“I do not think we should continue.”
I agreed. I needed a shower.
He cleared his throat. I was still caressing him.
“Oh! I’m sorry. Everything just feels so soft.”
“Do not apologize.”
“What the hell is going on in here?” Bryce’s voice came from the doorway a few minutes later.
“Bryce!”
Ian was suddenly standing next to the bed. I tried getting out of bed as well, but when my feet hit the floor, my knees collapsed.
“Whoops!” I cried out as my bottom hit the floor with a thump.
I looked up at Ian as he held out his hand for me. “You were badly injured. You need more time to recover. I will leave you two alone.”
“No, don’t leave. Bryce, what’s your problem?” Too tired to stand, I climbed back into the bed.
Bryce stood in the doorway; his eyes locked on Ian.
“I am sorry. I was just surprised, is all. It’s not every day I see one of my oldest friends kissing someone whose diapers I used to change. Shock to the system, that’s what it was.”
“Bryce, I am no longer a child.”
“No, no you’re not.”
“Are you saying you approve of a relationship between Qadira and me?”
“Approve? I don’t know, but it’s not up to me to approve. Qadira, you are an adult and I trust you to make wise decisions. If you decide you want to be with Ian, I will support that decision.”
“Thank you, Bryce, but he was only healing me.”
Bryce looked over to Ian and then back to me. “Yes, well… I was just coming to check on your progress and make sure you were awake. I see that you are. I will be back in a little while with some tea.”
I watched as he left the room. Ian cleared his throat, bringing my attention back to him.
“You need more rest. I shall leave you to it. After all, I have finished healing you.”
“Wait. You’re upset? You made it clear that you do not want a relationship.”
“Yes, well, you need more rest.”
“You said that already.” It was entertaining to see him even a little flustered.
“Right. If you do not mind, I will check on you later this evening.”
“Of course, I won’t mind.”
He nodded and left the room. I burrowed into the bed and fell asleep before Bryce returned with the tea. My mind was restless. I dreamed of Ian and Seth pierced with faeritonium and chained to a large wooden pole in the center of a forest clearing with a circle of fire surrounding them.
Two women were dancing and chanting around them inside the circle. I was too far away to see their faces, but they seemed to know I was there. They stopped dancing and walked toward me. Again, the fire shot up into the night’s sky creating a wall of protection. I woke up alone in the dark covered in sweat yet freezing at the same time.
I slid from the bed and tested my legs. When I didn’t fall, I took a few cautious steps forward. When I successfully made it downstairs, I gave myself a mental pat on the back. I wasn’t hungry, but unable to remember the last time I’d eaten something, I thought I should try.
I entered the kitchen to find Bryce making himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He did not acknowledge me.
“I’ll take one of those, please.”
His only response was to take out two more slices of bread.
“Bryce? Are you angry with me?”
“Oh, my pip, no. No, of course not. I am just… confused, I guess.”
“About what?”
“Do you want chocolate milk?”
“Don’t change the subject. Are you upset about seeing Ian and me? You said it yourself, I am a grown woman. I can be with whoever I want.”
“Yes, well, it’s a little hard for me to come to terms with that fact. I raised you from infancy and kissed your boo-boos away. I may not be your biological father, but you are my daughter. Ian is someone I’ve known for most of my life. This is just difficult for me to wrap my head around.”
“Oh, Bryce, I love you more than anything, you know that. Whatever is happening between Ian and me is very new. I am not sure where it will lead, but I want to find out. I hope you can be okay with this.”
“I will, my pip. I just don’t want to see you hurt.”
“Ian won’t hurt me… at least not on purpose. Besides, I am a big girl, I can handle him.”
“Okay, my pip, if you’re sure this is what you want, I’ll support you.”
“Thank you,” I said as Ian entered the room.
“Brycson, I would like to speak with you about what you saw.”
“I’ve just discussed it with him,” I said. “He’s okay now.”
“Still, I would like to speak with him as well. That is, if you do not mind, Brycson.”
“Of course, I don’t mind.”
“Well, I think I’ll take my sandwich back to bed and leave you two to your discussion.”
********
The next morning, I found Ian and Seth sitting at the kitchen breakfast bar. Ian read the newspaper while Seth read a mystery novel.
This had been the first time we’d encountered hostages. Peder had converted his large entertainment room into a makeshift hospital. Cots were set up in the room and various movies added to the already extensive collection, so the victims had entertainment as they healed.
An actual hospital was out of the question. We did not want the mortal authorities to investigate and search for those who had hurt the mortals. That could put more people in danger and risk revealing banshees to the world. Thankfully, a few of the clan members had medical training and could treat the wounds on site.
Not wanting to disturb the guys while they read, I poured myself a bowl of cereal and sat on the stool between them. I had just taken my first bite when a banshee I didn’t recognize entered the kitchen. His curly red hair swayed around his face as he moved, and his pale green eyes sparkled as he shot me a quick smile.
“Ian, sorry to interrupt, but we have a situation,” the banshee said.
Ian looked up from the paper and looked around the room. His eyes landed on me and a smile tugged at his lips for a moment before he turned his attention to the new banshee.
“I will be with you in a moment,” Ian responded before turning his attention back to me. “How are you feeling this morning?”
“I feel fine. You go help them with whatever it is they need. I am fine, Ian, really,” I added when his gaze narrowed.
He’d returned to my room after his talk with Bryce and slept by my side through the night in case I needed anything.
“If you begin to feel weak again, send someone to come get me. Immediately.”
“Don’t worry, Ian, I’ll stick close to her,” Seth interjected.
Ian left the room with a nod and I turned to glare at Seth.
“Whoa! Calm down, beautiful. I only said that to appease him. I know you don’t need a babysitter. He’s worried about you… so am I.”
“Thank you, I feel good though. Really. But I promise to tell one of you if I start to feel weird. I’ll just make lunch for everyone.”
Seth hugged me before wandering out of the room. I’d bet anything that he’d stay close and find excuses to come check on me until Ian returned.