The Four Protectors

Three

It was midnight by the time I got back to the hotel. The boys had left a window open and I swooped through, perching on the bed. Cassius let out a screech, waking up Azriel. Desmond just looked bored as he gestured towards the bathroom.

I flew into the bathroom, shifted and fell to the ground with a thump. My eyes watered in pain and I bit my lower lip to keep a cry from escaping. It felt like there was one huge cramp extending from my leg all the way to my neck.

I'd had worse but it didn't make this any less pleasant.

"Are you all right," Cassius asked from the bedroom. I gave him a pained yes before propping my arms up as carefully as I could on to the rim of the bathtub. Slowly, so slowly that it felt like I was barely moving, I managed to swing one leg over the side of the bath.

One down. One more to go

My whole body shook with effort and rivulets of sweat went down my neck and back. Using every last bit of energy I had left, I swung my body over the rim of the tub, falling hard on to the porcelain floor. I bit back another pained scream as I realized why I was in so much pain.

My shoulder was out of its socket and I'd just landed on it.

This had happened sometimes when I stayed in a shift for far too long. Propping myself up into a seated position, I positioned my fingers over my left shoulder. I gave myself a little mental countdown to prepare.

Then I pressed down hard.

I probably should have had a towel to bite down on. I had a high pain tolerance but nothing could stop the pained scream that ripped out of my throat when my shoulder popped back into its socket. Salty tears ran down my face as I massaged my shoulder with the pads of my fingers.

That's when the three boys ran into the room.

Cassius had partially shifted, his eyes glowing bright green, canines extended as he assessed the bathroom for a threat. Azriel's hands were out, magic like electricity sparking from his fingertips. Even Desmond had run in, faster than both of them, eyes narrowed frighteningly.

I gave them a nervous smile and a tiny wave as their eyes landed on me.

Cassius let out an audible sigh of relief as he sunk to the floor, eyes no longer glowing. Desmond walked back out. Azriel kept magic at his fingertips though as he came closer to me.

I'd known them all of four days and they'd seen me naked twice. Wonderful.

"I'm fine. Just popped my shoulder back into socket," I said.

"You're in pain. I can help with that," Azriel said softly.

Before I could protest, his hands were out before him and I felt warmth creep across my muscles. It was like gentle yet firm hands were touching every sore part of my body and massaging to unleash the tension. I couldn't help the blissful groan that escaped my lips, nudity temporarily forgotten as Azriel worked his magic.

This was probably what made him so good with women.

The magic retreated sooner and I contained my needy whine as my eyes fluttered open. Azriel gave me a warm smile, his eyes fixed on my face. I could tell he hadn't looked anywhere else. Warmth passed through me then, that had nothing to do with the magic he'd just done.

"You should take a shower and rest. We're going to take stock of the border security in place," he said.

"Wait no I'll come with you guys," I argued.