Page 26 of Whispered Warnings: Part One

“What the fuck, Nene,” Evander is the first to speak, “why didn’t you tell us that you were that badly wounded? We wouldn’t have carried on asking you questions.”

I shrug and then wince slightly as it jostles the wound, “I have a really high pain threshold, and I can compartmentalize really fucking well. I was fine, it’s not life threatening.”

“Don’t do that again,” Reed demands, and I raise my eyebrow, he adds somewhat reluctantly, “please.”

“Fucking hell, she got Reed to say please,” Ransom teases. His face becomes serious as he looks at me, “He is right, though he could have said it nicer, if you are hurt, please tell us, please don’t stay in pain. It’s unnecessary.”

I nod, my eyebrows pulling together slightly, “Okay, I can do that. Just don’t get mad at me if I forget.”

“How could you forget that you are in pain?” Griff asks, sounding confrontational, but I don’t think he means it that way.

Chapter Nine

Neith

“I am not used to having anyone to tell. That’s going to take some adjustment,” I reply honestly.

It’s not a sad thing, it’s just the way that it has been for the past decade, and it isn’t going to be something that I can just give up so easily. I’m being slightly generous with the years, there were a few where I relied on Dimitri, before he proved himself to be truly psychotic. I don’t allow myself to dwell on that though.

“We won’t get mad,” Ransom says firmly as if he is daring anyone to argue with him. No one does. No one even looks like they were considering it.

“Neith, you were right, I’m going to have to cut the shirt off so that I can see your shoulder.” Doc starts to explain as he pulls out some scissors from his doctor’s bag.

Apparently, River isn’t too fond of that, and I don’t know whether it's because of the scissors, or because Doc will be cutting his shirt. Either way, the whole room takes a collective breath as his magic builds, he partially shifts one of his fingersinto a claw and slices the shirt from the collar by my neck, over my shoulder, and down my arm. He does it with such precision that he only cuts the fabric, and all I feel is the softest touch that makes my skin prickle with sensitivity.

The fabric near my neck and on my shoulder doesn’t move because it's glued to me with blood, but the fabric on my arm falls away with ease.

“Did you know he could do that?” Ransom asks.

I glance up just in time to see Raiden shake his head, “No, I didn’t.”

“Me neither,” Van replies.

“He’s never behaved like this about anyone, though, has he?” Reed points out.

I stiffen slightly, and River’s big hand strokes along the outside of my thigh, soothing me until I relax again. I look at Reed and ask, “He hasn’t?”

Reed doesn’t reply verbally; he just shakes his head.

Oh. That’s a big deal, at least I think it is. Now probably isn’t the time to ask. While we were talking, or rather I was listening to them talk, Doc has got to work removing the shirt sides from the wound. It hurt, but I was able to block it out.

“Fuck, Neith, this bite is huge. If the creature had bit down any deeper or pulled, it could have taken your arm,” Doc curses, and all the guys refocus on my arm.

“I can’t believe that you were able to block the pain of that out,” Evander says.

“You don’t seem to heal like a supe,” Griff points out.

My laugh is somewhat sardonic as I reply, “No, I definitely don’t.”

“Sully said that it was just the beginning, so maybe that’s something that will happen when her supernatural side develops.” Ransom suggests thoughtfully.

I shrug, “Maybe. I sure as hell hope so.”

“What did it?” Doc asks as he continues to inspect the mark. “The bite is big, bigger than anything that I have come across for a long time.”

I frown, “I have no idea. I can describe it, but it wasn’t an earth animal. Like Flinotive said, he transported me to another realm somehow and then just told me that I had to get home. I ran into a puddle that ate my shoe, and I mean literally ate my boot and I couldn’t carry on running with one boot on, so I sacrificed the other one to the puddle too. Then this tiny timer showed up, all glowing and shit letting me know how long I had to get to the door that would lead me out of the realm, three hours by the way, that was how long I was there.”

“What?” Reed barks. “How is that possible? You were gone for twenty minutes maximum.”

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