Heart of Stone (Rock Star Fairy Tales #1)

Chapter 28

C h apte r 28

You ar e an Idiot

M argot closed her mouth and reminded herself to breathe. It took a second with her eyes closed to concentrate on getting air back into her body. When she exhaled a long, shaky breath, she turned her gaz e to Ash.

His battered face looked up at her. “I’m so sorry,” he mumbled, mouth swollen and bleeding. “I couldn’ t… can’t…”

“Shh,” she said, hands running over his shirt, trying to find the worst of the bleeding and press on it. “It’s fine. We ’re fine.”

“You are not fine,” Tobin said, the fae walking over to stand next to them. “What the hell are you playing at?” he snapped, more angry than Margot had ever seen him—not that she had seen a lot of him. He scowled and knelt at Ash’s side. “It would serve you right if I left you here bleeding,” Tobin ranted. “Trying to take on two faeng with human means—What kind of idiot are you? Getting laid addled y our mind!”

“I didn’t know what else to do,” Margot defended, hurt that he would attack her methods. “I got in two hits.”

Tobin scanned her quickly, eyes lingering on the bloody mess of her hip and leg. “I’m not talking to you,” he said quickly and returned his attention to Ash. “I’m talking to my imp-brained brother who nearly let the both of you get killed by rogues.”

“I told her to run it over,” Ash mumbled, eyes struggling to stay open as Tobin’s hands moved over his body.

“She is a brand new fae,” Tobin said, “and this bus is a classic.” Margot snorted, unable to stop the sound. The hand she brought to her mouth ached in ways she didn’t know possible. “You know how long it would take to get a new windshield?” Tobin touched Ash’s right shoulder, and Ash groaned. “Why didn’t you just use your magic, you idiot?” A soft glow encased Tobin’s hand as he gripped Ash’s shoulder. As Margot watched, the ragged edges of the wound slowly closed and faded, replaced by fresh skin. “You trying to show off for our girl?” Ash moaned, wincing in pain as Tobin continued to work. As soon as the shoulder wound was closed, he moved down, finding a deep gash on Ash’s side and repeating the process. “You know that whole fire thing is way more impressive than getting yourself sliced into ribbons, right? The ladies love it.”

He glanced at Margot as he said it. “Pardon my saying so,” he said with a grin, completely ignoring Ash’s obvious pain as the healing magic closed yet another wound, “but this idiot knows better.”

“I … had … it,” Ash wheezed.

“You had it,” Tobin echoed mockingly. He glanced down, resting his hand on what appeared to be the last big wound on Ash’s thigh. “You were doing a wonderful job bleeding out while Margot over there was fighting for her life.” He shook his head, finishing the last wound and smacking Ash’s leg. “If I hadn’t gotten here when I did, you’d both be dead. What the hell is wrong with you?” h e barked.

“Can’t … use … powers,” Ash wheezed, leaning back with his eyes closed. “Hiding.”

Tobin rolled his eyes, stood up, and reached a hand out to Margot. “Let’s get you fixed up, ” he said.

Margot eyed him suspiciously. “With your … magic?”

Tobin shrugged. “I mean, we can use your first aid kit if you prefer, but I think magic is faster.” He paused. “Though it d oes hurt.”

“A lot,” Ash said helpfully from t he ground.

Margot glanced down at her hip. The bleeding had slowed, but it still burned fiercely. She knew it would start shrieking when she moved again. “I guess so?” she sai d weakly.

He gestured with his hand. “I need you to stand up,” he said. “It wraps around most of your leg, and I can’t reach it with you sitting like that.” He stepped over Ash as if his brother wasn’t lying on the ground wheezing. “Come, I’ve got you.” Margot recalled seeing him lift the creature with one arm, and part of her wanted to recoil from his touch, from that kind of dangero us power.

But it’s Tobin, she reminded herself. Your side, remember?

“Why are you helping me?” she asked bluntly.

“Because I like you,” he replied immediately. “And you seem to need my help.”

She glanced at Ash, who hadn’t moved, and whose eyes were watching their exchange carefully. “That’s not enough,” she said, wincing as Tobin lifted her smoothly to her feet, holding her uninjured hand. He did it quickly, careful not to jar her leg, but it made the wound sing with pain. Margot closed her eyes, gritting her teeth. “Do it,” she ordered, not wanting to lose h er nerve.

“Forgive me,” Tobin said, and his hand was on her hip.

Fire exploded along the line of the slash, and Margot whimpered, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood. She could feel Tobin’s magic sinking into her, knitting the torn skin and muscle of her hip and leg together. It hurt as much, maybe more, than the original wound. When the healing was over, the pain replaced by a cool numbness over her waist, she sagged, and Tobin caught her easily. He reached for her wounded hand, but she jerked it back.

“It’s fine,” she told him, deciding that letting her hand heal on its own would probably h urt less.

Tobin sighed, but he didn’t push. “I imagine I’ll be drivi ng then?”

Margot opened her mouth to tell him that no one drove her bus but her and stopped. She was in no shape for driving. Ash may be healed, but he was still heaving.

I just need a few minutes, she decided, then I can drive again . She shook her head at Tobin and gestured weakly in the direction of the bus. “I’ll be okay in a minute.”

“Wonderful,” Tobin said, “but we have to hurry.” Keeping Margot steady in the circle of his arm, he gave Ash another dirty look. “You should have known to leave immediately after she called the storm. You knew others wo uld come.”

“Couldn’t … go,” Ash managed. “She … c ollapsed.”

“You could have driven this thing,” Tobin accused. “No doubt she slept for several hours. You just sat here like a fool waiting for their arrival!” With Margot held in his steady arms, he shook his head. “She didn’t know any better,” he said finally. “You, on the other hand, are determined to be a prize idiot. Are you trying to get yourselve s killed?”

“She … needed … to see,” Ash insisted, struggling to get his hands under his body and stand up.

“Whatever,” Tobi n sneered.

“And,” Ash added, voice steadier now, “no one … drives Margot’s bus … but her.” Tobin took a long-suffering breath, anger fading into annoyance. “You would know that … if you knew he r at all.”

“I know her enough,” Tobin said, glancing down at the still unsteady Margot in his arms. “Unless you’d like to get off your ass and get her cl eaned up?”

Ash struggled again, managed to get a knee beneath his body, but slid down to the grou nd again.

“You healed him,” Margot said, putting a hand against Tobin’s distractingly muscled side and standing up straighter. “Why isn’t h e better?”

“I healed his wounds,” Tobin explained, holding out his arm so she could steady herself without danger of falling. “Idiot lost a third of his blood pretending to not have powers. My healing can’t help that. I’m not a phlebotomist.” At her alarmed expression, he added, “He’ll be fine. It will just take a bit.” He cocked his head. “Your show is tomorrow night?” At Ash’s quick nod, Tobin curled his lip, contemplating. “You’ll probably be fine to sing. Definitely if you can get a transfusion before then. Maybe if I can get you to Akkoy alive, we can pop by the hospital.” He paused suggestively and added, “I kn ow a guy.”

“I bet … you do,” Ash quipped, then surrendered, body slumping as he stopped trying to move. He gestured with his chin. “Get her inside and let her clean up. I can get mysel f inside.”

“As if,” Tobin snorted, but he stepped up and helped Margot inside the bus. “Shower,” he told her. “Clean yourself. You’ll fee l better.”

Margot nodded, feeling her lip start to tremble as the last events caught up to her, the shakes setting in as the adrenaline left her system. “Easy now,” Tobin assured her, leaning in to give her a hug. “You’re alright. Ash is fine. You’re b oth fine.”

“How … did you find us?” she mumbled into his shoulder, startled tears falling as she let the panic wash over her.

“I can always find you, Margot,” he said, whispering into her hair. “I won’t let anything happe n to you.”

“You saved us,” she said, slowly regaining control of herself. “T hank you.”

“Don’t thank me,” Tobin said, allowing her to end the hug when she was ready. “Like I said, I’m happy to help.”

“Thank you,” she repeated, sniffing and wiping her nose. She glanced around for something to wipe her face, and her eyes caught on the remains of her pink tank top in a pile on the floor. She couldn’t help the burst of laughter that escaped at the sight, recalling the faeng’s shocked expression as she threw clothing at it. Tobin followed her gaze and bent down to retrieve the cloth. Holding it out, he examined it, finally holding it in the right direction and studying the cuts, understanding what had happened. “Pink, huh?” he asked. “Definitely not the faeng’s favori te color.”

“No,” she giggled. “Defini tely not.”

“Get cleaned up,” he told her. “I’ll deal with Ash.”

She nodded, wanting to thank him again, but he shooed her toward the bathroom. It was awkward getting undressed in the small space, but when the hot water hit her skin, Margot was glad for the chance to shower. Tobin was right. Getting clean made everything a little bi t better.