Queen of Darkness WATTPAD VERSION [Inter-Universal Protectors: Book 3]

14

A stinging sensation on the side of her head bought Amneris from her dreamless sleep. She swore at it, attempting to pull the blanket over her head. 

"Hold still," Colt laughed from above. "I have almost finished."

"You fuss too much," she said, hissing again as something wet - it felt like a cloth - was pressed to her head.

"You require much fussing."

"I can't tell if that's a compliment or an insult."

He kissed her hair. "I shall let you decide."

Amneris convinced her body to sit upright, cringing at the pain coming from the left side of her head. Raising her hand to the source, she pulled it back to find gold on her fingers. She looked at the bowl Colt had used, seeing the water was a similar colour. "Is it really that bad?"

Colt took her chin and turned her head, observing the mostly-clean wound. "Not as bad as it was, all things considered."

"All things considered?"

He looked over her body. She did the same, finding herself in different and more comfortable clothes. The bright blue hoodie was snug and the loose pants were way better than her usual attire. The bare feet were an issue, she decided. New scars - recently closed from their colour - covered every inch of her. There were probably more that she could not see. "That bad, then."

"Yes. That bad."

Had her head not been bleeding, Amneris would have flopped onto the bed. "Never show me," she said to the nearest camera. She returned her attention to Colt. "So, how much longer do I have to be in here? It's been over a day."

Colt froze mid-step. "Tali, it's been four days."

What?

"You knocked yourself out," he said matter-of-factly.

"But - but I never take this long to heal unless it's something major!" She grimaced, clutching her head as it flared with pain.

"Try not to push yourself." A hand brushed down her uninjured side. "You're still healing." Colt lowered his voice to a stage whisper. "Blame the crystals."

Amneris rolled her eyes with a smile as he sat beside her. "And somehow you haven't gone crazy from being in here for four days."

"I've been busy."

"Doing what?"

"Babysitting."

She gasped dramatically. "You did not just say that."

Colt's arms slipped around her and he pulled her onto his lap. "I am older than you," he said, kissing her neck, "and, as your boyfriend, it's my job to babysit you."

"So mean." She leaned back until her still-aching head rested on his shoulder. "I'm your Queen. You're supposed to be nice to me."

"I am?"

"Yes." Gods, talking was hard. All she could feel was his trail of kisses up her neck. "I could have you executed for being an ass."

Amneris could feel his smirk as he said, "Last I checked, you like my ass."

Men, she thought with an eye roll. "You do recall we have an audience, yes?"

"I'm sure they don't mind."

Nikki's voice chirped over a speaker. "We so do not mind! Keep going! Pretend we're not here!"

Amneris sent the nearest camera an obscene gesture. It was shortly followed by Nikki's offended gasp and the laughs of both Leo and Kayla. 

"Kayla," Colt called.

Amneris cringed at the loudness of his voice.

"Yes?" The Healer said.

"How much longer until she can leave?"

Kayla was quite for a moment. "At least another day -"

Amneris groaned.

"- Just to be safe," she finished, no doubt glaring at the interruption.

Amneris groaned again.

"One more day, Tali," Colt said. "Then you can leave this room."

"I don't know if I can last that long," she whined.

"Yes, you can."

"No, I can't!" Amneris flopped on the makeshift bed, ignoring the pounding in her head it created.

Colt smiled. "You are the biggest drama queen I have ever met."

  She gave him a sideways smile. "So, you haven't met Nikki?"

The Shifter's cry of protest sounded over the speaker. Clearly, the microphone had not been turned off yet, something which Colt brought to the attention of those on the observation deck. It was followed by swearing by Nikki. Amneris found herself giggling at that.

* * * * * * * 

Nikki was still fuming when Kayla turned off the microphone. She spun in her chair to face the others. Leo was leaning against a wall, watching Nikki pace and say some rather unfriendly things - at least, Kayla assumed that was what it was - in Ancient Greek. Lvaane was, unsurprisingly, sitting at the small table in the room with a cup of tea. Jay had arrived the day before and was sleeping soundly on the floor for no apparent reason. Kayla nudged him with her foot. He sat up, looking confused. 

"As I said to Colt," Kayla said to the room, "I believe Amneris is okay now but would like to keep her here for one more day just in case anything flares up or her head gets worse." She glanced at Lvaane. "Is that okay?" 

The Old King nodded his approval.

"Is there a chance she could get worse again?" Leo asked, arms crossed.

"Highly unlikely," Kayla said. 

"But it's better to be safe than sorry."

"Exactly."

The answer seemed to satisfy Leo. He came to the control panel and keyed the microphone. "I'm heading off, baby sis. That okay?"

Amneris waved him off without looking up from where she was laying face-down on the bed. 

"Love you."

"Love you, too," came her muffled response. 

Leo walked to the pacing Nikki and grasped her waist from behind. Kayla watched, head tilted, as he whispered something in her ear. Whatever it was, it stopped the Shifter from pacing. She called her goodbyes to Amneris and Colt before she and Leo left the room hand-in-hand. 

Jay clasped his hands over his heart and made an awwing sound. "Aren't they adorable?"

Kayla found herself agreeing.