“Thanks for babysitting me,” I mumble. And then I realize. “Shit, have you been up all night?”
Evil sunlight is blaring around the drawn curtains. I think it’s mid-morning but I can’t face looking for my phone to check.
A smile tugs on the corner of his lips. “It’s fine. I don’t need much sleep.”
Because he isn’t human. That should probably bother me more than it does, which is not at all. Which is even more evidence ofjust how screwed up and crazy I am. Friends with a siren? Sure why not, bring it on. Adopted by a half-demon and his full demon boyfriend, who you saw eat people? Wonderful, no problem at all. I’ve always wanted a family.
A dry chuckle bubbles out of me.
A concerned look flows over Blue’s face and I flash him a smile to reassure him that I haven’t completely lost my mind. Not yet, anyway.
“Thanks for looking after me,” I say again.
Blue gives me a shy smile that melts my heart. How is anyone just so incredibly sweet?
Just then, the sound of a van door sliding open rings out. It sounds like it is really close to my window, on the other side of the curtains. It’s definitely on the driveway at least.
Boots crunch on gravel, and masculine voices call out. Workmen is my guess. Red mentioned something about a drain needing replacing. I wish they wouldn’t be so fucking loud. Each sound is lancing through my brain. I really hope the painkillers kick in soon.
Blue looks awfully pale. His face has drained of all color. His eyes are huge and full of terror.
Shit. Is he having a flashback or something? I scramble out of bed but hover uselessly in front of him. His eyes look unseeing. Will my touch be a comfort or a fright? I don’t want to make things worse.
“Blue?” I ask softly.
Quick as a flash, he moves. Before I’ve had a chance to blink, he’s gone from the chair by my bed, to the far corner of the room. He is curled up into a small ball and is whimpering softly.
“Hey, it’s okay,” I say. “It’s just workmen. They aren’t going to hurt you.”
Blue doesn’t respond. I’m not sure if he has even heard me. Should I get the healer? Jade? Any of the others that I can findbecause they know him better than I do and he’ll feel safer with them?
“I’ll… I’ll go get someone,” I say as I tie my robe around myself.
“No!” he wails. “Don’t leave me!”
His head is tucked firmly into his knees, but his plea still rings out clear and frantic. Desperate. Full of anguish.
I freeze. “Okay, sweetie. I won’t leave.”
What the fuck do I do now? I don’t know how to look after people. It’s usually me who needs help. I’m the headcase. The fuck up. But I can’t be that right now. Blue needs me. I have to get my shit together.
How do I make Blue feel better? He is lost in his panic. He thinks these men are here to take him away or something.
Or use him. A bitter taste floods my mouth. Blue was a sex slave. Used and abused. Given out as entertainment and never allowed to say no. No wonder strange men scare the shit out of him.
Rage prickles at my skin. Fury burns. Inspiration strikes. I dive under my bed and grab my trusty baseball bat. Then I stand in front of Blue. I’m so freaking glad my baseball bat was not tidied away. It’s my comfort weapon. And now it’s going to comfort someone else.
“Sweetie, look at me, please?” I beg.
Blue eyes peek out. They are glowing slightly but it doesn’t scare me at all. I twirl my baseball bat expertly.
“I’ve got you,” I promise. “I’m going to stand between you and the door and if any motherfucker tries to come in, they are going to lose their kneecaps.”
I give Blue my best unhinged and bloodthirsty grin. His eyes widen, but his shoulders relax. I swing my bat again. He relaxes even more and my grin widens.
I mean every word of my promise to him. Blue is a sweetheart and I hate that he has been hurt. Hate it with a passion that burns. I’ve spent my life on the wrong side of the tracks and I know how to fight. I’m too scrawny to be truly great at it. But I’ve knocked skullsbefore and I’m happy to do it again. Especially for Blue. People can treat me like shit, but not my friends. Never my friends.
“What a pair we are, hey?” I say.
