“Better?”Rex asked as he lowered the now-empty blood bag.
Harmon nodded.“Much.”His mind was clearer, and even though he still felt a bit sluggish and weak, blood had stopped trickling from his wound.It would heal, just slowly.
But Harmon couldn’t wait for it to heal while sitting on the ground.He put his hands down and tried to push himself up, but a hand landed on his shoulder and pushed him right back down.He blinked up at Rex, who was looking at him like he was nuts.
“What do you think you’re doing?”Rex asked.
“Getting up.There are other wounded to check on, and I’m sure Kieran wants to start cleaning up.”Harmon wasn’t quite sure what they were going to do with the dead dragons, but he was glad it wouldn’t be his headache to deal with.He was willing to help Kieran and his pack, but the solution would have to come from the alpha.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Rex said.“You can barely keep your head up.”
“I feel better now that I’ve had blood.”
“Better, but not up to getting to your feet and walking around as if nothing happened.”
“I’m very much aware that something happened.It doesn’t mean I can’t deal with this.”
“I never said you couldn’t deal with it.”
“You just told me that I was weak.”
Rex arched a brow.“Is it a lie?”
Harmon huffed.He didn’t care if people thought he was weak, especially when he was.He just hated feeling useless.“I’m here to help Kieran and his pack, and I’m not going to do that by sitting on the ground.”
“You’re not going to do that if you faint, either.Besides, Merrick would have my head if he found out I let you do anything.”
“He’s not my keeper,” Harmon grumbled.
“He doesn’t have to be.He’s my brother-in-law, so he probably wouldn’t hurt me too badly, but I’m not risking it.Besides, I don’t want Kieran to have to deal with what would happen if you died here and he had to tell your coven about it.”
“I’m not going to die.”
“Not if you stay down.I’ll try to find more blood.”
“I don’t need more blood.”
“Sure you don’t.You’re going to stay there and not try anything because I’ll sit on you if you do.”
Harmon narrowed his eyes at Rex, then slowly reached behind himself for the tree.Rex seemed amused more than angry, which was good because even though Harmon wouldn’t mind having Rex sitting on him, he’d enjoy it more if the circumstances were different.Rex was a handsome man, after all.
Harmon used the tree to get to his feet.His knees wobbled, and he glanced at Rex, who’d crossed his arms over his chest and was staring as if waiting for Harmon to admit that he’d been right.Harmon gritted his teeth and let go of the tree, but his knees buckled as soon as he attempted to take a step forward.
Luckily for him, Rex was there.He caught Harmon before he could face-plant and make an even bigger fool of himself.Harmon found himself engulfed in strong arms and pressed against a warm chest that smelled of soot, sweat, and blood.
“So fucking stubborn,” Rex murmured.
Harmon closed his eyes and took a deep breath.Hewasstubborn, but it had landed him in a place he didn’t mind at all—Rex’s arms.
* * * *
REX WAS GLAD HE’D CAUGHTHarmon.He’d been able to tell that the man would be stubborn by the tight set of his jaw, so he hadn’t been surprised when Harmon had tried getting to his feet.For a moment, he’d even succeeded.
Until he’d tried walking.
It was clear from how pale he still was that he needed more blood.His arm had stopped bleeding, but considering how much blood was on the ground, one blood bag wouldn’t be enough.Harmon felt better—good enough to attempt walking—but it would take longer for him to heal and be able to stand on his own two feet.
Harmon snuggled against Rex’s chest, giving Rex pause.He hadn’t expected it, but it felt nice, even though both of them smelled of sweat and blood.He tightened his arms around Harmon and felt Harmon sigh.He also wobbled, which wasn’t a good sign, so Rex moved to gently lower him back to the ground.
