A Warrior's Heart (Shields) (26 page)

Gabriel nodded. “All right. Let’s get him inside.”

Carefully, all five of them lifted Hugh. He groaned and they stilled instantly.
 

“Slowly,” Gabriel reminded them.

Moving as steadily as a snail they walked into the castle. The narrow stairs poised a greater concern.

Roderick shook his head. “We cannot get him up the stairs without causing more pain.”

Elle came running down the stairs. “Mina has readied the chamber.”

“I don’t think we can get him to his chamber,” Val said.

Elle glanced at Hugh, then looked at Roderick. She gave a quick nod before lifting her skirts and running back up the stairs.

“To the solar,” Jayna said. “We can make him comfortable in there.”
 

Gabriel gave her a small smile as they moved to the solar. No sooner had they walked into the room than Mina glided in behind them.

“Hold him for just a moment,” she ordered. “I don’t want my husband on the cold stone floor.”

Gabriel watched as servants rushed into the room and set up the day bed. More servants came in with blankets stacked high in their arms. Mina, Elle, Shannon and Nicole readied the day bed with blankets and pillows.

Mina smoothed the last blanket and stepped back. “Now you may lay him down.”

Despite being as gentle as they could, moving Hugh even an inch caused him considerable pain. He moaned as they laid him upon the day bed.

“My bag,” Gabriel said as he turned to retrieve it.

Jayna stepped forward. “I thought you might have forgotten it.”

Gabriel reached out and ran a hand down her face. He knew then that he had to tell her his memory had returned. He had betrayed her too many times to continue doing so.

“Thank you.”

She smiled and moved to stand beside Mina.

Gabriel sighed and opened the bag again. His supply of herbs was terribly low and he feared that many he needed wouldn’t be found at Stone Crest, especially with the snow piled as high as it was.

“What do you need now?” Cole asked. “I brought the bandages.”

“Good,” he said. “Once I set the bones, we’ll need to wrap Hugh’s chest.”
 

Jayna had always loved to watch Gabriel heal. Many times he had told her he had no special powers, but she wasn’t a fool. He might know more about herbs than most, but it was much more than that. Gabriel did work magic when he healed. It might not be as great as the Fae’s, but it was still great.

Yet, she saw the hesitation in his gaze. He feared not being able to fully heal Hugh. But she knew just what he was capable of. As much as she hated to admit it, she had come to respect Hugh and the other Shields. With the evil they had to face, they needed every warrior.

It was time for her to tell Gabriel who he really was. She opened her mouth to do just that when Mina gripped her hand, causing Jayna to recall that she and Gabriel weren’t alone.

She swallowed her words and gave Gabriel a reassuring smile. He inclined his head before he turned to the black bag that never left his side. His fingers lightly ran over the many vials and herbs, most she didn’t even know their names much less their usage.

Gabriel’s skill was unbelievable, his knowledge superior to most. It was one of the reasons she had been so devastated when he betrayed her. Of all the people she might have suspected, Gabriel wouldn’t have been one of them. The love they had shared had been strong and their future bright.

She mentally gave herself a shake as Mina’s hand tightened on hers. She clasped her other hand around Mina’s, hoping that she might give her some comfort.

Her gaze followed Gabriel’s hand as he chose two herbs and dusted some of the powder in his hands. He then rubbed his hands together and moved to Hugh’s feet.

“Take his boots off. Carefully,” Gabriel cautioned Roderick and Val. With mind numbing slowness, Roderick and Val tugged Hugh’s boots off. Gabriel raised his gaze to Mina. “I need him bare.”

Mina licked her lips and reached for a blanket that she handed to Elle and Jayna. She then looked to Cole. “Will you help me?”

“Of course,” Cole said and moved to the other side of Hugh.

Jayna held her breath as inch by inch they pulled Hugh’s pants lower. When they reached his hips, she and Elle opened the blanket and draped it across Hugh’s body. She turned to Mina to find her face pale and her hands shaking.
 

Confused, she turned to Hugh’s face to see him moving his head from side to side.

“Let me,” Elle said to Mina. “Take Hugh’s hand and speak to him. He needs you now,” she urged as she pulled Mina’s hands from Hugh’s pants.

Reluctantly Mina released her hold and moved to take Hugh’s hands. Cole gave Jayna a small nod and they began to work on pulling the pants down his thighs. It wasn’t long before Hugh began to moan in pain.

Cole stood and moved away, raking his hand through his blond hair. “Its not working, Gabriel. He’s in too much pain.”

“Take your dagger then,” Gabriel directed. “Cut his pants away from him, but do what you must so I can ease his pain.”

In a heartbeat Cole drew out his dagger and sliced open Hugh’s pants on either leg. Jayna gathered the ruined leather and tossed it aside.

She moved so Gabriel could approach Hugh, and watched mesmerized as Gabriel ran his herb-coated hands over Hugh, starting at his feet and working his way up. Gabriel’s silver eyes were closed and incoherent words tumbled from his mouth.

Everyone held their breath as Gabriel worked up one leg then the other before moving to each arm. Finally, he stood over Hugh’s torso and ran a hand over each hip, rib, collarbone, and neck. Moment by moment Hugh seemed to relax more as if his pain slowly receded.

Gabriel finally straightened, his face pale, lips pinched and hands shaking. Jayna knew he couldn’t last much longer.

“Gabriel,” she called, but he just shook his head.

He reached for more of the herbs to sprinkle on his hands, then raised his gaze to Mina. “We must turn him on his side so I can see to his back.”

“His back?” Mina repeated and swallowed loudly. “Was every bone broken?”

Gabriel sighed sadly. “Just about.” He looked over his shoulder at the other Shields, who quickly moved to Hugh. At his nod, the Shields gripped Hugh and slowly turned him onto his side.

Hugh let out a loud, painful moan. Gabriel didn’t seem to hear it though, as he once again closed his eyes and worked his magic.

Jayna could practically feel the magic from Gabriel as he slowly moved his hands down Hugh’s back. A couple of times he lingered over one spot a little longer and Jayna knew the break must have been significant for Gabriel to take such time.

At last Gabriel dropped his hands and stepped away to sink into a nearby chair. “It is done,” he said hoarsely.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“Is he healed?” Mina asked.

Jayna watched as Gabriel raised weary filled eyes to Mina. “I don’t know. I’ve done the best I can.”

Mina sank to her knees beside Hugh as she began to cry. Jayna moved out of the way as Nicole, Elle, and Shannon comforted her. She turned to Gabriel to see him staring at his hands as if he were wondering if he had done all he could. Without thinking she moved to him and knelt before him.

His beautiful silver depths were filled with fear and doubt. She lifted a hand to his lips when he began to speak. “Shhh,” she whispered. “Do not doubt your skill. You saved him from certain death.”

“Did I?”

She scoffed at him. “Your exhaustion is making you testy. Not another word,” she said as she rose to her feet and poured him a goblet of water from a jug the servants had brought in. She went to hand him the goblet but his hands shook too much for him to take it.

“Let me,” she urged as she brought the goblet to his lips. He drained the entire contents and licked his lips. “More?” she asked, and at his nod turned back to the jug.
 

Val moved to her side. He made as if to pour himself a goblet of ale, but leaned down and whispered, “What is wrong with him?”

“He’s weak. What he did for Hugh took a lot out of him. He needs to regain his strength.”

“Tell us what to do.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Rest maybe.”

Val glanced over his shoulder at Gabriel then turned to her. “Will you take care of him?”

“Aye.”

Jayna wondered at how quickly she had agreed to take care of Gabriel. In fact, it was the perfect time to kill him in his weakened state. Yet, as she glanced at Hugh and the other Shields and their mates, she knew she couldn’t do it. Not now at least.

Maybe not ever
.

That thought nearly stopped her in her tracks. How could she have come from such a revenge-driven life to a woman willing to forgive the unforgivable?

Because you want a future
.

Maybe that was it. She really didn’t know why, and at the moment, didn’t wish to delve further. She held the goblet to Gabriel’s lips as he again drained it. After she set the goblet down, she took his arm and draped it over her shoulder.

“As much as I’d love to take you to my bed, I don’t think I’m up for it,” he mumbled near her ear.

Despite the dire circumstances, Jayna found herself smiling. “As if I want to be in your bed, my lord. Now, on your feet. We must get you to your chamber.”
 

“Nay,” he nearly bellowed causing everyone in the solar to turn to him. He shook his head and closed his eyes. “Not my chamber.”

“All right. We’ll go to mine,” she said as she looked to Val who gave her a nod.

Though she had no idea why Gabriel didn’t want to return to his chamber, she could tell by the way he responded that there was something there he didn’t wish to face.

The Great Evil maybe? Nay, she thought after a moment. If the evil had entered Stone Crest she knew he would have sought her out as well.

She managed to get him to his feet, then staggered under his weight. Suddenly, the majority of Gabriel’s weight was lifted from her. She looked over and found Val on the other side of Gabriel. Together they walked Gabriel up the stairs and to her chamber. She lost count of the many times Gabriel stumbled, his strength rapidly leaving him until they were all but dragging him to the bed.

“I’ll get him on the bed,” Val said.

Jayna quickly moved away as Val lifted Gabriel and tossed him on the bed, not that Gabriel noticed since he seemed to have fallen asleep. She moved to tug off his boots and make him more comfortable.

When she finished covering him, she was surprised to turn around and find Val still in her chamber and a fire roaring in the hearth. “Thank you.”

He inclined his head slightly and his gaze moved to Gabriel. “He’s healed all of us so many times, and each time I watch in amazement as he does it. Yet, today was different. He was different.”

Jayna swallowed and looked away.

“What was different?”

Reluctantly she met Val’s gaze. “I couldn’t possibly know.”

He nodded at her answer. “He cares greatly for you. It’s in his eyes as he watches you.”

“I think you read too much into, my lord.”

“I disagree. Each of the Shields has found their mate in one of the Chosen. Why should Gabriel be any different?”

“Because he deserves better than me,” she answered honestly. “I live my life for revenge, a revenge I must carry out. I have no choice in the matter.”

He stared at her a moment, his pale green eyes sympathetic. “We all have a choice, Jayna. I’ll return later to see how he is,” he said before he turned on his heel and left the chamber.

Jayna sighed as she moved to close the door behind him. Val’s words disturbed her greatly. She knew without a doubt that Gabriel was a part of her, her mate as Val declared. But she also knew that the time when she and Gabriel could have had a future was long past.

Even if she could forgive him for his treachery and betrayal, she could never forgive herself for her hunt for retribution, or aligning herself with the evil that now threatened this realm.

She returned to the bed to check on Gabriel. He was still pale, but she knew rest would gain him his strength. Until then she would watch over him and keep him safe from whatever he feared so greatly in his chamber.

* * * *

Theron waited for Rufina’s response. “Well,” he prompted.

“I think your brain must have been addled recently,” she retorted hotly as she paced the floor in front of their bed.

Theron rested his elbows on his knees and gazed at the spacious chamber. It was easily three times the size of most chambers, with high ceilings and many windows as well as arches that connected other rooms and doorways. The walls where painted a soft shade of blue with intricate knotwork painted in silver and white.

Their canopied bed hung with sheer silver cloth, and a silver bed cover that matched the design on the wall. A small table with two chairs sat before the fireplace. On the opposite side of the room was a table with a mirror hung behind it where Rufina did her toilet.