Finnian saw the blush creeping up her cheeks and knew she was feeling self- conscious. A faint smile touched his lips.


    "It''s fine. You''ve sprained your ankle. I''ll carry you."


    Ignoring her protests, he started walking.


    Amara''s ears burned, but she knew he was right. She was a cripple now and couldn''t possibly walk on her own. Even if he helped her, she would only slow him down. Resigned, she fell silent and let herself rx in his arms.


    A thought suddenly urred to her. "Mr. Everly, how did you find me? Did Elysia bring you here?"


    "Yes," Finnian said, his tone shifting. "Tell me everything that happened today. Every single detail."


    His voice was low and grim. Nestled in his arms, Amara couldn''t see the chilling expression on his face. If she had, it would have frightened her.


    She recounted the day''s events, not leaving anything out.


    "I suspect Elowen was behind it," she concluded. "She''s the most likely culprit, but


    I can''t be one hundred percent sure."


    Finnian remained silent, his mind cycling through a list of everyone who held a grudge against Amara.


    Soon, they emerged from the forest. Amara saw several cars parked by the side of the road, a group of people gathered around them, talking animatedly.


    As they approached, a few figures broke away from the group and hurried toward them.


    "Ama, how are you? Are you okay?" Elysia rushed to her side, grabbing her hand.


    Keith was there too, his brow furrowed with worry. He nced at Finnian, then fixed his gaze on Amara. "Are you hurt?"


    "I''m fine," Amara said. "Just twisted my ankle, so I can''t walk. I don''t think anything''s broken."


    Elysia and Keith breathed a sigh of relief.


    "I called an ambnce for you," Elysia said. "It should be here any minute. Just hang on."


    When Finnian had radioed that Amara had fallen down a slope, Elysia had assumed she was injured and made the call ahead of time.


    As if on cue, the shing lights of an ambnce appeared in the distance. Finnian strode toward it, still carrying Amara.


    Before he left, he shot a cold re at Keith, who returned it with equal hostility.


    Though no words were exchanged,


    the tension between the two men


    was palpable silent deration of


    war that everyone present could


    feel.


    Amara frowned, confused by Finnian''s animosity toward Keith.


    She could understand why Keith disliked Finnian; he was her childhood friend and had always resented how Finnian had neglected her during their three-year marriage. But why did Finnian seem to hate Keith?


    She didn''t have long to ponder it, as they soon arrived at the hospital.


    This time, Finnian didn''t need to carry ber. Paramedics carefully


    transferred her to


    ?????


    stretcher and


    wheeled her into the emergency


    room.


    Amara assumed she''d get a quick check-up for her sprained ankle and the minor


    scrapes on her face and neck, then be on her way.


    To her surprise, Finnian summoned a team of doctors to give her a full examination.


    ***