Page 37 of Bellona

"In the safe. There's m-moley from Circe," she said. Rafael had no idea what moley was, but Set did and looked relieved.

"I'll get it. What's the code?" he asked.

"2909," Bellona replied, making Rafael's heart skip a beat. It was his birthday and the feast day of Saint Rafael. It was how he had gotten his name.

"Okay, hang tight. Rafael, go get that water and stuff I need," Set instructed, snapping him out of his spiraling thoughts.

Rafael went to the kitchen and searched the cabinets. He pulled out a large mixing bowl, turned on the hot water kettle, and searched for clean towels in the linen cupboard. He found the tweezers in the first-aid kit and tried to only focus on the next thing. Not on the fact that Bellona was bleeding out or that the code to her safe was his birthday.

He carried everything back into the room just in time to see Set taking the cap off a vial of amber liquid with a small piece of herb in it.

"Bottoms up," Set said, and Bellona opened her mouth. He tipped it in, and Bellona swallowed with a grimace.

"That tastes like ass," she complained. Light started to dance under her skin, and she groaned.

"Look at that. It's working. Rafael, give me the tweezers and the cloths."

He handed them over and suddenly didn't know what to do. Bellona reached for him, so he sat on the other side of the bed, out of Set's way. She hung onto his hand, flinching as Set dug about for bullets.

"Be mad at me for leaving later, not now," she whispered.

Rafael lifted her hand and kissed it. "Okay, but you can't use your feminine wiles to distract me."

Set put a tiny bit of metal in the spare bowl. "She has those?"

"Jumping into my arms and demanding I fuck her has a certain charm," Rafael replied.

Set snickered, and Bellona grumbled. "Hate you both." Rafael stroked Bellona's hair while Set continued to pick pellets out of her.

"I have to hand it to Circe; her potions work quickly. You're already almost closed up. Whatever is left in there will work its way out by morning," Set said and rocked back on his heels. "You'll be tender as your insides heal. There's no more I can do, so I'm going to go to bed. Rafael can take you for a shower to get cleaned up. Ensure you eat the sandwich I put in the fridge."

"Yes, nurse," she replied.

Set ruffled her hair. "Tell me about your adventures tomorrow. Get some rest. Rafael? Look after her."

"I will, even if she doesn't like it," Rafael reassured him.

Set said goodnight and left them alone, still in a bed covered in Bellona's ichor.

Rafael went about the other side of the bed and slid his arm under the backs of her knees. "Arms around me, goddess. I'm going to take you upstairs for a bath."

Bellona rested her face in the groove of his neck. "A bath sounds good. My insides feel like they have been shredded."

"Not funny."

"It's a little funny. Too soon?" she asked. Rafael carried her the rest of the way up the stairs and to her bathroom.

"Way too soon. I'm still processing seeing your insides almost becoming your outsides," he said. He made sure she could stand before he helped her out of her clothes and into the warm shower. She sat on the marble seat, rinsing off, while Rafael fussed over her. "Stay there, and I'll fill the tub."

Bellona's bathtub was a white and gold clawfoot tub, deep enough for two people. Rafael let it fill halfway before he helped Bellona out of the shower and into the warm water.

"Thank you," she said with a sigh. She tugged on his gray pajamas. "You coming in too?"

"Am I invited? I don't ever want to presume," he replied.

Bellona gave him a playful look. "Does my back look like it's going to wash itself? Get in here and look after me like you said you would."

"As my goddess demands," Rafael said, removing his pants. They were covered in ichor and water, and he was glad to be rid of them. He slid in behind Bellona and cradled her back against him. "Is now the time to admit you scared the living hell out of me, bleeding out like that?"

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