said, a reprimand in her tone.
“Me?” Faith asked incredulously. “I was not the one who just stood there staring at an Alu demon. I told you to run.”
“And I wasn't the one who charged the bastard and got myself stabbed,” Hope added with a trace of sarcasm. “You've got to stop trying to save me.”
“Fine,” Faith snapped. “When Dad asks why he wasn't called when my Transfiguration hit, I'll tell him it was your fault.”
Hope swallowed with visible discomfort. “No need to go that far,” she mumbled.
Faith rolled her eyes. “I thought so.”
Bale watched the two sisters hug and took a step closer to the pair, then placed his hand on Faith's shoulder. When she glanced up at him, he gestured with a flick of his head for Arak to approach.
“I want Arak to make sure you are okay.” When her eyes met his, Bale tensed for the briefest of moments, thinking she was going to protest. And he knew he would probably make a fool of himself getting her to relent. He felt his muscles relax with a sense of relief when she finally nodded her agreement.
Arak waited until Hope moved out of his way before he approached the bed. Sitting beside Faith, he reached to pull the comforter down. Knowing little covered Faith but a thin T-shirt, Bale's unconscious reaction was a growl of warning, drawn deep from his chest, making Arak pause as he cast a wary glance at Bale.
Swearing softly under his breath, Bale forced his feet to carry him away from Faith, backing up until his legs hit the chair, then collapsing into the leather. His fingers dug into the arms as Arak slowly eased Faith's shirt up and his hand began examining her side. He hated seeing Arak, the one who drew women to his side like bees gathering to honey, touching this female, when he had never cared before about any of the dozens of women Arak went through.
But Faith was different. Damn if he wasn't coming to understand just how much. And as his body reacted to the assumed threat Arak posed, anger slowly consumed Bale.
He didn't want to feel possessive of the female, had known fucking her would only make the need to conquer her worse. But he'd let his body rule his mind, and now he was just beginning to grasp the true depth of the situation. He suspected Faith would come to mean more to him than his wife and daughter ever had, because as much as he didn't want to admit it, Faith was his heart mate.
The Watchers: Faith Revisited
33
Faith watched as Arak placed a hand on the spot where her wound had been. He closed his eyes, and a faint bluish glow emanated from his hand. Warmth spread over her skin, penetrating deep, making her want to purr in delight. He was rigidly still for a minute or two, then pulled his hand away.
“Looks good.” With a satisfied smile, Arak winked at her. “I would suggest bed rest. The weakness you are experiencing should gradually improve over the next several days. Until then, don't try to push it. You will get tired easily at first, so no wandering around the abbey.”
At his declaration, Faith opened her mouth to protest his assessment. She felt fine…actually, better than she'd expected after all she'd heard regarding Transfiguration. But Arak winked at her again as he stood, and she suspected he might have other motives. Whatever they were, apparently they involved her staying with Bale.
Her gaze shifted to capture Bale's reaction to Arak's pronouncement and met his empty stare. It was as if any warmth, any tenderness he had displayed while they were alone, had been her imagination. Faith felt her insides freeze and turned away.
It wasn't that she expected love. They'd had sex, nothing more. Sex as complete, indifferent strangers. Faith hardened her resolve. Once she thought of something to tell her father, she was getting the hell out of here. Because she already knew by the way she was reacting to Bale that if she stayed too long, leaving him would be like ripping out her heart—painful and bloody. And after