Queen of Light (The Light-Bringer Trilogy, #3)

Seven

A healer saw to his burns. The Light-Bringer wanted to prevent infection. But he wouldn't get an infection. His blood in the boy saved his life. But it also partially condemned him.

The healer placed a wet cloth to his hand and gently started to clean the burned flesh. Her brows furrowed and she moved one of his shackles up to see his wrist.

"I need to treat his wrists, too," said the healer. "His wrists have been chafed by the iron shackles and are likely burned as well."

He remembered the last times he was burned. He had failed his father-and his father had burned him with white-hot chains as punishment. And the man who helped treat the burns? A half-demon rebel traitor who kept his rebel counter-part going strong.

"You should bandage those up," said Jonah Arigato, his eyes fixated on James's arm.

James looked down at the chainlink burns on his arms. "Don't worry. They'll be scars in a few days."

"You still have to find Maggie Arrowsmith, and it's going to be unpleasant at best because they are brand new," Jonah pointed out. "To make matters worse, you wear a coat over your shirt. By bandaging them up, you're going to reduce friction between your clothing and burns."

He scowled as he realized that Jonah was right. "Just bandaging. Nothing more."

Jonah left and returned with bandages.

"Give me your arm," he said, pulling a chair up beside James.

James held his left arm out to Jonah. He felt Jonah turn his hand over, flex and bend his toned arm, and then poke and prod at the burns with a cool finger. James hissed as his burns were poked and prodded.

"Sorry,"  was all Jonah said. He watched the half-demon and grab a bottle and pour it's clear contents onto his burns.

James cried out in agony. "I thought you said that you would bandage them! Not make them worse!" he hissed.

"I have to clean them, otherwise they'll get infected and cause more pain," Jonah snarled, his almond-shaped ebony eyes blazing. "You may be a demon, but so long as Jason is still alive, you're still partially human."

They sat in empty silence as Jonah bandaged his arm.

"Why are you doing this?" he asked. "I don't need your help."

Jonah looked up at him, his black hair falling into his forehead. "My friend-Maia's fiancé-is still fighting you. I also know what it's like to be mistreated by a demon parent and have no one there to help you."

Jonah had helped him like the healer before him. The only difference was that this healer was ordered to tend to him. Jonah came out of pity.

"He's all done," the healer said quietly.

The guards hauled him to his feet. As they led him through the corridors to where they would hold him, his mouth began to hurt. He carefully watched them sprinkle the salt in a circle around him and set up religious objects.

He would get out of this, and then the world's would pay.