“We got problems, Ryder?” Ristan asked cautiously.
“No clue. That’s why I called Eliran, so he could find out.”
“You didn’t use a phone,” I said as I struggled to sit up in the bed.
“He’s telepathic. He sent me an image of what was happening, and I sifted in. I hope you don’t mind, Synthia, as you did not invite me yourself,” Eliran said, smiling.
“It is fine. You are welcome here, Eliran,” I replied softly as I watched him materialize several small medical devices and sit down beside me on the bed.
“I need to know what you ate.”
“She ate chocolate and coffee,” Ryder said from across the room.
“Ryder, Ristan, get out. I need to run some tests, and she deserves some semblance of privacy,” Eliran said, looking at me carefully, which only caused me to blush.
“Excuse me?” Ryder said with a deep growl.
“Ryder, you called him. At least let him do his job,” I said, meeting his penetrating golden eyes.
“Fine, I’ll be downstairs,” Ryder huffed, but it was more like a child pouting because he couldn’t have his favorite candy from the store.
When the room was cleared, Eliran pulled out a needle and laid it on the bed. “Last menstrual cycle?”
“It’s been a month, but you said that traumatic stress can affect it. Plus, I’m on still on the birth control from the Guild.”
“Good. That’s good. So you have been throwing up. How many times?”
“Twice. It just started. I thought I was immortal now, so why would I be throwing up?”
“Immortal only means that you don’t die easily or of old age. We still get sick occasionally, and sometimes we do die. You also haven’t completed Transition yet, so it is a little different for you. I need to take some blood,” he said, tying the plastic band around my arm. “Make a fist a few times,” he said, and nodded when I did it correctly. I squeezed my eyes closed when the needle poked through my flesh. “Okay, I’m done. You can open them.”
“Sorry, I think I’ve seen enough blood to last me a lifetime this month already.”
“Understandable after everything you have been through. Okay, I’m going to run a few more tests and take it all back to be processed.”
Chapter Twenty
Soon after Eliran had left, Ryder came back in, still shirtless. He looked around the room and then looked back at me. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. He did a few tests and took the samples back with him.”
“You should try to get some sleep,” he said, coming over to lie on the bed as if he owned it.
“You gonna hold me through the night and keep the bad guys away?” I said jokingly.
“Among other things, yes. That was my plan tonight, if that’s okay with you.”
I hadn’t expected his response, and almost moaned when he wrapped his strong arms around me. “Close your eyes. I’ve got you, Pet. I’ll keep you safe; I promise. Nothing will happen to you.”
“Ryder, you said you would teach me how to feed without sex. How would I be able to do it?” I asked.
“I’m not sure you can, yet. We will worry about it in the morning, or when you are strong enough. Right now, you need to get some rest.”
*~*~*~*~*Ryder*~*~*~*~*
I watch her sleep—so beautiful, so fucking perfect. She isn’t in my plans, and, yet, I find my entire world wrapping around her more each day. It’s dangerous, and I lost control of him. She wants more than I can give her, and a better man would let her go. I’m not a better man. I’m also not above cheating to keep her. It is how we are. We take out what gets in our way. We kill to prove we can control what we want. She’s still thinking as a human. If she wasn’t, she’d know that by me getting him out of the way I was proving to her that I was the smarter Fae, the better man. That I was the man for her, and willing to fight to get her.
He growls inside of me; pacing, watching, and stalking her, even now. He wants to be inside of her, but I’m afraid of what he might do to her. He took over so quickly, and I was unable to stop him, or protect her. I fought with him and regained control. Normally, I am aware when I allow him to take control. This time, he completely blocked me from seeing what he did until I was able to wrestle control back from him. All he will tell me is that he made sure that she would not need to feed from another while she sorts her mind—so we can give her the time she wants. Asshole, he still thinks he can control her. He seems confident that she will forgive me, but I’m not so sure that forgiveness will come anytime soon. I’m still not sure what else he has done to her. It scares me to think about what he might have done, and nothing scares me.