Or not. If they kill me in my sleep, that’s a better way to go than the painful death of the poison overtaking my body. Not that that’s off the table yet.
Without many options, I place my hands in his. Keary is surprisingly careful when he pulls me to my feet, giving me time to catch my bearings and adjust my weight. This time, when I put pressure on it, I feel my foot, which is a giant improvement from the last time he had me on my feet.
Now that I’m standing, I realize I’m still only in my underwear and shirt. If I had any sense of modesty, I’d probably blush, but at this point, I don’t give a fuck.
“Can you walk?” Keary asks. There’s a combination of curiosity and eagerness in his voice.
“We’re going to find out,” I say.
Holding his hands like I’m a small child getting ready to take my first steps, I feel ridiculous. But that’s exactly what’s happening right now. He’s here to steady me and catch me if I fall.
How cheesy.
I’m not sure if I want to attempt stepping on my injured foot or try my weight on the uninjured foot first then step off from it. Both feel far too big. I brace myself for the shot of pain and bring my injured leg forward. When I put weight on it, thorns begin at the base of my foot and shoot up my leg.
I think I groan. The gentle throbbing that was radiating along my leg to varying degrees is now exacerbated to the fullest extent.
“Okay, okay,” Keary says, and the next thing I know, I’m in his arms. Which is fucking ridiculous since I’m at least as big as he is, if not bigger. He grins broadly. “I’ll gladly carry you, precious.”
My eyes narrow, but he only finds that more amusing.
Thankfully, it seems that one of the dark rooms right off the room we’d been in has an array of beds. Keary lays me down in the most careful way. It’s weird to see him do so since he looks like he wants to tear someone apart.
Then again, that might just be my colored view of monsters. Maybe that’s not the reality.
“Sweet dreams, handsome,” Keary says. “There’s a toilet straight through the room we were just in—the door across from this one. Holler if you need help.”
I nod.
“Any kind of help.” He winks.
“Thanks.”
With a grin, he leaves the room, though he doesn’t latch the door behind him. It’s open a few inches, and the light spills in. I adjust on the bed, moving pillows around so that my foot is elevated as Keary said it should be.
I don’t know if that’s the wisest, but I do it anyway. That’s more medical knowledge than I have.
The fact that I have multiple pillows on the bed is a luxury unlike any I’ve had since my parents were killed. I find theoccasional blanket from time to time, but pillows aren’t frequent in my life.
I’m about to doze off when I hear their voices. As much as I’d like to ignore them, my interest is piqued since their discussion loosely revolves around me.
“Why are you doing this?” Notto asks.
“Why not?”
“You’re that bored? What’s your intent with him when, or if, he heals?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far.”
“Keary—”
“You’re not obligated to stay. I didn’t even ask you to come. If you don’t want to stay with the human, then go.”
A beat of silence. This time, when someone speaks, it’s the one voice I haven’t heard much, which tells me it’s the third monster, Drystan.
“Keary—” Drystan begins.
“I’ve already told you no. I’m not interested.”
