Born of Defiance

Within a few minutes, she had his blood pressure almost back to a normal range.

“Breathe with me,” she whispered. “In deep. Hold. One. Two. Three. Now out.” She kept doing that until his res and heart rate were back down, too. “Good Hammer.”

He actually gave a half laugh at that.

She moved to rub his arm and shoulder while she continued to force him to breathe deeply. “Better?”

“No.” He grimaced irritably. “How much can one body hurt and not kill you?”

“A lot. But then you know that better than I do.”

He clenched his teeth.

“Breathe through it, baby.” She used the pressure point in his hand to distract his brain from whatever was hurting him.

He followed her lead.

“Now, can you eat for me? If you don’t, you’ll have to go back and fight in the Mean Weight Division. Think of all the puny males you’ll have to go through to get back to Zoftiq.”

“You’re not funny.”

“I’m funny-looking. I have big ears. It’s why I keep my hair long and never wear it up.”

He lifted his hand to finger her lobe. “Your ears are perfect.”

“You’re delusional from your pain.”

He laughed again.

Felicia pulled the tray stand over to the bed and uncovered his food. “Let’s see what we have here. Hmm… it’s got to be better than the shite you normally eat.”

“I’ve never heard you swear before.”

“I don’t often.” She picked up the small pudding cup and fed him a bite. “How’s that?”

“Tastes like shit.”

She narrowed her eyes at his surly tone before she took a bite of it.

“Hey!”

“I’m seeing for myself. And it’s quite good. I think the crap you call food has destroyed your taste buds.”

Talyn stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers. Since Anatole’s call, he’d felt like utter hell. But somehow, just her gentle presence made him feel better.

He’d give anything if he could just stay with her and forget everything else in his life.

But the gods had never been that merciful to him.

“How did your test go?”

“Pretty sure I aced it. Your mom is a great study partner. She really knows her stuff.”

“Yeah, she grew up in a hospital, with her parents.”

She fed him a bite of the soft sandwich before she ran her finger along the stubble on his chin. “They didn’t shave you?”

“I wouldn’t let them. I was such an ass that I feared they might slit my throat if I let them get that close to me with a razor.”

She snorted. “You shouldn’t be that way.”

“I know. I was trying to be good. But it hurts so much… and I don’t like them as much as I like you.”

“Yes, but you need to be nice to Andarions who give you shots.”

“If you say so.”

“Dear gods! What did you do? Perform an exorcism?”

Laughing, Felicia looked to the door to see his gaping doctor. “No. I just beat him down. I might be smaller, but I’m meaner.”

The doctor snorted as he came in to check Talyn’s vitals while she continued to feed him. “It’s a good thing your girlfriend came in when she did. I just went over your head to get permission to knock you unconscious if you get unmanageable again.”

“Sorry.”

The doctor gaped again. “He even apologizes. Holy Andaria.” He looked incredulously at Felicia. “That’s it. I’m calling your school and telling them to send a proctor over with your exams. You’re not allowed to leave until we release him. I’m dead serious. What school do you attend?”

“North Eris.”

“No wonder their tuition is so high.” The doctor scowled at Talyn’s vitals. “This is the best he’s been since we admitted him. Incredible. What did you do?”

“Basic trigger points. A little PT massage.”

“Keep it up. Can I get you anything else?”

She glanced to the tray. “He needs more protein than this and he likes citrus. Could you please put an order in for it?”

“Absolutely. If you need anything else, just let me know.”

“Thank you.”

Talyn pulled her hand to his lips so that he could nibble her fingertips. “Some privacy would be better.”

“You’re not well enough for that.”

He lowered her hand to his erection. “My body totally disagrees with you.” He let out a deep, pain-filled growl. “I’m in utter misery, Felicia.”

She narrowed her gaze on him. “Have they bathed you today?”

He shook his head.

“Hold on.” Felicia went to the nurses’ station for a bathing kit.

The nurse handed her one. “I put the order in for more food. Do you want it when it arrives?”

“I’ll be back for it after I finish his bath.”

She nodded before she took Felicia’s hand. “Thank you, by the way.”

“For what?”

“Dealing with him. You are a saint!”

“Not really. He’s actually very sweet.”

The nurse snorted in denial. “You’re insane if you think that.”