Chapter 49

 

Chase sat down on the bed. “Don’t even go there, kitten.” He pulled the shirt down further on me and then slowly moved the sheet away so he could see the mark on my side. It looked less angry than the one on my leg, but in my opinion had a long way to go before I’d be wearing any belly baring tops.

Glancing up from the injury, I looked at Chase, his eyes were filled with regret and concern. In the same way he had figured out the twisted thought I’d just had I picked up on where his thoughts were going. “I would have gone regardless of what you had to say on the matter.”

Nodding slowly, he lifted his eyes to mine. “I know.” Clearing his throat, he leaned further away from me. “I have a few things to take care of. Will you be alright if I leave you with Quint when he gets back?” His tone was strained.

“Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine.”

I frowned at the clipped sound in his words. “I know you have kingly things to do. You don’t have to babysit me. I’ll be okay here by myself.”

With a sound of frustration, he got up and tucked his hands in his pockets and glared at me. “There is no matter more important than your health. I will only be a few minutes.”

I was swamped by emotions and couldn’t tell where the ones from him started and my own left off. Chase dropped to one knee and leaned over me so his face was only a few inches from mine.

“I have to feed before I give you more blood and I am giving you more because your gashes do not please me in with the way they’re healing. The one on your side went deep, we are not risking something inside not healing completely.”

Grasping his goatee gently, I studied him for a moment. “I want to do it.”

He gave me a puzzled look. “Do what?”

I swallowed. “Feed you,” I whispered before I could change my mind. “You gave me your blood and saved my life, it’s the least I could do.”

The irises of his eyes started to turn a light-yellow shade. Taking hold of my hand that was keeping his face near he leaned closer. “I didn’t do it so you owed me one.”

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

In silence, he watched me, our faces only inches apart. “When I do, it will be because you want me to, not to settle a debt.”

A mix of relief and disappointment filled me, again I didn’t know if they were my feelings or not. “Deal,” I whispered and then moved closer and kissed his mouth lightly. I expected him to kiss me back, but he just stayed where he was his eyes moving over my face.

“I was hoping it had looked worse because of the blood everywhere.” Quinton stood over us with a glass of juice in his hand and pain in his expression.

I realized the blanket was still leaving the marks visible. “It’s better than it was.” I let go of Chase so he could sit up again.

“You need to give her more blood, Chase.” Quinton held out the glass to me.

I took it and concentrated on drinking what was in it, avoiding looking at either brother at the moment. The emotions were making me dizzy.

“I have to go feed and then I will.” Chase stood up and looked down at me as he spoke to Quinton. “Stay with her until I get back?”

“Of course.”

****

After more blood and another nap, I was sore and my leg was stiff, but it was like three weeks of healing had been fit into one day’s time. If the royal fortune ever took a loss, the brothers could start their own pharmaceutical corporation and heal the sick and injured with a little injection of their blood. Of course, the fact that it had to come from their live veins might present a bit of a marketing issue, but it was still a thought.

Chase was off doing King stuff so I took this time of not being hovered over and tossed on some track pants and headed out to see if I could find my way around the tunnels and hallways. I’d only gotten ten feet down the hall from his bedroom door when I sensed I wasn’t alone. Turning slowly, expecting a royal brother to be looming over me, I was pleased to see it was only Tim. He towered over me, but at least he couldn’t send me back to rest. I looked him up and down, trying to find any sign of injury. There weren’t any.

“You’re alright now?”

He grinned down at me and I almost sighed in relief to see that it wasn’t a perfect set of teeth and a charming smile, in fact he looked like he belonged in my neighborhood. “I have you to thank for my life, Huntress.” He bowed his head in that way that was starting to get on my nerves.

I snorted. “Well you saved my ass about a dozen times, so I still owe you a few.”

“I am sorry I allowed you to be injured.”

“I’m pretty sure you didn’t exactly allow that to happen.” Was he crazy? Did he really think I was going to blame him for the psycho maniac that had tried to dice me up? I looked up and down the hall. “Does Chase have a workout room or something on this side?”

He bowed his head again; I stifled the urge to smack the top of it. “I’d be pleased to show you there.”

Lifting my hand to motion for him to lead the way, he paused.

“I was surprised when the King placed me at your door to be your guard.”

I shrugged, not sure why but wasn’t about to admit it. “Maybe he thought we worked well together.” Then I grinned, “we bleed very well together too.”

He studied me for a long minute and then nodded abruptly and began to walk down the hall in the opposite direction. At least with my own personal escort I wouldn’t get lost on this side.

Chase’s workout space wasn’t as elaborate as the one on Troy’s half but it was still way beyond any gym I could ever afford to go to.

“You are well enough for a workout?”

I turned and gave Tim another shrug. “Sure. I just want to do some stretches and get things loosened up a bit.”