I do not own any part of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. All of that greatness is the work of the amazing J R Ward.
As of 5-22-12 the wonderful GothicBelle has beta'ed this for me. Hopefully this is now easier to read.
I hope everyone enjoys.
Chapter Seventeen
Payne hated this room, hated being trapped. That bastard of a doctor had her on bed rest. Payne didn't like being trapped in a room, let alone in a bed. When they had moved her up here she had tried to get up and hurt part of her back again. Dr. Manello had had to go back it and fix it again. She didn't care how damn good looking he was, he was a total pain in the ass. Now they didn't leave her alone, there was a doggen in the room at all times and if she tried to get up Dr. Bitch magically appeared and shot her up with something. Damn ghost. Payne hated her because she couldn't fight her. Jane, her brother's shellan, was only as solid as she wanted to be. Pissed Payne off beyond belief that she couldn't get her hands on her.
There was a knock at the door. Speak of the Devil. She looked at the bedside clock, right on time just like always. "Manello, you can just turned the fuck around and disappear. I'm not in the fucking mood right now," she yelled through the door. She just wasn't in the mood for him no matter how tall, dark and handsome he thought he was.
The door opened anyways. "Sorry to disappoint you, Sis." Vishous entered the room and took his usual chair by the bed. The doggen got up from her seat by the shuttered window and left the two alone in the room.
"What are you doing here so early in the day?" She asked, her tone still sharp. She liked that Vishous visited her, but didn't like that he could read mines. So not fair. From what she'd learned since coming to the Brotherhood's mansion, her brother had several gifts from their mother. Where as she truly took after their father.
"Nursing duty. The others are either busy or getting some much deserved rest. So I'm going to get you up and supervise your walk this morning."
"Been busy down stairs tonight? One of you boys break a nail swatting at each other?" She didn't know why but she was just extra pissed today and might as well take in out on someone.
"Actually Jane and Manello each had a patient and we called Havers in to patch me and a doggen up."
"What happened?" Payne asked sorry she had missed the action. They really needed to let her out of here soon. She so needed to train.
"Lessers attacked a civilian home. A female, three young and two doggen. One of the doggen took a bullet trying to hold the lessers off, waiting on us."
"A doggen fighting?"
"He was defending his home and his mistress. Doggen may not be born fighters like we are, but they will defend what is theirs same as anyone," Vishous said while motioning for her to get out of bed. "Come on now, you can walk and talk at the same time, can't you? I'd like to catch a little more shut eye before the day's over."
He did look a little tired now that she paid attention. She got up and started her pacing. She really hated this room. "Who else got hurt?"
"Well I took two to the leg. It's all good though. Blay's pretty bad. He took four in the back saving my ass and they bounced all over the place but Manny's taking great care of him. I'm not worried, this ain't how he goes," V paused and poured himself a glass of water and took a large drink. "Should have brought some Goose with me."
Payne paused. She hated when people drifted off subject. She preferred the facts and with as little chit-chat as possible. "Who is the other Brother that got hurt?"
"It wasn't a Brother, it was the female. She's the worst of all. Her name's Syhren. I have to say she's earned my respect. She dematerialized in the courtyard asking for our help. When I suggested she stay here she laid my ass out, took my guns, and dematerialized right back into the fight. Seven bullets and a nasty stab wound. But she took out nine lessers on her own. Bad ass chick, right up your alley," Vishous said with a grin. "She pretty too, has the loveliest lavender eyes."
'Damn it, V, stay out of my head.' He had to have picked up on the lavender thing last time he visited. No'One and Layla had been by just before him that day and Layla had been wearing lavender robes. Now Payne couldn't get the color out of her head.
"Nine lessers?" That was impressive. Even for a male nine in one fight would be impressive. And lavender eyes, that was unusual.
"It impressed me too, however sister dear, with modern warfare we should be able to take out larger numbers. It's the need for secrecy in the passed that has kept our fights small. We have worked hard not to attract the attention of humans."
"We shouldn't concern ourselves with humans. They are nothing compared to us," Payne had never seen the importance of keeping themselves secret. They were far superior to the human race.
"And they far out number us," V stated. "The female was the Brother Darius's secret shellan. Not a one of us knew about her. What worries me is I haven't seen her in any of my visions. Nothing, not even her death," he paused and looked at the door. "You want to walk in the hall for a while?"
"Sure," it beat the fuck out of staying in here. The thought of a female who could hold her own and has lavender eyes intrigued her. "Darius is deceased, isn't he?"
"We lost him over five years ago now. Why?" V had a hint of a grin on his face again. Just as they made it out the door V's phone went off.
"Yes, be right there," V hung up and motioned for the doggen to join them. "I've got business with the King. She can walk up and down the hall a few times and then back to bed. If she gives you any trouble," he looked at the doggen, "you know what to do. Sister mine, do not make me regret this. Those eyes can wait."
'Fuck you and your mind reading, asshole,' she thought as he walked away.
He just laughed at her as he rounded the corner.
…
"Warrior, you waste your time here, go run your kingdom."
Shit. Wrath didn't like what the Scribe Virgin just said.
"I can not believe it is your will to send her into the Fade," he voiced.
"That has never been my plan. She has great things to do in this world. My words were meant to comfort."
Wrath was relieved. "Thank you."
"And a warning, royal blood is precious. No matter how much blood she needs or how much you want to help, royal blood does not touch her lips. In this I will not be disobeyed."
Wrath bowed his head and spoke cautiously hoping his anger could not be heard, "As you command."
And as quickly as she appeared she was gone.
…
Most everyone had been in to check on Blay before settling in for the day. Wrath had just been by and now V was in checking him over.
"So Nurse Vishous, how's he doing?" Qhuinn asked.
"You want to keep your teeth, pretty boy, can the nurse shit right now," V said with that wicked grin the Brother got before throwing down. "Your boy is doing great. Stats are all good. He's just sleeping and that's good. He'll heal faster this way."
"Is he going to need to feed again, you think?"
"I'm sure of it, but Phury has Pheonia staying over in case he wakes anytime soon."
"That's good," Qhuinn said sitting back down and taking Blay's hand again. He massaged it between his own. He liked the way their hands looked together.
"I've got to check on Syhren, but I'll be in and out a few more times before Ehlena takes over watch duty," V headed for the door.
"Hey man, seriously, thanks for everything," Qhuinn spoke from his place by Blay.
"It's nothing, you guys are part of us now. You're family. Besides he took those bullets covering my ass. Only wish I could do more."
When V left Qhuinn turned back to Blay. "I'm so happy you're going to be okay. I have so much to prove to you, baby. I love you. You're my best friend. You know me inside and out, even better than I know myself," he reached up and swept Blay's hair away from his eyes again.
"I'm not saying this is going to be easy. I have a lot of shit to still deal with, but Blay as long as I have you to love me I can do anything. Of course as hard headed as I am it's going to be a long and rough road." Qhuinn pressed a kiss to his forehead. "I'm going to tell you everyday just how much you mean to me and how much I love you, baby."
…
Blay was too shocked and scared to open his eyes. He had woken up to Qhuinn's voice. His mouth was dry and his eye lids felt like sandpaper. Just as he was about to ask for water Qhuinn's words had hit him. Shit to deal with, rough road. Then Qhuinn had kissed his forehead. It had taken everything in him not to move when his lips touched him. His body betrayed him with the jolt those lips gave him. Then Qhuinn had said he loved him.
"Asshole," Blay was barely able to whisper as he opened his eyes.
Qhuinn knocked something over as he jumped to your feet, "You're awake, thank the Virgin."
Blay noticed that his hand was tingling and looked at it. Qhuinn was holding it. He hated the way his body responded to him. He pulled it away trying to sit up.
"Baby, you can't get up," Qhuinn said pushing him back down by the shoulders ever so gently. The ease of this upset Blay a little. He couldn't believe how weak he was. "Doc's got to check you out first," Qhuinn said pushing some button on the side of the bed.
"What happened?" All Blay remembered was the look of fear on Qhuinn's face before he had fainted.
"You got shot, baby, when you ran from the garage to the house. V, Phury, and Z all feel real bad that they didn't notice. It wasn't until I hugged you and smeared blood on your face that we knew anything was wrong. You collapsed in my arms," Qhuinn seemed genuinely concerned. Blay felt like a truck ran him over.
"A bullet made me feel this bad?"
"Four and they bounced all over inside you. Doc Manello work on you for five hours. Baby, that was the worst five hours of my life. I never want to go through that again," Blay saw real fear in his eyes. 'Damn,' he thought.
"Fuck you," Blay was starting to feel like that truck was parked on his chest. He really didn't want to deal with any of Qhuinn's pathetic guilt induced 'I love you cause you almost died' shit right now. "And I'm not your fucking 'baby' so can that shit right now," V came in just in time to catch that last line.
Blay avoided Qhuinn and looked at V. "Man, can I get some water. My throat feels like a Brillo pad."
Qhuinn had backed to the door. "I'll get it," he told V and walked out.
"You shouldn't be that hard on him," Vishous said. "It's not guilt."
"I don't need this right now. I feel like shit and I don't want his pity, got it?" Qhuinn was not something he wanted to discuss right now or anytime soon for that matter.
"Jane is finishing up with a patient at Safe Place, but she'll be here as soon as she can. She wants to examine you before we give you anything for the pain," V explained. Then looking Blay dead in the eye said, "And it's not pity."
"You don't know him like I do. He doesn't love me like I love him. To him I'm just his best friend, a brother at best. He's pulls this 'he wants me' bullshit when he's afraid he'll lose me. And what went on with me today just scared him more than usual."
"He really does love you and want you. The time apart made him realize that you're more than a friend. Hell, I'd call you two soul mates."
"V, I appreciate your concern, but I've come to terms that what I need from him I'll never get. But I won't leave him, I already promised that much to Butch. I'm a sick masochistic ass and will always be here okay?"
"Blay you need to open your heart again."
"There isn't anything left to open, he made sure of that," Blay knew he sounded bitter and frankly that's because he was.
There was a knock on the door and it eased open. "Master Qhuinn sent me," the Chosen Pheonia said as she carried a tray with a glass and pitcher in. "He thought that after you had some water that you may need to feed again."
'Damn him, damn him to Hell,' Blay thought. 'Fucking hope springs eternal.' "Not this time," he vowed out loud.