Page 221 of Unhinged Omega

I've barely known this man a handful of days. How should I sense anything at all where he's concerned? Why should I care if he lives or dies?

But I do. And I hate it.

"For fuck's sake, how many times have I told you to aim for the heart?" Geo grumbles without getting up from his chair. "You've got shitty aim when you're thinking with your dick."

"I didn't do this," Raven snaps, struggling with Nikolai's weight. That finally prompts Geo to get off his ass and help. "He was ambushed, and he's clearly off his game. But I don't think it's the new wounds. Probably an infection."

The raw edge in Raven's voice surprises me. There's real fear there.

Nikolai mumbles something incoherent, his head lolling against Raven's shoulder.

He's out of it, alright.

"I'll get the damn doctor again," Geo grumbles, already heading for the door. "But he's not going to be happy about making a second house call. Especially after the shit you pulled earlier."

"You can put him in here," I say, already heading into the hall toward the guest suite I just came from.

Raven nods gratefully, guiding Nikolai after me with Geo's help. Knight growls at my back like he's already territorial about our nest, but a silent shake of my head is all it takes to make him back off.

"Great," Nikolai mutters as Raven eases him onto the mattress. His voice is raspy, strained. "Going to die in the bed a giant monster fucked my mate in. Perfect."

"It was the piano, not the bed," I supply helpfully.

"You're not dying, you fucking drama queen," Raven snaps, but the tremor in his voice betrays his worry.

I move to the bedside, pressing my palm against Nikolai's forehead. He's burning up, his skin hot and clammy beneath my touch. A fever this high can't be good.

"That's a pretty bad fever," I murmur, pulling my hand back.

But Nikolai catches my wrist, his eyes fluttering open to fix on mine. "Don't stop," he whispers, nuzzling into my touch with surprising vulnerability. "Feels good."

Something in my chest softens, a tiny crack in the wall I've built against him. It's easier to hate him when he's being an arrogant ass. This version—fever-stricken, seeking comfort—is much harder to resist.

"I'll get the first aid kit," Raven says, his voice tight. "And some water. He's probably dehydrated."

As Raven hurries from the room, I reluctantly return my hand to Nikolai's brow, brushing sweat-dampened white hair from his face. Knight moves to stand in the corner, watching with those intense blue eyes, but making no move to interfere.

"Drink," I command, holding a glass of water to Nikolai's lips when Raven returns with it. "Small sips."

He complies, surprisingly obedient in his weakened state. After he drains the glass, he gives me a feverish smile. "You know what would really make me feel better?"

"What?" I ask warily.

"A farewell blowjob."

And there's the Nikolai I'm familiar with.

"You're lucky I'm chalking that up to the fever," I say coldly, "or I'd have Knight snap it off."

"Are you really cruel enough to deny a man his last wish?" He manages to look both pathetic and smug at the same time.

I roll my eyes. "Nice try, but the closest you're getting is if you staple a picture of me to Raven's forehead."

A ragged chuckle escapes him, followed by a wince of pain. Raven returns with the first aid kit, giving me a grateful look as he sets it down.

"Let me see those wounds," Raven says, pulling back the bloody fabric of Nikolai's shirt. The sight beneath is concerning. Angry red streaks radiate from the stitched bullet holes in hisback, and the new knife wound doesn't look too deep, but it's not bleeding as much as it probably should be. He must have already lost a lot earlier.

Nikolai grimaces as Raven begins to clean the wounds. "If I have to have a nurse give me a sponge bath, can't it be her?" he mutters.

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