Chapter 33

The King reached his hand to remove her cloak, but she stopped him. “Nixx first. He—he might be dead because of me. For helping me. Then Spirit and lastly my shoulder.”

“I don’t know who Nixx or Spirit are, nor do I care, and while I am grateful they helped you, you will always come first, no matter what! Once I take a look at your shoulder, and if I decide you are well, we will begin to look for them.”

He removed her cloak and jacket, leaving her in a tunic.

“Kerra, distract Ayla while I take a look at her shoulder.”

The snowcat put her head on Ayla’s lap and purred loudly while the King touched her shoulder. It hurt badly. She balled her fists and inhaled sharply.

The King muttered an apology under his breath. “I have good news and bad news. The good news is that your shoulder is not broken. The bad news is that it is dislocated, and I have to put it back in place.”

Ayla chewed her lip. “It’s going to hurt?”

“Unfortunately.”

He pulled out a pie