Page 47 of From the Shadows
“Do you want to hear the rest?” he asked softly.
There wasmore?“Only if you want to tell me.”
“It took me several minutes to find Ranna. When I did, all I could see was she had shifted back to human. Her hair was matted with blood. From the smell, most of it was her own. I sliced through the vampires that were on her and hefted her into my arms. She was scarcely breathing, and I knew she wouldn’t be able to survive waiting for an ambulance. I visualized the hospital, a place I’d been many times, and shut my eyes. When I opened them, I found I was standing in the lobby with Ranna in my arms. I had no idea I could do that, but it allowed me to find her some help. Once I was certain she was in good hands, I misted back to the fight. By the time I returned, Martin and Borne had killed scores more, and their bodies littered the room. The two seemed to be in shock, because they said they’d never seen vampires fight the way these had.”
“What do you mean?”
“It was as if, to them, their lives didn’t matter. They weren’t fighting, they were sacrificing themselves, and they kept laughing as they were incinerated.”
Shay couldn’t think of anything to say, so he grabbed the washcloth and added a daub of soap before he stroked it over Diego’s shoulders. Then he noticed the way the shoulders were quaking.
“Diego?”
He turned and buried his face in Shay’s neck. The warmth fromhis tears seeped into Shay’s skin, but still chilled him. “He was so young, and I killed him.”
There was too much pain in his voice. Shay recalled the story Diego told him, of the troops in the hospital that he killed in his hunger-induced pain. This had to be bringing back memories of that night.
“You had no choice,” Shay assured him, stroking a hand over Diego’s back. “He wouldn’t stand down, and Ranna was counting on you to save her.”
Diego said nothing, and Shay realized he’d fallen asleep. He was trying to figure out how to get them to the bed when the door opened, and in came Martin and Borne. They said nothing as they stepped over to the tub and lifted Diego out. He didn’t even make a sound. They carried him to the bed and laid him on it, before turning and nodding at Shay, who returned the gesture.
I apologize, Shay. I could feel his distress, so I’m trying to help him sleep. After soaking in the tub for a bit, he relaxed and his mind was easier to reach. I knew you couldn’t lift him yourself, so I asked Martin and Borne to come help.
Thank you, Patrice. I’ll make him comfortable, then go back to?—
No. Please, as a favor to me, stay with him. He needs the connection you share with him to stabilize the anger that’s eating him up. He couldn’t protect Ranna, couldn’t stop the young man who forced him to ingest blood, and all he thought about was how angry you would be. Your touch will do him far more good than sleep, but in conjunction? They might pull off a miracle.
As a favor to her? And she knew about his connection to Diego? Whatever. Shay would never turn down the opportunity to spend the night in bed with Diego. He climbed in beside him before he covered them both. Then he turned and wrapped an arm around his waist. Diego whimpered and reached for Shay, pulling him close and clutching him tightly.
“Sleep, Diego. I’m here to protect you, and I won’t be going anywhere.”
“I’m sorry I betrayed you.”
“You didn’t. At all. You’re like me. You had your choices taken from you, and that’s not either of our faults.” He placed a gentle kiss on Diego’s lips. “Sleep now.”
“I never thought I’d hear his name again,” he said softly, his voice cracking.
Shay knew who he meant. The bastard who’d torn his life apart. It wasn’t easy for Shay to separate himself from the knowledge that this Cristobal was back and seemed determined to ruin what Diego had built. He wanted to be the one to help Diego, to keep him tethered to the here and now, and not allow him to slip back into the past.
“Shay?”
So much for Patrice helping him sleep.
He stroked a hand over Diego’s chest, marveling in the dips and curves of his muscles. “What’s up?”
Diego gripped his hand tight. “Please, don’t leave me. I… I can’t do this without you.”
“Not going anywhere,” Shay promised. “Please sleep for me.”
A slight nod. “Okay, for you.”
It took a while, but eventually Diego’s breathing—or what passed for it—evened out and he grew quiet. Shay wrapped around him and held on, much like Diego had done for him when he’d been stuck in that damned nightmare about Mick. He hoped his warmth and closeness would allow Diego to get some rest.
He wasn’t sure how long they’d slept, but Shay had to get breakfast started. He sat up and turned to look at the bedside clock. Diego was gone, and that bothered Shay for some reason. He got out of bed and slipped into the clothes he’d worn last night, then made his way down to the kitchen.
“Good morning, Shay,” Borne said, as he whisked a bowl full of eggs.
“Hey, Shay,” Martin called out, as he held a pan on his hand, his elemental fire heating it.
