Page 29 of Ash and Roses
I brush back the hair from my eyes to find Quinn on the ground in front of me, the wolf atop him. It sinks its teeth into his shoulder and tears at the flesh as a cry—more frustrated than pained—escapes the prince.
“Quinn!” I call to him. What the fuck is he doing?
“Get back to the castle!” The wolf snaps at him again, but he redirects its teeth.
I take a step towards them, waiting for a clean shot to drive my blade into the animal’s back. There’s no telling if it’ll do anything, but I can’t leave the prince to die.
“Damnit,” he growls when he sees me raise the blade. He kicks hard with his legs, and just manages to get the wolf off him long enough to jump to his feet in an impressively smooth motion. “Run!”
I obey this time, and take off towards the castle. I spot Ruben with two other men near the edge of the forest, and nearly crash into him. “What’s wrong?” he barks, panic shining in his eyes.
“It’s Quinn!” I can’t believe that bastard didn’t take his own advice. I thought he was right behind me.
Panic shifts to concern. “Did he hurt you?” His eyes brush over me as if looking for any sign of injury.
“There’s a wolf! It’s going to kill him!”
First panic, then concern, and now calm understanding. Despite my urgency, Ruben visibly relaxes. “He’ll be fine.”
“How can you say that?!”
He ignores me and turns to one of the men with him. They both look amused, as if their prince getting mauled by a wild animal is a spectator sport. “Can you make sure she gets inside safely? Tess will meet you.”
The man nods and reaches for my arm, but I yank it away from him and hold my ground. “What about Quinn?”
“I’ll check on him if you go inside.”
This is unbelievable. Does no one care what happens to him? It wouldn’t exactly surprise me if they didn’t. I’ve known him all of one day and already I can’t stand him, but no one deserves to die like this. And—despite everything—he did just save my life. Without another word, I turn away from Ruben and storm back towards the castle with my escort following close behind.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
ABBY
My tea has long since gone cold, and sitting still is impossible. Quinn could be dead, and no one seems to care. I can’t help but wonder if that’s somehow my fault. These people are forest dwellers, so of course they’d be accustomed to wild animals. Did I not convey the severity well enough? Perhaps I should have said Quinn’s throat was about to be ripped out.
An image of Teagan flashes through my mind at the thought, and it takes everything to force it back. I can’t cry for her—not yet. My heart slams against my chest in rapid succession and my lungs fight to match it. My breaths come too fast and provide too little air. It only takes a brief moment of gasping to have my head spinning. I’m going to be sick, or worse.
The click of the door opening makes me jump and momentarily halts my hyperventilating as Tess scuttles in. I’d expected to see her with more tea, but her hands are empty. That can only mean one thing.
I leap off the bed and nearly stumble, still dizzy from my reeling insides. “Did they find him?”
She raises her hands in a calming gesture that does little to calm me. “He came back on his own.” She moves to the table beside the bed and purses her lips at the still full cup. “You didn’t drink your tea.”
“I don’t care about the tea. Where is he?”
Her brows crease as she studies me. “He’s in his chambers, but he will see no one. I told him you were uninjured, but he asked me to check on you again all the same.”
“Probably to make sure I’m still here,” I mumble. “If he wishes to know how I am, then he can see for himself. Take me to him.” I move for the door before she has the chance to refuse me.
I thought she’d at least try to argue—which wouldn’t work—but instead she leads me to a stone staircase at the end of the corridor. “Up there,” she points. “You’re on your own if you try to see him now.”
“Does he frighten you?”
“Frighten? No. Quinn has always had a temper. It’s been dormant for a while, but you seem to have a knack for bringing it out. Forgive me if I don’t care to witness that.”
The staircase spirals upwards what must be three floors before stopping at a closed door. Of course he would want to spend his minimal time here in a tower well away from everyone else. It doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.
I bang my fist against the door three times and wait for a response. There isn’t one, though I know he’s in there. If he thinks he can ignore me after what just happened, he has another thing coming. “Let me in or I’ll stay out here all night,” I warn, banging on the door again.