By first bell in the morning, Kevlin arrived in the hospital wing to check on Jerrik. He had been in critical condition the night before, and the Healers had ordered everyone to leave them alone to work. Now Kevlin entered Jerrik's room, worried about what he'd find.

Jerrik was sitting up in bed. Marjani was feeding him a bowl of soup. He looked pale and weak, but extremely pleased. Indira stood on his other side, one glowing hand resting on his shoulder.

Kevlin drank in the sight of her. She wore her normal Healer's robes, with her long, midnight hair hanging in a loose twist down her back. She stood profile to him, and her face glowed in the early morning light that streamed in through an open window.

The impact that the simple sight of her had over him worried him. He was becoming a lovesick fool. With Tanathos free in the city, he couldn't afford any distraction.

Jerrik glanced up and grinned. "Brothers, come in."

"If Kevlin will get out of the way," Drystan said, pushing past.

Keelin followed Drystan into the room. She again carried the baby in the pack on her back, and smiled in greeting.

Kevlin followed the couple into the room and joined Indira on the left side of the bed. She smiled, and he dearly wanted to kiss those full lips.

Later. Maybe they could slip away for lunch together and actually spend some quiet time together. Their date had been interrupted, but maybe they could salvage something today.

He took her hand, about to ask her if she'd join him, but the touch of her skin triggered an intense desire to force her to give him magic. His hand shook as he fought the unexpected urge to grab her by the throat and demand it.

He closed his eyes, fighting for control. Since he'd beaten the Trembling Madness just yesterday and had his fill of magic, he had expected easy sailing today. He hated how it tempted him to hurt Indira. She was the last person he'd ever hurt. He couldn't allow it.

Indira slipped her hand out of his and retreated a step, her expression pained. "I'm sorry. I can't protect you."

How could he show her he cared, reassure her that he'd keep her safe? He knew so little about magic, he didn't know if his magic would kill him or force him to hurt others around him.

Adalia sat on a stool nearby. He hadn't noticed the petite archer before. "Kevlin, you shoulda sent for me."

"What?" She was dressed in her normal woods garb, and her bow leaned against the wall in the corner behind her. How could she help him with Indira?

Adalia scooped up her bow and held it high. "You shoulda called me ta help last night. I coulda shot them cowards afore they shot Jerrik."

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"You probably could have."

Adalia hopped off the stool and faced him. "Are ye doubtin me?" The look of offense would have worked better if she stood even as high as his shoulder.

Kevlin held up his hands in surrender. "Of course not, Adalia. I saw you shoot in Hallvarr. How could I doubt you?"

"You'd find a way," Ceren said with a smile to lessen the sting of the insult. She entered the room wearing a dark blue dress. Her auburn hair cascaded in loose waves over her shoulders.

Jerrik threw his arms out wide, almost knocking Marjani from her perch next to him. "I'm honored you've all come. We should celebrate."

"Oh, no," Marjani said. "Soup for you, not ale, m'lord."

"Looks like we weren't really needed," Keelin said. "Looks like this young woman has things well in hand."

Marjani blushed, but scooted a little closer to Jerrik.

He grinned at her. "Aye, she was already here when I woke up this morning."

"Well, my lord Jerrik, last night you insisted I take care of you. What do you expect?"

Kevlin moved to the foot of the bed, giving Indira some space. Frustration at his inability to spend time with her stoked a growing anger. Tanathos was in the city, Masego had caused death and destruction, and his brother lay badly wounded. He needed to hit something.

If only it were so simple. Instead, he was forced to fight with tools of magic, tools he scarcely understood and barely controlled. The enemy appeared to have every advantage. Even when he could face them, like last night in the catacombs, the Trembling Madness robbed him of strength in critical moments, and the Tai Pari threatened to destroy everything he held dear.

Kevlin burned the image of the wounded Jerrik into his mind. He would find these hidden enemies, and they would not escape again. They wanted to make this personal, so be it.

Ceren moved to take Jerrik's hand. As she passed Kevlin, she glanced at him and raised one eyebrow at him. She ended up between Kevlin and Indira as she wished Jerrik speedy recovery.

What was that look for? He squashed a surge of irritation. Ceren could be difficult to understand, but she was helping him learn things about his magical dangers that Harafin didn't seem willing to share.

Jerrik took Ceren's proffered hand and thanked her for coming. Then he looked from Kevlin to Drystan and said with a rueful grin, "We made a mess of it, didn't we?"

"It could've been worse," Kevlin said.

"They knew we were coming," Drystan said. "It was a trap all along."

Keelin placed a hand on Drystan's arm. "It couldn't have been, love. Not until we intervened and saved Kevlin in the garden." They shared a look and she added softly, "That means . . . "

"They were watching us," Drystan finished for her.

"More likely they were watching Kevlin," Ceren said. "Probably even before he went to the garden."

"Why did you go there, Kevlin?" Keelin asked.

He shrugged. "I was looking for Harafin, and a servant . . . " He trailed off and frowned as something clicked in his mind.

"What is it?" Ceren asked. She and Indira took identical steps toward him.

"The servant who sent me to the garden, I've seen him somewhere before."

"Where?" Ceren asked, placing a hand on his arm, and leaning close enough to be distracting.

The memory flitting at the edge of his thoughts faded away. "I nearly had it, but I can't remember."

"It'll come," Ceren said. "Trying to force it never works."

"You're the expert at mind games."

She looked surprised, and then hurt, and he regretted the words instantly. He wanted to apologize, to comfort her, but couldn't figure out what to say without making matters worse. Indira stood nearby, and her gaze only flustered him more.

"Tell us when you think of it, Kevlin," Keelin said before giving Drystan a little kiss. "Go, love. Harafin's waiting."

Drystan rolled his eyes and said in a tone of mock annoyance. "Love, we're not supposed to talk about that."

She raised a hand toward him. "Strike hard."

He gripped it. "Leave none standing."

Kevlin followed him out the door.