Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 117336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Her heavy, tired eyes flicker with interest. "That's great. The sick could use a warm meal—"
"I brought it for you," I bite out, irritated that once again, she's not thinking of herself. "They can eat when you've had your fill."
"The sick need it more than me—"
I shake my head. "When will you understand that I care nothing for anyone here but you? If I say you need to eat every bite, you need to eat every bite and they can have your scraps."
"Azar," she protests softly.
I know she doesn't like that answer. Her too-soft heart wants to feed everyone and heal them all herself, even if it runs her into the ground. "Lucky for you I brought extra," I grumble. "So don't complain at me. There's enough to go around."
She's silent as I pull her shoes off, and then I rub her feet. One of her socks has a hole in the toe, so I carefully work her toe back into the sock itself, noticing that there's no pink polish on her toenails now. She loves pretty nails and pretty hair. The fact that she hasn't had a chance to take care of herself tells me plenty about the situation, and I'm angry. I'm angry that all these peons think they can take advantage of my mate's soft, generous heart, and I'm angrier at myself because I've been giving her space.
No longer. Melina clearly will not use the space to take care of herself so I will have to step in.
I rub her feet, working the arches with my fingers as I study her face. Her eyes have drifted closed, and she makes not a single sound of protest to my bullying ways. It's not like her, and that must mean she truly is tired. The sight of her, worn down like this, makes me ache. Even if we are not bonded with fires, it's my responsibility to watch out for her. I have my men report back to me regularly, telling me of her movements, but they have not told me that she is weary. That she is tired and not sleeping.
I have not been asking the right questions, so now I will not rely on second-hand reports. I will see to her comfort myself. As I rub her feet, I glance up. "Are you thirsty? Shall I get you some water?"
She shakes her head. "I'm all right. I should probably get back out there and help Gary. He's been here since dawn." But she doesn't get up, her expression peaceful as I massage one foot and then the other.
"You will stay right here and let me tend to you," I reply. "And that's an order from the lord of the fort."
Melina lets out a tiny snort, as if amused, but doesn't get up.
When I've rubbed her feet and calves, I stand. "I want you to stay right here and relax. I'm going to get your dinner and more blankets, and then you and I are going to talk."
She makes a face at me, pulling the thin blanket tighter around her shoulders.
I'll take the fact that she's not protesting as a good sign. I head back through the clinic and see the food supply is being distributed by my soldier. Marching over to the cart, I snag one of the canisters before he can grab it and glare at him. "I want more blankets brought here as quickly as possible. Let one of the others pass out the food."
"Of course, sir." He scrambles to respond, quickly emptying the cart of its contents. "The blankets are for the patients? How many do you want?"
I stare at him. "I want blankets for my mate." Then, because my temper is threatening to get away from me, I scrub a hand down my face and take a deep breath. "Bring blankets for the patients, too. But I want soft, clean blankets for Lady Melina. Bring those to me before anything. Understand?"
"Right away," he says, racing out the door and forgetting his supply wagon entirely.
Sometimes I swear I'm surrounded by fools. With a sigh I take the warm container of soup, grab a spoon and a recently filled bottle of water and head back toward Melina's office. When I return, she's still huddled in the same spot, clutching the blanket to her and looking so pitiful it makes my heart hurt. She shivers, trying to tuck the blanket tighter around her.
That does it. I set down the container of soup nearby and start unbuttoning the high collar of my robe.
Melina looks up at me, frowning. "I don't know why you're getting undressed. I'm not going to have sex with you just because you brought me soup."
I shrug off my robe and tuck it around her shoulders. "Wear this. It's warm."
She stares at my bare chest, then at the light trousers I wear underneath. "You're not cold? I thought you hated this weather."