Page 93 of Quiet Burn

“Uh, hi, guys… was I out long?”

Aftermath

Jasper

When the shrimp wakes up, everyone but X is staring at him. He looks panicked as his eyes roam over us, then to the doctor. It seems like the doc gives him a tiny head shake—which is odd, but at least there’s someone Kit feels safe enough to trust. It certainly isn’t me, though I’m not surprised or upset by that. I haven’t decided how I want to proceed with the things inside my mind in regards to him, and though Zavvie is trying to help me, I don’t know how long it will take me to muddle through it all.

But he should have people to trust if only because his admissions prior to the curtain being drawn lead me to believe he never had any before in his past life.

Unfortunately, I’m perfectly aware of how isolating that is, especially if you have bad things happening to you. Until I bonded with my brothers and accepted Zavvie… I was alone. I dealt with my father’s fits of wrath and subsequent efforts to regain my affections and respect through gifts and praise. He wielded his favor like a weapon and still does—somethingthat breaks you down over time until you barely recognize who you’ve become. I didn’t end up with Kit’s neuroses, but I’m aware I have plenty of my own.

“Where did you go?” I ask gruffly.

Oriel glares at me and Salem follows suit, but I cannot treat the shrimp with kid gloves. I don’t want to appear to show favoritism, nor do I want him to think he can work me as easily as he does the others. The crow shifter grunts, shaking his head in annoyance. “Don’t interrogate him, Jas. He’s coming out of a blackout, for fuck’s sake. Let Kit Kat acclimate before you start the gulag treatment.”

“How long was I out?” The shrimp squints, looking at all of us curiously. “Was I like… completely dead to the world?”

An interesting question and one that was definitely phrased to seem innocuous.

“You passed out while I was completing the healing for today,” Dr. D says as he moves to peer at the kid closely. “Perhaps ten or fifteen minutes… nothing that is too concerning or I would insist you remain here for the evening.”

Kit’s eyes widen and he shakes his head. “No, no. I’d much rather go back to my room. It’s… familiar. I’ll have trouble sleeping if I’m not in a place where I feel comfortable. And where’s Dottie?”

“Right here, KK,” Salem says as he lifts the small rodent off the bed where he was sitting before we all hurried to the shrimp’s side. The damn furry little shit chitters as it scampers up the bed to nuzzle Kit’s face, making his expression turn to one of relief.

Okay, fine, I get why he and Oriel cart that thing around like a Ming vase. It’s a lifeline for the kid.

“Thanks,” Kit mumbles as he leans into the small arms and eager noises of the kinkajou. “She helps me regulate like a support animal and this is very… Well, today has beena lot.”

“No shit,” Slash says as he pats the covered feet with his hand lightly.

He’s getting really fucking weird about this kid and his insouciance earlier makes me very suspicious. I’m going to have a private conversation with my second soon, and he’d better explain his fucking bullshit. My eyes move to Zav, and he gives me a knowing look. Just great, now he expects me to say something comforting to help the shrimp and I have no idea what that would be. Everything is quiet for a moment until I clear my throat. “I think we can get you back to your dorm so you will get the rest you need. That is, if the doc can make sure we have instructions and perhaps a note to excuse you from classes tomorrow?”

Zavvie rolls his eyes, telling me that wasn’t quite what he hoped for, but he nods. “I’m sure we can, Jasper. Slash can carry him, and we’ll make sure Dottie is taken care of… and Salem will help, right?”

“I definitely will. I mean, I’ll set alarms and stuff so I don’t forget if I get sleepy, and?—”

“I’ll help him keep to whatever schedule you need,” Oriel interrupts. “Anton will be busy taking care of Xerxes, I assume.”

“Xerxes will need to be monitored for several days, but he will make a full recovery,” the doctor says as he looks at me. “The young master burned his powers too brightly to fight the madness that took over the arena—according to his account.Master Salem did the opposite—he embraced it to help defend the injured with Master Kit.”

I blink, looking at Slash and Oriel for confirmation. They both nod, and I file that away for our discussion once we’re in the privacy of our rooms. It seems there is much about this giant clusterfuck that I missed because my dragon took free rein. We will need to rectify that once we’re not in this office and it can’t wait until morning. Kit and X might not be going to their classes, but the rest of us will have to face the masses. If we don’t have a singular, streamlined version of events prepared, it will be too easy for the administration to pick at us.

I refuse to give Darkstar the satisfaction of punishing any of my brothers for a perceived slight.

“Understood.” I look at the shrimp, but he’s busy cuddling the rat like it’s the one thing keeping him sane. Sighing as I run my hand through my hair, I turn to my general again. “Slash, you will need to get him to their room since Salem will be leaning on Oriel. Zavida will come with me.”

The doctor reaches for his mask, settling it back on his face before he speaks. “I will assist Master Anton with getting Master Xerxes to their room. The latter is still too weak to be moved without using a portal, I fear.”

“You promise he’s going to be okay, right, Dank?”

The fear in Kit’s tone even hits me and my dragon growls in frustration inside. He doesn’t like that at all. “He knows better than to lie to the Prince.”

A rough, rusty sounding laugh comes from behind the mask. “I would not lie to any of you, especially about the welfare of one of your caliphate brothers. That bond is sacred and easily as old as Iam—no one wishes to find out what happens if you betray it, not even your father, Prince Jasper.”

That was a very odd thing to say, but the doc never says anything but exactly what he means.

The portal opensin the hallway of our floor of Canto IV, and I lead the group out one by one. Salem and Oriel head for the panda’s room, followed by Slash with the shrimp in his arms. I don’t understand why Kit lets that big, toothy demon cart him around without batting a lash. He’s easily as brutal as I am, but somehow, he’s wormed his way into an inner circle that seems to grow every time I turn around. Grumbling in irritation, I wave Zavvie in, then move so the doc can guide a floating X and intensely focused Anton.

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