Rina stood off to the side of Rhodack’s suite while Vikuth and Nielsen placed Rhodack’s body on the bed. She refused to shed a tear in front of the clan. Eyes had been on them as they’d stalked through the lair.

“The healer should be here soon,” Vikuth murmured, coming to stand in front of her.

She jerked her head in a nod, her gaze remaining on Rhodack’s unmoving frame. She was too afraid of speaking for fear that she’d lose it completely.

Rhodack’s battered and bruised body was deathly still. His chest rose ever so slightly, the only sign of life to the eye.

But Rina sensed his heart beating slow and steady.

“Thank you,” she said.

A knock sounded at the door. Nielsen glanced at Vikuth who jerked his head toward it.

“That should be the healer. Stand guard outside. No one is to enter without Rina’s permission,” Vikuth ordered.

“Yes, sir.” Nielsen nodded to her before moving toward the exit.

“He’ll pull through this. He was in his gargoyle form, and that’s what saved him.”

“Do it. Use whatever magic you have to take him out.” Rhodack’s voice echoed through her head.

“He told me to do it.” She tucked her hair behind her ear and glanced back up to him.

“Because in doing so, he saved you.”

“How is he?”

They both turned to see an older man with platinum hair hanging past his shoulders walk through the door. His body was hunched over, and he slowly walked toward the bed. “It’s good he was in his gargoyle form,” the healer muttered.

She walked to the bedside, but Vikuth’s steady arm stopped her.

“Achmu will heal him,” Vikuth murmured.

“Will he be okay?” She needed to hear someone else say it.

The healer stepped around the bed, taking his time assessing Rhodack. He paused on the side of the bed and raised his hands in the air. She watched with baited breath as he mumbled words in a language she was unfamiliar with.

“What is he doing?” she whispered, not wanting to interrupt his chanting.

“An ancient healing prayer. Rhodack’s body will heal before his mind does,” Vikuth said.

Hours seemed to go by while the healer continued his healing chants. Rina took a seat and waited for the small man to finish his ritual. Vikuth had left with the promise of returning to check on Rhodack.

So Rina waited.

Finally, the little man turned to her, appearing satisfied with his chanting. He shuffled toward Rina with a small smile on his face.

“Our clan leader will pull through. I’ve done what I can for his body. It will be his mind that will determine when it is time for him to awaken.” Achmu stood before her and bowed deeply.

“But wait,” she exclaimed as he ambled toward the door.

He paused and turned to her.

She stood from the chair and walked over to him, stopping in front of him. “That’s it? We just have to wait for him to awaken?”

Achmu smiled, the wrinkles in his face deepening. “Yes, m’lady. I have chanted our ritual healing prayers, and we will have to wait for his mind to determine when it is ready for him. He is in a healing sleep. He will awaken when he is fully healed on the inside.”

“How long will that take?” She slid her gaze toward the bed. She didn’t like how still his form was.

“Only time will tell, m’lady.” He bowed again then disappeared through the door before it shut, leaving her alone in Rhodack’s suite.

She blew out a deep breath and walked over to the bed. She sat on the edge and ran a finger along his gargoyle face. Tears burned her eyes because she knew this was her fault.

Her powers were so strong, it could have killed him.

“You’re so brave,” she whispered, still running her fingertip along his hardened face. She was always in awe of the leathery feel of his gargoyle skin. “Even knowing I could possibly kill you with my powers, you refused to just hand me over to them.”

She knew without a doubt that she loved him. Everything about him made him perfect for her. She curled up alongside him, not wanting to leave him. She would stay by his side and take care of him until his mind determined it was time for him to awaken.

Now, her eyes drooped as sleep slowly claimed her.

“My lady,” a voice whispered, breaking through Rina’s foggy dream.

She whimpered, not wanting to release Rhodack’s body. Subconsciously, she knew she was dreaming, but it was just too real. She was pulling Rhodack from the rubble. The necromancers were advancing on her, and she refused to let him go.

“My lady. You are dreaming. Wake up.”

Rina’s body jerked to a sitting position. She was in attack mode, ready to protect Rhodack. Her gaze flew around the room, finding Calista standing next to the bed. Sensing movement, Rina glanced around. Other members of Rhodack’s harem stood in the room. Each of the women had supplies in their hands.

“I’m…I’m sorry,” she murmured, pushing her hair from her face. She glanced down at the still unconscious Rhodack.

“No need to apologize, my lady,” Calista replied.

“What are you doing here?” Rina asked, turning back to Calista.

“Why, we’re here to take care of the clan leader and his mate,” Ajuki answered from her position at the foot of the bed.

“We’ve told you before, my lady, that you and Rhodack are our concern. We’re to see to your every need, and right now, forgive me for saying, but you need a bath.” Manga nodded to her.

Rina hadn’t thought of herself since they’d arrived back at the lair. She glanced down at herself and cringed.

“How long have I been asleep?” she murmured.

“About ten hours, my lady. You must have been drained,” one of the newcomers said.

Rina remembered the three of them as the ones who’d originally sided with Avalena.

Dese, Manea, and Cyan.

She took the three newcomers in, unsure if they were to be trusted.

“I’m Manea, and I know what you’re thinking. You have to believe us when we say that we would never harm the mate to our lord,” the second female announced.

“No, we wouldn’t. Avalena had us believing you were just a new female trying to do harm to our group. We take belonging to Rhodack seriously and just wanted to protect him,” the third one spoke up.

Rina’s gaze flew to Calista.

Could she trust them?

“Yes, my lady. They meant well, and I do believe that they’re sorry. You’ll just have to get to know them as you’ve gotten to know Manga, Ajuki, and me,” Calista assured her. “Now, let us get you cleaned up.”

“What about Rhodack?” Rina asked.

Ajuki came and assisted her from the bed. Manga and Manea disappeared into the bathroom.

“We will give him a bed bath and ensure that he’s comfortable while he’s in the healing slumber,” Cyan said, stepping toward the bed.

The sounds of water running echoed from the bathroom. Rina looked longingly toward the splashing, knowing she needed to get cleaned, but she didn’t want to be gone too long from Rhodack’s side.

“Come, my lady. Let’s make you presentable for when our lord awakens,” Ajuki murmured. Entwining their fingers, she led her from the room.

The smells of lavender filled Rina’s nostrils as she entered the bathroom. Manea and Manga prepared large basins of hot water and carried them from the room.

“Thank you,” she said to Ajuki.

“No need to thank us. This is our purpose.” Ajuki smiled softly.

Rina jumped slightly; small hands reached up behind her and began disrobing her. She turned to find Dese and Calista to her rear.

Sleeping for ten hours should have made her feel energized, but it didn’t. She didn’t have the willpower to argue against the ladies while they prepared her bath and assisted her in.

She groaned and settled in the warm water. Her body was completely healed, and the water helped her relax. She stiffened, sensing two other figures in the water with her.

She opened her eyes and found Calista and Ajuki, naked in the bath.

“Don’t worry. We’re only in here to help bathe you. You’ve been through so much.” Calista revealed the large bathing sponge in her hands.

“Come, let us refresh you.” Ajuki slid in behind her.

Rina sighed and floated in the middle of the tub and allowed the two women to bathe her and wash her hair. She couldn’t hold in the moans of pleasure from the feel of Ajuki scrubbing her scalp clean. Dese prepared clean clothes and readied them on the counter.

“You all are too good to me,” Rina said.

Ajuki poured water over her hair to rinse it. It was because of Rina that their lord was lying unconscious in the bed.

“Don’t say that. Word has spread through the lair about what you did to save Rhodack,” Ajuki scolded her, smoothing her wet hair back, away from her face.

“But my powers were too strong. He told me to do it, but—”

“And because of what you did, he’s now lying in the next room in a healing slumber. Our lord lives because of you. Had you not done what you did, the necromancers surely would have taken him from us.” Calista gripped her shoulders.

Rina stared into her eyes and nodded. Deep down, she knew what they spoke was the truth.

“Now let us finish so we can prepare you for when he awakens,” Ajuki instructed.

They finished washing her, and Dese waited with a large plush towel. They assisted her from the bath, and Dese wrapped her up in the towel. Ajuki and Calista stepped from the tub and covered their bodies with robes.

Dese helped dry her off before offering her a robe.

“Let me comb through your hair, my lady.” Dese guided her over to the vanity.

Rina bit her tongue to keep from mentioning that as a powerful Elf, she could blink and fix herself. But she’d keep her mouth closed and let them pamper her to help kill time until Rhodack opened his eyes.