Alistor

I pet through her hair, lying down beside, her propped up on one elbow. I was worried. Her breathing was irregular and labored. She was sleeping soundly at least. The pain was hopefully not bothering her there. She looked so fragile right now.

I clenched my jaw. How dare our own brothers-at-arms hurt her? She had jagged cuts all up and down her arms turning dark purple- demonic poison. I remembered it from when she had been branded as a blood traitor. I ran my hand gently down her cheek. Was this how she felt when she had almost lost me to Cal that one night? Like her heart was being ripped from her chest and torn to pieces in front of her eyes? No reason she had been so upset with how I had reacted when I woke up.

"Don't you leave me, Eveline," I whispered.

If I could marry her, I would. This event made me realize more than ever how much she meant to me how much my life would lose without her. Eve. I had had several relationships before her, but they never meant as much as her. No one had made me fear rejection more than her when I had told her all those years ago. If it wasn't for her maid, I may have never asked her.

Her clothes were all muddy, her face bruised and cut. Her one eye was puffy as well as all the cuts up her arms. I didn't know the extent of the damage to the rest of her, but whoever did this would pay. I brought her right hand to my mouth and kissed her knuckles to see they were bruised and cut. Oh my mouse. She had tried to fight. If I ever found out who did this, I would kill them myself. What didn't make sense to me was that she wasn't healing even a little bit. That wasn't like her at all. Perhaps the poison slowed the healing properties of her blood?

I looked up to see Sebastian standing in the doorway looking out towards the streets. The way he held himself, I could tell he was on edge. He was very protective of Sasha.

"I should have gone as well," he growled. "If he gets her hurt…

"They'll be fine. Sasha is quite resourceful as is the prince," I said quietly. He looked at me, his frost eyes shooting icicles.

"I know she is. I just don't trust him."

So it wasn't only Eve didn't trust him. I didn't think he was a bad guy. Just… jaded. He seemed like someone who was running from his past not someone who would hurt any of us. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe they were right. I wasn't going to judge yet.

"Why?"

"Sasha seems torn," he growled. "I left my cave for her. Saved her twice. And then he sweeps in and is more mysterious and more brooding. Why do women go for that?"

I tried not to laugh.

"Eve isn't that way. I'm the quiet, sensitive type."

He growled. "You're lucky then … for now."

I sighed, turning my attention back to Eve. I got up grabbing a rag and headed out; I placed snow in it and tied it inside before returning back to Eve's side and gently resting the wrapped snow over her puffy eye. It would bring down some of the swelling.

I felt Sebastian watching me. "You two are good together."

"Aye."

I smiled worriedly down at her. This was why I didn't allow her to go anywhere alone. This was my biggest fear with her blood. I gently ran my fingers through her hair.

Finally, Jaspen and Sasha returned with a healer who was a young looking girl werewolf.

"This is my friend Jenna," said Sasha. "The second best healer in the lower city."

"Thank you for coming, Jenna," I said getting up from the cot. "I leave her in your care."

She smiled faintly. "Thank you. I just hope I can help her. I'm sorry Celestia couldn't come."