Shit.
They’re going to kill me.
Instinctively, I call out in my head. “Rathyn. Where are you?”
A buzz and then a thump, making me wince once more.
“Here. I’m here.”
“I’m sorry.”The words whisper through my mind. “I’m sorry. I fucked up.”
Another kick to the ribs, and the edges of my vision go black. I brace myself for another blow, but before one comes, I hear a loud trill belonging to a Vyastil.
Rath, I think for a wild moment. But I open one eye, and I see it’s not him. It’s Cielo—sans coat, his claws flying. There’s blood suddenly, and a heavy thud of a body beside me.
Then the sound of the other man running away.
By the time Cielo has lifted me into his arms, I can hear the sound of tires peeling off on the pavement.
“Rathyn…”
“Mm,” Cielo murmurs.
He must have sent him. “I’m hurt.”
“Yessss,” he says without mistakes, though he lingers a while on the S. The sound of his voice is comforting.
“You can’t take me through the building like this,” I tell him. I’m a mess, can feel my eye swelling, and I’m tasting blood fromwhere I must have bitten my lip. “Someone will tell Rathyn how bad it is and he’ll break the rules and come find me.”
Cielo hums an agreement, then manages to get out, “Myyyyy.”
His? His what? But he’s walking now, so I rest my aching head on his shoulder and search for Rathyn. He’s still there.
“What is wrong?”he asks.
“Nothing. I just panicked.I’m okay.”
He hums lowly, and it rattles my skull slightly. “You are injured.”
“Nah. Just a little scrape.”
It’s a lie, but one I need to tell. One I need to believe. I don’t want him coming back for me, getting in trouble for me.
I couldn’t live with myself.
“I hope death brings eternal pain to whatever caused your scrape,”Rathyn sends viciously.
“That’s a bit much, babe.”Though it might be true. I have no idea how badly Cielo hurt them.
“Babe,”he repeats, and I smile even as the pain becomes a bit much. I can’t let him sense this. I can’t.
“Go back to work. I’m fine, really.”
He hesitates a moment, almost unsure, but then I feel the acceptance.“I will return soon and attend to your healing.”
I don’t believe that he’ll be here soon, but I send him a burst of affection and then let myself sink into darkness as Cielo carries me inside.
twenty-four
