Or was it me projecting because this was… uncomfortably intimate?
Even though it was him injured and needing the help, I felt… exposed in a way.
When he’d managed to drink down the last drop, I eased the bottle away, replaced the cap, then settled it where I’d found it within the chest. He was clearly all about the neatness, so if I’d just shoved it back in randomly, it would’ve probably upset him.
And he’d clearly had enough pain and upset as it was.
Thank fuck, though, I noticed the white veins covering his skin, the marks of his venom crystallizing through his blood, vanishing. Really fucking quickly, actually.
Within a couple of minutes, they were gone completely.
I jolted as deep black scales laced with glowing citrine erupted over him like a ballistic shield.
It was only for a few seconds, before they withdrew, and it was back to his humanoid skin, sans white veins.
I saw his eyes flame with his power, and he released a heavy breath of relief.
His fingers started healing from the shriveling. It still persisted elsewhere, over his arms, and wherever else hidden beneath his clothing too, but I could at least see the healing beginning. It just seemed time-consuming when it came to that aspect. He’d been damaged in two separate ways and now the crystallization had ceased, it was obviously just taking his body some time to kick on the full breadth of his healing factor.
“A few hours,” he told me, finally not gasping the words or struggling to get them out.
He even managed to adjust his own weight on the bed and shift down, settling his head onto his pillow. Although, his hands were still trembling.
“Until the shriveling goes away and you’re back to full strength?”
“Yes. I’ll be fine now.” His eyes darted to the chest. “Just… could you pass me the items inside the suede cloth?”
I nodded and reached in, unwrapping the cloth.
I started when I found not justitemsas he’d referred to them, but actual weapons.
Two jeweled daggers.
Each one had a double-edged steel blade with a teal shimmer. The guard formed a coiled serpent around a large emerald, while the grip was wrapped in dark, scaled leather with gold etching. A smaller emerald set into the pommel glowed vibrantly.
Before I reached out to grab hold of them, Vaxan told me quickly, “Careful not to touch the tips. Only handle them around the grip.”
“Not that I’m looking to slice my skin open, but why the intensity with the warning?”
“The glowing smaller emerald signifies that the venom reservoirs are fully charged.”
“The… what?” I asked as I carefully lifted out each one—yes, by the grip only.
“They can be used to inject venom into an opponent without the need for me to move in close with an actual bite to do so.”
“And you need these right this instant, why?”
Instead of answering, he took them from me and shakily rested one down either side of him, within precise reach of each of his hands. “Thank you. I’ll be fine now. You may take your leave.”
“They won’t be coming back. I tagged those vamps with my magic, and I can feel they’ve left campus. So, you don’t need to worry.”
He jolted. “You tagged them? To what end?”
“Why do you think?”
“No. You cannot pursue this.”
“I sure as fuck can. After what they did to you—”
