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Jake must have noticed for his next words were softer, yet no less harsh and no less
confusing. I told you, she s a Hunter.
So the fuck what?
There was a soft growl. She fluttered her lashes open to see Jake touch the scar
on his cheek. Since the light hurt, she closed her eyes again and floated.
So you re an idiot. Hunters burn up fast unless they can release the energy that
makes them. Blood or ki. If you did feed, you eased the pain in her.
He knew about the pain? It was just soreness from overuse. The pills were
helping. She wished they would stop talking.
Who the fuck made you an expert?
There was a soft and bitter laugh. The Hunter who killed me.
Brief, sweet moment of silence. Fine. What the hell am I to do?
Fiona Jayde Urban Myth - 51 -
There was a shuffle and a new presence over her. Tai blinked at Nick Cain, his
blond short-cropped head close to her face. For once his eyes weren t cold as they
studied her.
That s right, he d had medical training. EMT or something -- Tai couldn t
remember now. His hands were cool and gentle as they held her wrist, searching for a
pulse. Her vitals are fine. If the poison was disrupting her vitals it would show.
She heard more shuffling, felt the bed shift as someone sat next to her, placing a
blessedly cool hand on her cheek. Rayan. She turned into him, needing his touch.
Let her rest. Cain s voice was both taut and gentle, as if it was hard for him to
shed the asshole mask. She may have pain when she wakes up. Don t give her meds --
I don t know how she ll react with everything else inside her. These herbs will knock
her out. If it gets bad, try massage.
I don t know if I can control myself touching her.
Jakob spoke. It s not about you.
* * *
She was out for hours. Maybe days. He watched the bruises fade from her body,
the scrapes lighten until they disappeared. This Hunter theory Jakob had cooked up
apparently was on target.
Not knowing how much poison was in her system, he didn t give her painkillers.
Instead he made her sip the herbs Cain brought her -- when had that ass become an
expert? When she tossed and couldn t find comfort, he drew the sick energy into
himself so she could rest. It didn t feed him -- there wasn t much of it and the taste of it
was bitter, but as he took her essence into himself Jakob s words echoed in his head.
If you did feed, you d ease the pain in her.
If that was true, life was truly one hell of a fucked-up bitch. He thought of Tai s
stricken eyes when he d told her it wasn t working, when he d distanced himself
because his need for her scared the shit out of him.
Half sympath, he didn t come into the thirst until his late twenties. By then he
was married and his sympath mother was dead.
Fiona Jayde Urban Myth - 52 -
The cravings came and he d pushed Taina away, afraid to take too much, afraid
of raping her mind. When their marriage ended he chose prostitutes. And found Nina.
He rubbed the scar on his shoulder even as he checked Tai s skin again for fever. Her
scent was normal, the bitterness gone. He inhaled deeply, letting her scent linger inside
him. Her gaze, brown and clear, met his.
She frowned. Cleared her throat before she spoke. What the hell happened?
Then she must have realized she was naked because the bed sheet was pulled up to her
chin in a quick nervous motion.
That irritated the hell out of him. I don t intend to rape you.
She frowned again. I didn t mean to imply --
He sighed, shoved bottled water at her. Her fingers brushed his as she took it
and drank deeply. Thanks. She handed the bottle back, and studied him with wide
confused eyes as he took a gulp himself. Was I sick?
Yeah. Fever.
Another frown. Third one. I never get sick.
He saw her eyes shift, as if she was searching for something. He had a good idea
what it was. No more pills.
Her gaze flew to his, startled and wide. Her chin was already up -- always a
good sign. I need them.
Why?
If you must know, my back hurts.
Now was the time to step up. Don t you need the bathroom? The flush that
spread over her cheeks was answer enough. He kept his tone matter-of-fact, knowing if
he laughed, she d try to deck him. Which would be fine under different circumstances,
but now he needed her to rest. I ve seen it all before. You won t be shocking me if you
go naked.
Muttering, she swung out of bed, only to sway once she stood up. Cursing his
own damn self Rayan caught her. The look she threw him was quick and uncertain.
Sorry. I m fine.
Fiona Jayde Urban Myth - 53 -
He dropped a kiss on her head as he led her to the restroom despite the obvious
protest in her eyes. Yeah. You re fine.
She frowned yet again before the door closed cutting off his view of that
lusciously muscled ass. Time to step up, he told himself and folded back the covers
before stripping off his clothes and weapons.
* * *
Tai figured he would be gone. The shower she took was long, hot and leisurely,
soothing some of the aches, clearing some of the fog. She wasn t sure how long she d
been out, but it must have been bad. The poison, probably. She hadn t been herself since
she d sucked on that damned pill. Speaking of pills, she needed pain meds. Her joints
were stiff, her muscles aching with each movement. Probably leftover goodness from
whatever shit went on with her system.
Well, Rayan s gallantry only ran so far. She didn t know where it came from, but
people didn t change. He d left because he didn t love her -- he d told her this in his
cool and logical Rayan way. This was just& He just felt responsible for her. And chalk
up the amazingly kinky sex to a simple case of adrenaline.
He would be gone when she came out; she d take the pills and if she could get
back to bed without eating carpet, she would sleep until tomorrow. She remembered
something from earlier, something foggy. Something about hunters, but she couldn t
quite put her finger on it.
It took most of her energy to wash her hair. Ridiculous really, since she felt fine.
Just dizzy and achy. The pain was normal. The dizziness was new.
Rayan suddenly surprised her by knocking on the bathroom door. Everything
okay in there?
She threw her strength into her voice. Yep. Just fine.
Tai was pulling a comb through tangles when she stepped out of the bathroom
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