Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

Nightfall 34 (Keefe POV)

A/N: @SparkleDemigoddess03 requested Nightfall 34-35 from Keefe's POV. This will be told in two chapters.

When Keefe, Sophie and Ro entered the Healing Center and Elwin saw Keefe's wounds, he was all business. He seemed to take it all in stride—even the ogre accompanying them—and had her place Keefe on one of the cots.

Keefe was trying not to show it, but every tiny little movement was agony, and he was surprisingly dizzy for someone lying so still. He must have lost a lot of blood. But Ro had been gentler than Keefe would have thought an ogre was capable of being. She had barely jostled him at all.

Elwin had appeared relatively calm. Surprised, of course, but not panicked. But the first time he came into contact with Keefe as he began pressing elixirs to Keefe's mouth, Keefe felt it.

Elwin's concern.

It was surprisingly touching, the way Elwin was worried and faintly disturbed by the state Keefe was in. There was no panic, nothing to make Keefe think he was in danger, but it was nice to know that Elwin cared about him.

Though it was nothing compared to the crashing waves of both concern and anger that Foster was hurling his way. But then...she'd had to watch it happen.

"I think you've officially broken Sophie's record for most Healing Center visits," Elwin said as he straightened his spectacles and helped Keefe sit up. Between having his wounds dressed and the dozens of elixirs, Keefe was already feeling better. He was no longer woozy, no longer having to try to hide his worry about blood loss. He was still in pain and knew his injuries had been severe, but he also knew without any doubt that he was going to be perfectly fine.

"Or maybe you've tied her record—it's so hard to keep up with you two. Either way," Elwin continued, pointing to the wall where the picture of Foster hung, "I'm going to add your photo next to hers."

"I've never been so proud of us!" Keefe said, holding up his hand for a high five.

But Foster merely sat there, stony faced and clearly not amused. She glared at him, but she didn't seem able to hold his gaze. Her eyes kept sliding down to the wide bandage wrapped around his torso.

Keefe finally lowered his arm, unable to stop from wincing in pain as he did so.

"Still tender?" Elwin asked, shaking his messy dark hair out of his eyes as he pressed gently along Keefe's bandages.

Keefe gritted his teeth and sucked in a sharp breath. "Yeah. Just a little, though."

He felt Foster's new wave of worry as she asked, "is that bad?"

"Not necessarily," Elwin assured her. "It's honestly what I'd expect with wounds this deep."

"Dimitar practically gutted him," she grumbled, standing to pace, clearly needing to let out nervous energy.

"At least he missed anything vital," Elwin said as he snapped his fingers and made a purple orb glow around Keefe's torso. "I think the Panakes blossoms you gave him made a difference too."

They had definitely helped. They acted like a pain elixir and made him a little bit less dizzy. Keefe was not at all certain that he would have remained conscious had it not been for the Panakes blossom.

As soon as he could, he needed to go to Havenfield and thank Calla's Panakes tree.

"And I stole his earring," Keefe offered up, wanting to lighten Foster's mood. "His head will always be lopsided now. You're welcome, world!"

He tossed the yellow stone up and caught it—then winced from the motion. Ow.

"Hmm," Elwin said, snapping his fingers again and changing the orb from purple to green, studying Keefe's torso with his eyes narrowed in concentration.