Shit!Agony flayed him once more, and he stumbled to a slower pace. Hell, he had a damn fight coming up soon, and here he was, already injured. And hoped he healed up fast.
In what felt like hours later, he staggered into the living room as Aba walked out of the kitchen. “Cnati!” He rushed over as Nate collapsed onto the couch, his emotionless gaze sweeping over him. “What happened?”
“Had an encounter with a Guardian.”
“What did you do? You know we must stay under the radar from them.”
“Stopped those blood demon fuckers from killing a human, got labeled as an accomplice with the damn bunch.” Nate didn’t mention the time frame between the first encounter and getting hurt or that he’d attempted to heal the human. “Their weapons don’t allow for quick healing, it seems. Besides, how can we stay undetected? Shadow mated one of them.”
“I can get away with it, pretending to be a timid Otium. But you, Natek,youmust be cautious.” Aba lifted Nate’s t-shirt, examined the wound, then he hurried to the kitchen.
Grimacing, Nate pulled off his shirt and pressed it against the long, seeping wound on his abs. Black scales shimmered along his torso. Muscles stretched, bones creaking within him as if they would crack, the urge to shift pushing at his psychic shields.
“Fuck!” Nate grunted, struggling to keep from fracturing.
Aba reappeared in a flash with the first-aid kit of salves, potions, and other stuff he’d procured in Ys. He crouched and stilled, his gaze fixed on the shifting scales beneath Nate’s skin. “I’m sorry for what you endure.”
“No,” he muttered, pain fragmenting his mind. “You did what you had to, to save me. You had no idea what would happen.”
“You were a child. I couldn’t let you die.” Aba started cleaning the wound. “Still, I should have known…” His tone hardened. “Nothing good ever came from that damned realm. But at the time, I wasn’t thinking straight. I only wanted you to live, and those symbionts brought you back to me.”
Eyes shut, Nate dropped his head against the backrest as another spasm of pain ripped through his gut. Hands fisted, he pressed them into the old leather couch.
“You’re not healing. Go see Qinera,” Aba said, mentioning the seer-slash-healer in the Dark Realm. “She’s healed me many times back in the day.”
“No.”
“Natek, this wound is from a Guardian’s weapon. Most demons don’t recover from what I’ve heard. They die.”
His sire was the only one who used his full name, except for Azgor, especially in moments like these, relaying his frustration. “I’ll take my chances. Parts of me are changing more now when I lose control.” He expelled a shattered breath. “I can’t have anyone in Ys or anywhere in the Dark Realm finding out the kind of beast I house.”
He sensed more than felt Aba go dead still. “You are right,” he said quietly. “Even if Qinera doesn’t talk, there are those unscrupulous enough to get more information about you any way they can, and they would torture her.” Sounds of him ruffling through the med box echoed in the quiet place. “They already see you as Azgor’s favored one. Jealousy is an infectious poison.”
Nate opened his eyes, studying the lean features of his sire, who never wavered in his care. And here he was, tending to him once again.
“Favored?” he repeated. “Then they’re welcome to take my place.” He shifted on the couch, trying to find a position that didn’t hurt. The dark gods knew he was so fucking tired of beingfavored. Hell, his soul was stained by the blood of those he’d killed. He doubted even Purgatory would let him in when death called.
A long silence passed as Aba cleaned his injury, then applied a thick, musty-smelling liniment. “What did Azgor want?” he finally asked.
“The usual. A job.”
He stopped his treatment. “Nate, don’t bullshit me. I worked for him once. I know what he’s capable of.”
“You’re out of that business. Let it go.”
“Because you took over my debt.” Aba cut him a flat stare. He hadn’t liked it back then, and that sentiment hadn’t changed. “If he ever comes to know what you are, you will never be free.”
Too late,the comeback floated in his muzzy brain. “I’m careful.”
“You’re so stubborn.” Aba shook his head and continued pasting the unguent on the wound. “This tear is bad.”
“I know.” Hislaikawas deadly.His?Rough laughter escaped him.
“What?” Aba glanced up from taping on a dressing.
“Nothing.” Nate shifted on the couch, then fumbled out the small lead box from his jeans pocket. “I have something for you. Here.” He held it out.
Aba went motionless, then he shot to his feet, standing over him. Hands clenched. “Natek, what did you do?”
