Chapter 82

CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO

Ellery

With trembling fingers, I gripped the shaft of the broken arrow and kept my other hand on his shoulder. I took a deep breath to bolster my courage and pulled.

Ryker didn't make a sound or flinch as the arrow slid from him. Blood dripped from the shaft to stain the earth before I tossed it aside.

Realizing we didn't have enough bandages for this, I pulled off my shirt. Ryker's eyes narrowed on me, but I ignored him as I used my dagger to slice the material into strips.

I tied the strips around his shoulder and knotted it into place. He was so big they barely covered the injury, but they would help staunch some of the blood until he could heal more.

Sitting back on my heels, I studied the two remaining arrows. "What about them?"

"My skin and muscles have already started closing around them; you're going to have to use a knife to cut them out."

My stomach turned over. "I can't."

"We don't know when the others will arrive, and the arrows can't remain in. It will only get worse if they do. You have to dig them out, Ellery."

When I shook my head, he grasped my chin and forced me to look at him. "You can do this."

"No."

"You have to."

He removed a smaller knife from a holster inside his boot. He handed it to me.

"Ryker—"

"You're one of the strongest immortals I know; you can do this. Take the knife."

I stared at the blade; it was smaller than my dagger, but I still couldn't stomach putting it against his flesh and digging into him.

"Take it," he insisted.

My fingers wobbled so badly when I reached for it that I had to lower my hand and shake it a few times before feeling steady enough to take it. I couldn't let my hand move while doing this; that would only make it worse.

"Go ahead," he encouraged. "I'll be fine."

I held his eyes before leaning around him and shifting my attention to his back. I steadied my hand before slicing pieces of his shirt away from the shafts; I couldn't push the material into his flesh… and I was delaying the inevitable.

When I could no longer work on that, I washed away some of the blood staining his skin, which was quickly replaced by more. Knowing I couldn't put it off anymore, I placed the blade against his bloody skin.

He'd taken these arrows for me; I had to do this for him. I couldn't let tears fill my eyes again. I had to see clearly to do this.

The fact Ryker didn't make a sound or flinch while I worked told me more about what he'd endured at the hands of the monsters who'd tortured him than all the scars on his body. I bit my lip to keep from crying and ignored the blood trickling down to drip off my chin.

After I dug out the first arrow, I cleaned the wound, wrapped some bandages around him, and went to work on the other arrow. I remained focused on my task and refused to think about anything other than helping him while I worked.

My fingers grew slippery with blood, but my hand remained steady. By the time I finished, Ryker still hadn't made a sound.

I released the knife, washed him again, and wrapped more bandages around him. Sitting back, I rested my bloody hands on my knees as tears rolled down my cheeks to fall on the ground.

When he looked at me again, he was paler than before; blood loss and pain were taking their toll on him, but he lifted his good hand and wiped away some of my tears.

"Don't cry, Ellery. It's done."

Though I knew he wouldn't welcome it, I draped my arms around his neck and buried my face in his shoulder while I sobbed. I wept for everything he'd endured, everything I'd inflicted on him, and all that was lost between us.

I cried for the man I loved so much… and the one I'd lost, for everything that could have been and would never be. He didn't cry or move, so I sobbed for both of us.

After a few minutes, I regained enough control to lean back, wipe away my tears, and rise. He remained unmoving but looked shocked.

I didn't know if it was from blood loss or what, but when he looked at me, he didn't seem to know who I was as his gaze ran over me.

"I'll get some more water to clean you better. You should get inside one of the shelters and rest until I return," I told him.

"I'll wait for the others."

I didn't bother to argue with him; it would be pointless. Instead, I turned away and walked back to the river.