“No.” Jo shifted closer. “I never should have left her.”
More anger churned in his gut. He was sick and tired of this. They used her talents but acted shocked when Najja got injured.
If only you would le
t me, Najja, I would protect you forever.
“She never should have been in that situation,” he bit off, his rage boiling perilously close to the surface.
“No, she should not have.” Jo’s immediate agreement amazed him. “She is my sister, I love her so much…if…if she dies--”
“Enough,” he growled, unwilling to have that talk around Najja.
Teeth clamped on his lower lip, he reached out to the exposed arm and hand lying on the outside of the thick blankets. The white bandages cut through the continuity of dark skin. Sliding his hand beneath hers he tried to will her to come back. Hell, he’d settle for any movement.
He remained there until Jo finally succumbed to an exhausted sleep. Standing, he removed the sai from her hand, set it on the dresser, and covered her with another blanket. Loud voices reached him as he exited the room and he ignored the fact this wasn’t his home and went to investigate. The constable had arrived and Colin got to see the only two left alive. A large man and a younger one.
“Are you sure, Lord Adrys?” the constable asked.
Hayworth stood with his wife looking positively nauseous. “Yes, he may be her son but he tried to kill my family. I want her arrested as well.”
“And the one who killed his men?”
Adrys wrapped an arm around his wife. “Dead.”
The man stroked his moustache. “Anyone else to corroborate the claim?”
“Me,” Colin said, making his presence known. “Earl of Clifton. My boy was saved as well.”
“My lord,” the man replied. Colin acknowledged him with a brief nod. “Is there anything else I can do for you Lord Adrys? Lord Clifton?”
“Just pray my daughter survives.”
The man hesitated. “Forgive me, my lord. I thought your daughter was safe.”
“One was. One was injured. Get these men out of my house.”
The condemned were led out and as the butler closed the door behind them, Hayworth glanced back at him and Colin felt like part of the family.
“Jo still with her?” Honoria asked.
“Yes, my lady. They are sleeping. Pug included.”
Her smile shook but she gave him one. “I think we are past you being so formal with me. Honoria is fine.” She gave him a hug and whispered, “Do not give up.”
“Get some rest, Colin,” Adrys said.
He nodded and followed them up the stairs, even though he didn’t believe there would be any rest for him this night. Najja was his final thought before sleep claimed him and the first when his eyes popped open the next morning.
Going to Pug’s room, he found the bed empty. A spear of panic hit him before he calmed. Making his way to Najja’s room, he slowly opened the door and peered in.
Pug and Jo both were there. Jo stood over a basin rinsing a cloth and Pug…well, he’d moved the chair flush to the bed and sat on his knees in it. The boy whispered in her ear and Colin felt as if he were an intruder.
Colin entered and closed the door behind him. They glanced briefly at him before attentions reverted back to Najja. Jo met him as he neared the bed. Beyond her, he saw Najja’s belt whip on the top of the dresser, residing beside the sais.
“How is she?” he asked.
“No change.”
“Have you eaten?” She shook her head. “Go eat. I will stay with her.” Refusal seeped into her baby blues and he reiterated his order. “You do her no good ill yourself, Jo. Take Pug and eat.”
“Come along, Pug. We need to eat.”
“Najja will be alone then.”
“I will stay with her,” he assured the lad, having zero intentions of leaving her side.
“Wipe her ’ead and talk to ’er. She can ’ear us.”
He cracked a small smile at the protectiveness in Pug’s voice. “Got it. Go eat.”
He sighed heavily when they left and the door closed behind them. Readjusting the chair Pug had been in, he sank down.
“Good morning, luv,” he said, stroking a hand down her face. “Time for you to wake up.”
Nothing. Her chest barely rose and fell with her shallow breaths. Scooting closer to her head, he leaned down and whispered in her ear, “I love you, Najja. Please come back.”
Those words were true. He knew that now. However, there was still no response. By the time Jo and Pug made it back he was pacing the room just so he didn’t crawl in the bed with her.
“Everything okay?”
He paused by the window and stared over the snowy landscape. “Yes. No change. Come on, Pug. We need to get home.”
Immediately, he noticed the refusal in his posture. Crossing to him, he waited until the boy looked up. “We will come back but we have things which require our attention.”
Pug worried his lip before he seemed to realize there was no negotiating this. “Very well.”
Jo walked to his side and wrapped her arms around him. Colin returned the gesture, understanding they both needed the quiet reassurance. When they parted, Jo headed to Pug and Colin returned to Najja’s side. Over and over, he replayed the final kiss they’d shared in his mind. Under the open sky, the cold air around them, breathing in her addictive sensual scent and the feel of her lips on his.
“I will be back, luv. I expect you here and awake when I do.” He ran his thumb along her lower lip and spun on his heel before leaving the room.
Lord Adrys met him at the door. “I called up a carriage for you.”
“Thank you.”
Adrys’ smile was strained. “I will have that room made up for you, should you want to return.”
Not even hellfire would keep him away. “See you upon my return.”
They headed to the door. The horse he’d ridden here upon was tied to the back. Once in the carriage, he ran a hand over his face and found it shook.
“Najja is real good at killing.” Pug stated, staring out the window.
His eyes jerked open at that statement. “Yes, she is.” He looked at Pug but the boy remained with his eyes watching the passing scenery.
“Aside from you, no one has ever protected me ’afore.” Pug settled on the seat beside him. “I want her better.”
“Me too, son, me too.”
“Can she stay with us?”
Yes!
Propping his feet up on the other seat, he weighed his words. “Stay with us?”
“Yes. When she gets better. You have lots of room and…I know you like her. I saw you two kissing at the fireworks.”
“You saw that, did you?”
“Yes. You are ’appy with ’er.”
Not words to dispute. “We should focus on her getting better first.”
Back at his home, he filled in his mother and Trystan on what had occurred, then he took a bath and headed to the study. An hour later, he realized his concentration was worthless.
The wind howled as he headed to the stable, the acrid bite no matter. As he saddled Salvage, all he heard was his heart. And each beat said, “Naj-ja. Naj-ja. Naj-ja.”
Chapter Eighteen
The darkness slowly retreated. Every inch of her felt aflame. From the light she heard a comforting and soothing sound. But she was tired, she was so tired.
Must protect Jo!
The warning exploded through her head and she fought to react, only she could do nothing.
Where are my weapons?
Fingers flexed but didn’t encounter leather wrapped steel. No, it was cloth.
I do not understand.
She opened her eyes to find herself lying in a bed. The room slowly came into focus and seemed familiar. Kittle Manor. Sliding her glance as far as she could to the left without moving her head, she located the sound that filled her with calmness.
Seated near her head sat Colin. The noise she’d heard was his deep, sensual voice as he read aloud. She stared at his lips until her eyes burned and she just allowed them to drift shut. A feeling of contentment and safety covered her, warming her more than the blankets she lay under.
The next time she woke, she heard hushed voices. Colin and Jo. She still felt so tired and again the pain remained but she accepted it. The familiar voices lulled her back under.
A prickle of warning snaked along her spine and she reacted. Her hand was clasped in a strong grip, one which gentled immediately.
“Welcome back, luv. I can say I am glad you did not have a weapon in reach.”
Colin stared at her, his eyes burning a fierce green. His hair fell unconfined around his angular face and she noticed the gold hoop hanging from one lobe.
It took her several attempts to force words past her dry mouth. Panic seared through her when he began to shake his head no. Had hearing Jo only been a figment of her imagination?
“I do not speak that language, luv. Say it again in English.”
She thought she’d been speaking English. She tried again. “How are the Adryses? Are they all safe? And Pug?”
He pressed his lips to the back of the hand he held. His gaze softened as he continued to hold her prisoner with both hand and eyes.
“Everyone is safe.” Colin leaned closer, his mouth so tempting. “You scared me, luv.” A feathery light brush of his lips along the corner of her mouth. “I never want to be that frightened again.”
It didn’t matter how touching his words were. Nor did it matter that she had so much to tell him, for the door opened and Jo’s scream shattered the world they’d shared.
She experienced the loss of his touch immediately. Jo’s face replaced Colin’s only to be joined by her parents. Glancing at the three hovering faces, it tore deep to realize the one she longed to see wasn’t there. Movement by the door drew her attention. Colin stood there, already part way out.
Stay!
She wanted his hand holding hers, his touch along her skin.
His ever-changing eyes smoldered and this time it wasn’t loneliness she felt deep in her gut. She felt marked by a predator. When the door closed behind him, she knew he would be back. Knowledge that relieved her stress.
Jo helped her to the chamber pot considering she was too weak to stand without assistance. Feeling better and dressed in fresh bandages along with a clean nightdress, she was propped back up in bed, care of her back injury taken into consideration.
Jo sat next to her father, while Lady Adrys made a concoction for her to drink. She didn’t argue, knowing it would hasten her healing. “How is Fineas?” she asked when the cup had been drained.
“Fine,” Jo informed her.
“How long…” Najja trailed off.
“You have been out for a fortnight,” Lord Adrys said. He sent a look to his wife and daughter. One that sent them from the room without a word, although Jo did glance back before slipping out.
Hayworth dragged the chair near and sat again. “I know the words are not enough but, thank you.” She reached for his hand and squeezed it gently. There was nothing to be gained by making him feel worse.
Over the next few weeks, Najja got herself up and moving, refusing to let her body remain weak any longer than necessary. Both Colin and Pug stopped by on occasion to see her, days she enjoyed very much. One morning, she stood in front of her mirror and stared at her new scars. The one on her back reached to the faded scar from the leopard attack. Each day she grew stronger and it was with a heavy heart she sought out Lord Adrys in his study.
“Najja,” he said.
Lord Adrys stood as she entered the room and retook his seat after gesturing her to one. Only she didn’t sit. She remained on her feet before the desk, hands clasped before her.
“Everything okay?” A knock interrupted them. “Enter,” Adrys barked.
The butler entered and said, “Excuse me, my lord. A Mister Wilkes is inquiring if Miss Najja is home.”
That got her attention. She remembered Trystan Wilkes, Colin’s friend. And a man she’d seen before in a different place and time. A lifetime ago. She glanced from Adrys to Fowler and back, waiting for permission.
“Go talk, we can continue this later.”
“Yes, my lord. Thank you.” Rotating around, she followed Fowler from the study where he closed the door behind them and guided her to the receiving room.
Last t
ime I was here, Colin’s mother waited for me.
The butler gave her a slight smile before opening the door for her. Trystan took to his feet when she entered from where he’d been sitting near the blazing fire. He offered a bow and as she curtsied she took in his appearance. Trystan was a handsome man, much more so since he cleaned up from the scruffed man he’d been the time she’d been reacquainted with him at Falcon House.
Today he looked like a well-off son of a viscount. Handsome enough with his brown hair and aristocratic features. There was this look about him that belied the rakish air surrounding him.
“Something I can do for you, Mr. Wilkes?”
“I hope so.”
He drew nearer and despite her wish to remain further apart she held her ground. Trystan halted and stared down at her. She barely glanced at the facial scar which traversed one side of his jaw line. It added an air of danger to his aura. Scars were badges of honor to her. Marks of having lived. She waited, eyes upon his blue ones. When he paused she detected slight hesitation.