I scrambled to lift the hem, sighing with relief at the small scratch above my hip bone. It looked to have stopped actively bleeding, the drops that had escaped already drying. It wasn’t a complete catastrophe, a paper cut really, but when I gazed up at Cair to make a joke about dry cleaning, the murderous glint in his eyes would’ve told a different story.

“It hurt you,” he growled, his eyes glowing their supernatural purple. “How could I not smell it before?”

“Cair, I’m alright.” I dropped my shirt to set my hands on his chest. “It’s just a scratch. That guy’s dagger must have nicked me. It’s hardly even bleeding, look…”

His gaze was fixed on the spot as I showed him again, but he wasn’t seeing. “I should have sensed it.”

“You were probably high on adrenaline.” I took a deep inhale, scrunching my nose up. “And to be fair, I can only smell their blood. Which I’m kinda covered in, by the way. It’s literally sticking to me.”

He wasn’t listening.

“Scout ahead to the inn,” Cair barked at Cee, his whole demeanor switching from neutral to protective-mate mode. “Ask for a room on the top floor, offer whatever payment you have to, then meet us at the back entrance. I want as few eyes on us as possible.”

Cee nodded in understanding before disappearing into the trees like a ghost to carry out her orders.

Gary stepped forward. “What do you need from me?”

“Follow behind us,” Cair instructed. “Stay alert.”

He bowed, pulling his hood over his head with one hand and lifting his neck gaiter over his nose and mouth with the other. He drifted into the shadows, not an ounce of his earlier goofiness evident. On the job, he was like an entirely different being, focused and attentive, but I didn’t get the chance to dwell on it as my mate ushered me forward, bending as if preparing to scoop me into his arms.

I took a step back.

“Cair, I’m alright,” I said sternly. “I can walk.”

His jaw clenched, and I knew that meant he wanted to argue but was forcing himself to suppress it. For my sake. I sighed. The emotions coming through our bond were chaos, a whirlwind of bloodlust, possessiveness, and despair. His instincts were going haywire, and I knew they wouldn’t settle unless he appeased them.

Unless I appeased them, as he so often did for me.

It’ll be a long night.

“Okay.” I relented, smiling up at him. “Carry me.”

He was careful, picking me up bridal style as his wings extended to their full span. Within seconds, we were soaring into the air, weaving through the forest toward the nearest inn.

Gary had to run to keep up.

* * *