Page 16 of Mitchell
"Where's Seryn?" Mitchell tried to pull the IV out of his arm, but that same nurse stopped him.
"Seryn!" His voice sounded horse even to his own ears, as if he'd been screaming for hours.
And just like that, Seryn appeared next to him. He touched Mitchell's chest. "You're safe."
"We shouldn't be here." It was too dangerous for Seryn, too, not just Mitchell. Davorion knew what Seryn looked like. He'd send people after him, too. It wasn't just about Mitchell anymore.
Seryn smiled but gave nothing away. His smile didn't even tell Mitchell that he believed what he said.
Mitchell grabbed Seryn's shirt and pulled him down. He made sure their gazes met. "Tell it to me straight. Now, Seryn."
He expected some push back, but Seryn sighed as if Mitchell's commanding tone soothed him. "We're good for now."
Mitchell let his shirt go and then wrapped his arm around Seryn's shoulder, pulling him down for a hug. "Thank you, sweetheart."
Seryn buried his face in Mitchell's neck. He breathed deeply, as if taking in Mitchell's scent.
Mitchell couldn't have smelled good. His captors hadn't let him wash very often, and he had blood all over him. But it didn't seem to matter to Seryn. Mitchell felt lips kiss his neck. "Why are you thanking me?"
"For doing what I asked. For saving my life." Seryn didn't have to do what he did. He certainly didn't have to stick around. But he was still at Mitchell's side.
"You didn't ask. You commanded." Seryn met Mitchell's gaze with a smile. This one was genuine.
Mitchell cupped Seryn's cheek. "We're going to talk about that kiss. Among other things."
Seryn grinned. "Yes, Daddy."
Mitchell chuckled. He wasn't sure how Seryn meant it, but he took it for the flirty banter they'd been cultivating. "You won't leave, right?"
"Command me and I won't."
Mitchell raised his eyebrows. It probably looked weird because of the swelling on his face, but it was an odd request, and sort of hot all at the same time. "Don't leave my side. Got it?"
Seryn sighed again, and it was just like the last time. He nodded. "I promise."
And Seryn stayed next to the bed for the next two hours, holding Mitchell's hand. At one point, a doctor tried to get Seryn to back up, but Seryn just gave him that empty smile and said, "I'll kill you if you tell me to move again."
The doctor sputtered and didn't ask again. Mitchell was the only one who talked to him the entire time they were in the emergency room after that.
****
After Seryn threatened the doctor, they put him in a private room. They wanted to dope him up with pain medication, but Mitchell refused. If they had to make a run for it, it would be better for Seryn if he stayed cognizant.
But the pain wouldn't let him sleep. Since things had calmed down a bit, he noticed every injury. The one that hurt the most was his ribs. He knew he had worse injuries. The doctors were concerned about his kidneys. He'd taken one too many hits to them over the years.
All it meant was the present damage compounded what he'd sustained in the past to the point the doctors were concerned.
It was dark outside the window. The view wasn't much, anyway. The lights from the parking garage showed the concrete building and the vague movement of a vehicle winding down to the exit.
Todd lay on an uncomfortable-looking bench below the window. He frowned in his sleep. Mitchell hadn't noticed before, but he could see scars on Todd's neck.
"The scars are from a vampire bite." Seryn whispered from where he sat next to Mitchell's bed.
Mitchell had heard stories. Living on the streets made him susceptible to violence. People had tried to take advantage of him. Jude, being younger, made him even more vulnerable. Mitchell had learned how to protect himself. Part of that included paying attention to certain stories and when to dismiss others. At first, he hadn't believed it. But he'd seen a friend spiral into addiction. He'd gotten money for drugs by prostituting himself and it wasn't always sex he gave away. He had the same puncture wounds on his neck as Todd. One day he'd just disappeared, and Mitchell had never seen him again.
Mitchell hadn't fully believed, until Seryn threw fireballs and had fangs.
"You're a vampire." The evidence added up.
