Aggressive growls and darting actions from my other half are instantly met by the same from Dae’s. Despite the fact A.D. is bigger and taller than his younger brother, Z doesn’t back down, clearly willing to take anyone on for his other half.
“When has growling ever solved anything in this house?” Dae gingerly asks on a small glance their direction.
“I’m just trying to protect my fucking Fated Mate!” A.D. insists, body still inching towards mine.
“And I’m doing the same!”
“Both of you can relax,” she comments prior to meeting my stare. “Ana is going to be fine.”
Physically feeling A.D.’s anxiety is undeniable. “But she’s not fine right now?”
“She has some minor internal bruising. Without taking an actual x-ray it’s more of an educated guess on exactly where the injuries are. Left lung and ribs seem to be the case; however, she’s already beginning to heal.”
“I am?!”
“Benefit of being bonded.” She enthusiastically nods. “Faster healing. Like miraculous level for us.” Her warm expression pulls out mine. “I can also physically hear shifter essence in the body. It beats to a slightly different rhythm than everything else. It’s pounding rather loudly around that territory, most likely because that’s where it’s trying to repair the damage that was done.”
“How was there damage done, A.D.?!” P practically foams at the mouth.
Once relief that my healing is already in process settles on his shoulders, he sighs, “She got thrown overboard. Probably hit the ship during the descent.”
“Definitely hit that shit during the fall.”
“What?!” Z yells.
“By who?!” P swiftly screeches in tandem.
“By the buyer,” he begrudgingly answers.
P turns his shouting to me. “I specifically said not to battle a pack of wolves!”
“I didn’t battle a pack of wolves.” My statement immediately receives a skeptical glare from him. “I battled a pair of elves and was thrown off a fucking yacht by a single, one-armed wolf. Not a pack.”
His mouth moves in bewilderment, yet no words successfully shake loose.
“A.D. and O did the dance under the moonlight while I helped get Karry and Krystie inside out of harm’s way.”
“Leaving you to be harmed,” P needlessly underlines.
“I’m fine,” I repeat for what feels like the millionth time. “You heard it from the doc herself-”
“Trainee,” Dae quietly reminds.
“The bruised shit is healing.”
“And so is your broken toe.” Dae cheerfully states.
“Her toe is broken?!” A.D. croaks this time successfully pushing past his brother to examine me himself. “One of her tiny toes is fucking broken?!”
“Let me start by saying that she has normal sized toes,” the medical professional announces in spite of the glare A.D. gives, “and yes. The middle one on her right foot. That I noticed as soon as she sat down but waited to say anything about.” Our eyes meet once more. “I already know it’s healing because the angle has slightly shifted back to its rightful place.”
She tosses a small hand in a brush-off fashion. “That’s probably just from clumsily stomping around in stilettos all night.”
“Regardless,” Dae pushes onward, “my advice is as follows: go upstairs, have a hot shower, enjoy some TLC, and sleep. Our bodies naturally heal faster in that state.”
Her plan sounds tempting yet not enough to miss the transfusion. “But Krystie-”
“Done,” my Fated Mate practically growls as he swoops me up into his possession. “Let’s get you in the shower.”
“But what about-”
“You heard what the doctor said.”
“Trainee.”
Z rightfully growls at the insult I didn’t intend it be so much as just a counter point while his brother states, “Fucking. Close. Enough. To call it, Fated Mate.”
More arguments fall from me, but not a single one slows his stride. In fact, for the first time in all of our relationship, it truly feels like I’m fighting myself more than anyone else. Rather than waste his breath or energy on fruitless fussing, he focuses on following the orders given. My ruined dress is literally ripped off me. The gross feeling of saltwater and sand are sweetly scrubbed away from both my body and hair. What would be a quick process on my own is drawn out for me to be properly pampered and caressed by the creature I know loves me. Eventually, words from me cease entirely allowing myself the opportunity to just feel, while words from him don’t come until we’re in our dragon-sized bed under the soft, golden sheets with my backside pressed protectively to his front.
His nose lovingly buries itself in my neck on a purred, “Mate.”
Mate.
Beaming brightly is instant. “Yes?”
He presses a kiss on my bare shoulder blade and wedges his legs between mine that are covered in knee-high socks for what I assume is “additional armor”. “How do you feel?”
“Pretty fucking good, actually.” I do my best to meet his gaze over my shoulder. “Should we go check on-”
“No.”
No.
The forcefulness of two verbal bites clamps my mouth shut.
“Enough of you trying to save the world today.” Additional nuzzles are given prior to an unsteady sigh. “Give me the chance to properly take care of mine.”
Ours.
Unsure of what to say in response leaves me silent.
“I know I can’t stop you from risking your fucking life – and just between you, me and Gold who makes three, I don’t fucking want to because your Road Warrior spirit is one of the things I fucking love most about you – but as your Fated Mate, it is my fucking duty and fucking honor to care for you – especially when you don’t see the need to care for yourself.”
Truth.
Bombs.
Fucking.
Hurt.
“We, as shifters, are born to tend to whoever The Goddess of Fate has given to us, but I need you to know Anais that the drive to protect and nurture isn’t just in my genetic makeup. It comes from loving you so fucking much. And I do, Tiny Toes. I love you more than is honestly fathomable to me, and until the day we die together – whether it’s when we’re old and choking on a shot of Leprechaun’s Breath that our children have told us not to drink, or next week while fighting an entire army of Kobold holding an orphan cousin of Griffin’s hostage – I am going to take care of you. I am going to care for you. I am going to wash off the blood, help patch up the bruises, and kiss away the scrapes. I am going to hold you and feed you and fuck you and leave no doubt in your mind that you may be ready to fight the whole world, but to me you are my whole world.”