her waist came in. “I looked at Brycen and Austin’s feet. They were both pretty mangled, but they’re healing,” she told Jace.
“Stella, this is Charlotte, my mate.”
Stella looked at her and smiled. “I wish the circumstances were different, but I am pleased to meet you, Charlotte. How about we take a look at your injuries?”
The woman sure was direct. “Thank you. I don’t mean to trouble you. I’m certain I can take care of my wounds if I could rest for a while.”
“I’m sure you can, but why would you want to?” Stella asked. “Unless I’m mistaken, that’s a bite mark on my brother’s neck. That means you’re clan now. Your family will appreciate us taking care of you as our own.”
At the mention of her clan, every muscle in her body tensed. It was so easy to forget that her brother was responsible for all that had happened. At one time, she would have been the first to defend her brother when people accused him of his evil ways, but not now. He’d crossed too many lines, and hurt too many people, including her.
She looked at Jace, then at Stella. It wasn’t fair of her to put them in harm’s way. If she wanted to have a future in their clan, she had to come clean. Already two of their men had been injured because of her. The least she could do was give them the information they needed so they could decide whether or not they wanted her to stay.
Stella gave her a funny look. “Whatever it is that’s troubling you, it’ll wait until you’ve healed. You’re safe here. The men who were after you are no longer a threat.”
Charlotte shook her head, and for a horrifying moment, her eyes brimmed with tears, but she blinked them back.
“If you’re thinking of bolting, don’t. They can’t get to you here. Besides, where would you go? You told me yourself that you have no home here in Glen Farley,” Jace reminded her. A pained look crossed his face. “If you don’t want to stay here with me, we can discuss it in the morning. Stay and heal until then.” His tone was soothing, but tension made his posture tight.
Just the thought of leaving and never seeing Jace again had her insides clenching. She took a shaky breath. If ever there was a place she wanted to stay, this was it. It wasn’t that she knew Jace that well, but her dragon hadn’t had doubts when she’d bitten him. Not a single one. And he’d been nothing but gentle and kind to her. She had to trust that the beast knew what it was doing, even if she wasn’t quite sure.
“Okay. I won’t go, at least, not tonight.” She’d lay it all out there in the morning and see what his clan had to say. If they were willing to fight for her, then she’d stay.
SIX
Stella didn’t say in the great hall long. He was ready to bet that only part of her reason for coming to greet them was to meet his mate. The other part was to check up on him to make sure he was okay. If he knew his sister, she’d met Brycen and Austin at the door and checked them over, too. At least he and Austin would get a reprieve from her mothering. Poor Brycen wouldn’t be able to move without his mate fussing over him over the next few days. Then again, he’d probably enjoy it.
“Let me take a look at your leg,” he said once she’d gone. He helped her to her feet and unfastened her jeans. He couldn’t help but remember peeling them off her body a few hours earlier. The frenzied mating that followed would be etched in his mind forever. He gingerly pulled them down her uninjured leg, then with even more care tried to slide it down the other, but when she hissed at the material against her skin, he stopped. Without thinking twice, he allowed his hand to transform, then, with a careful swipe, he sliced her pant leg with one sharp claw.