16 Taz
Iwas so glad I'd gonefor a pixie at my last hair cut.After omitting for the third time in ten minutes, I couldn’t imagine the mess I’d have made with hair in my face.
Dargo was fussing over me again, playing the part of the doting mate to perfection as my body tried to evict my stomach.He promised the puking was a good sign.It meant my body was purging the toxins that had been absorbed through my skin.
Good sign or not, I felt like dog shit and probably looked as attractive.I gagged again, and Dargo pulled me into his lap, rubbing his hand over my back.
Brought low by monster spit.Today was not my day.
I sagged against him, too tired and gross feeling to snap at him for petting me like I was a carsick pet.Everywhere the spit had touched me, my skin had raised in ugly, fluid filled blisters.The whole area burned like I'd leaned against the restaurant grill.Just looking at the blotchy marks triggered a bolt of anxiety as I relived the moment the huge creature had reared over me and I thought I was about to be percer lunch.
"How long is this going to last?"I moaned, wiping my chin with a shaky hand.I felt like I was hungover and had the flu all at once.My legs were so weak I couldn't even stand without Dargo holding me up.There was a small part of me that took satisfaction in the fact that I'd agreed to be his mate and immediately turned into a puky, sweaty, disgusting mess.
Served him right for making me trade my freedom for Penny's safety.I hoped this moment haunted him everytime he tried to consummate this fucked up deal.Bile rose in my throat again and I heaved, desperately trying to force everything in my stomach out at once.
"I don't know.Percer venom is extremely powerful, that you survived at all is a miracle."
"Yeah, a miracle."I spat a mouthful of puke flavored saliva into the dirt and grimaced."I need a mint."
Dargo gently lowered me to the thin pile of blankets where I'd been wallowing for the past hour.
"I'll get you some water."He poked his head outside and bellowed for water, kicking some loose dirt over the puddle of puke as he headed back my way.I snorted at his attempt at house keeping.
"How's your arm?"he asked, squatting in front of me.My head was spinning and my whole body felt like a rung out rag.I let myself tip over, not even caring when my head smacked into the thin blanket.
"It hurts."I held my blistered arm straight up, watching through half open eyes as he inspected the burns."Kiss it and make it better."
He did a double take, and I let out a slightly hysterical giggle.I had to be loopy from the nausea and dehydration, because I was almost disappointed when he didn't.
"I think the poultice has countered most of the venom," he said, inspecting my arm with a surprisingly gentle touch."Hold still while I wrap it."
I obligingly kept my arm up as he poured some warm water over the burns, washing away the gross chewed-salad looking stuff he'd smeared all over me.He was completely focused on his work as he carefully coated my arm in some suspicious white goo and wrapped a wide strip of a gray material from my elbow to my wrist.
I hissed as he tightened the bandage and he shot a concerned look my way.
"I'm sorry this happened, little Firebrand.I was an idiot to hesitate when I heard the percer."
"It's not your fault."I rolled onto my belly when he released my arm and buried my face in the stale smelling blanket under me.I felt like shit, and all I wanted to do was fall asleep and make all the puking and burning go away for a little bit."You were tied up, I'd be dead if you hadn't broken free at the last minute."
He was silent for a long moment and I tilted my head to the side to peer at him with one eye.His head was hanging, massive horns leveled in my direction.
"I could have broken free at any time, Taz.You're hurt because I was playing a game, trying to make you trust me, make you believe you had the power."
