I’m expecting to go back to the Draven mansion, but instead we pop back into existence in a large warehouse full of men dressed in Tac gear and Healers wearing white coats to make them easily distinguishable. There are already freed prisoners being looked at by Healers and when they notice our arrival, a group of them come rushing at us.
I don’t like that.
Even knowing they’re not Resistance, I don’t like being rushed, and especially not with four of my Bonds standing here with me. The moment I tense, my Bonded turns on his heel, putting his back between us and the Healers, and he snaps, “Back up! You’re about to get fried.”
“Or eaten,” the other Dark One drawls, three of his creatures baring their teeth at the approaching men, and though they look like perfect beings to me, all three men gulp from where I can see over my Bonded’s shoulder.
Pathetic.
The Dark One steps out in front. “We need Felix Davenport. We brought him with us specifically to see to our Bond.”
One of the men sputters indignantly and snaps, “He’s a third year student! A councilman’s Bond should be seen by—”
“She will be seen by Davenport and no one else. It’s not your decision to make, Payne.”
A Healer called Payne? I feel like the girl would enjoy that greatly. There’s a lightness in my head and I rest my forehead back down onto my Bonded’s chest, taking slow breaths to stop the swirling there. His arms tighten again and then he snaps, “Get the fuck out of the way before I hack into your brain and dredge up enough information to bury you.”
There’s more murmuring but then the Healer calls out, “I’m here! I was just getting Kyrie settled with some fluids, where’s Oli—Jesus fucking Christ. Put her down; that’s enough blood to kill a man, and that position is just making it worse.”
My Bonded steps over to one of the stretchers, but instead of putting me down, he takes a seat, moving my legs around so that the Healer will have access to them. One of his big palms slides under my shirt to flatten over my spine, holding me securely against his chest, and it heats up as his gift spreads through my body.
The pain I know is there but don't actually feel disappears.
I sigh and turn to look at the Healer who is eyeing me carefully. My Bonded’s arms tighten around me protectively, the palm almost scalding on my bare skin. He’s very sensitive about everything in this room, the eyes and the words, everything is getting him ready for war.
I wonder what he’s hearing that our ears can’t.
“Watch yourself, Davenport. I’m not in the mood for excusing disrespect after everything we’ve been through today,” he snaps, and the Healer throws his hands up like he’s anticipating a fist to the jaw.
“This isn’t being disrespectful. I’ve healed her enough to know exactly what she can do and how much power she has. I'm being cautious in case she’s having some problems with control. We both know that’s been an issue.”
This makes him pause a little, just to look at me, but my void eyes give him nothing back. I feel my power winding down, the threat taken care of and none of the Gifted here a concern to any of us. Any one of my Bonds could crush these people like wet paper.
The Dark One glances down at me and then crouches down until he’s back at my level, his voice firm as he says, “Give Oleander back so we can heal you.”
I scowl at him. “No. I’m not giving her back while there’s still pain. I don’t let her feel it.”
The arms tighten again, and then the Healer crouches down next to the Dark One. “If you can promise you’ll be in control while I do what I need to, I’ll do it. I’ll take your word for it, because Gryphon will have to stop blocking the pain while I do.”
My Bonded answers for me without hesitation, “No. You’re not healing her while she can feel it.”
The Healer shakes his head. “I can’t pinpoint all of the damage if she can’t feel the pain, I’m sorry. If I miss something, it could kill her later. I’m not willing to take that chance. Other Healers might, I won’t. There’s too much at stake here, and I’m not losing Oli because you're concerned about her feeling pain. I get it, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m sorry.”
I lean forward to be sure that I have his full attention, which I perhaps didn’t need to do because I think I have the entire room's full attention right now, and say, “I won’t harm you so long as you don’t harm me or mine. Not now, not ever. The pain is nothing, only the girl feels it and she’s sleeping right now. Do what you need to.”