Page 13 of Mated
“I think our fair Fae warrior may still be unsure where his loyalties lie.” Caine’s words are soft.
I peer at him. “Says the guy with the hots for his captain’s old lady.”
Caine’s blood-red eyes flash. “And your dick wasn’t hard for the smoking hot firefighter?” The sound that pours from me is all growl. He laughs, but there is no humor in it. “Relax, cat. I won’t say a word if you don’t.”
As he watches me, he leans back into the seat, getting comfortable. “Besides, you need backup, and I need to not be around the Ruin-Lilah Love Fest.”
True, the Cap and his new misses can be a bit—focused. But Caine and I have never been close. His smart ass mouth has more than attested to that.
“Fine. But this doesn’t change a thing, demon boy,” I warn.
He crosses his arms with a sinister smile. “And isn’t that the fucking truth?”
Chapter 6
Nisha
The room is quiet for a moment after Tanner leaves. Ruin looks to Gage where he stands by the door, acting like he is torn between staying and going too.
“Well that was fucking weird,” Ruin says.
Lilah elbows him.
He glares down at her. “What? You’ve met Tanner. Was that or was that not fucking weird for him? Especially after—” His eyes dip to mine, taking in my unwitting leaning forward. He coughs. “He’s acting weird, baby girl. ‘Nough said.”
It’s such a blatant cover that I snort.
Ignoring him, Lilah walks closer. “Okay, Nisha. Few things.” I look up at her. “Your healing is accelerated. Something Tanner assured us to mean youwillchange. And with the full moon in two days, it will be soon.”
My stomach flips. “Okay.”
She smiles, snares the pen and hospital stationary and scribbles a number. “I know this is a lot. And I know what you are going through. In ways I can’t even begin to explain …” Ruin coughs and her cheeks flush. “But if you need anything, feel free to contact us.” She tears off the top sheet and holds it out.
I nod and take the offered slip of paper.
She waves as the others file out of the room.
Ruin glances back at the door. “I don’t think I need to tell you not to leave town, Ms. Rawlins.” His dark eyes glint like chunks of obsidian.
“Because if I do, you’ll hunt me down?” I ask, tone wry.
He smiles. “Ex-fucking-actly.” Lilah pulls him through the doorway with a grunt, and the door swishes closed on it’s hydraulic hinge.
I’m left in the quiet, heart pounding away as they trail past the window. I wait a beat.
“Yep. We are done here.” I pull at the I.V. in my arm. It slips out. Tossing it, I clamp my hand over the hole as I search for my clothes.
A bag of ruined running gear sits under the low table. Trying to ignore all the blood on the material, I pull the near shredded shorts on. My eyes rake over the cut bra and then the hospital gown.
I rip the sleeves off of the gown with my teeth. Pulling it on with the opening in the front, I knot the bottom half around my waist, grateful for my smaller chest as the material gaps.
Everything else I shove in the trash and slip from the room.
The hole on my arm tingles, knitting slowly. A wave of anxiety fills my insides, and I have to stop moving as my heart hammers.
Bitten.
A trace of bitterness melds with the fear.
