Reign Of Gods (Book #1 in 'Vampire God Trilogy') [COMPLETED]

Chapter 11

"Do you want something for the pain?" Glenna coated a thin cloth
with balm.

"What have you got?"

"This and that." She laid the cloth gently on his chest. "I‟m so sorry,
Cian. We should have locked the door."

"A locked door wouldn‟t have stopped me from coming in, not in my
own house. You might try a sign next time, something along the lines...
Bugger it!"

"I know, sorry, I know. It‟ll be better in a minute. A sign?" she continued, her voice low and soothing as she worked. "Something like:
Flammable Magicks. Keep out."

"Wouldn‟t hurt." He felt the burn not just on the flesh, but down into the bone, as if the fire had burst inside him as well as out. "What the hell
were you doing in there?"

"More than either of us were expecting. Moira, coat more cloth, would you. Cian?"

"What?"

She simply looked at him, deeply, her hands hovering just above the
worst of the burns. She felt the heat, but not the release.

"It won‟t work unless you let it," she told him. "Unless you trust me and let go."

"A high price for a bit of relief, adding that you‟re part of what put me
here."

"Why would she hurt you?" Moira continued to coat the cloth. "She
needs you. We all do, like it or not."

"One minute," Glenna said. "Give me one minute. I want to help you; you need to believe that. Believe me. Look at me, into my eyes. Yes, that‟s right."

Now it came. Heat and release, heat and release.

"There, that‟s better. A little better. Yes?"

She‟d taken it, he realized. Some of the burn, just for an instant, into
herself. He wouldn‟t forget it.

"Some. Yes, some. Thanks."

She applied more cloth, turned back to her case.

"I‟ll just clean the cuts and treat the bruises, then give you something to help you rest."

"I‟m not looking for rest."

She shifted back, eased down on the bed intending to clean the cuts on
his face. Puzzled, she laid her fingers on his cheek, turned his head.

"I thought these were worse."

"They were. I heal quickly from most things."

"Good for you. How‟s the vision?"

He turned those hot blue eyes on her.

"I see you well enough, Red."

"Could have a concussion. Can you get concussions? I imagine so," she said before he could answer. "Are you burned anywhere else?" She started to lower the sheet, then flicked him a wicked glance. "Is it true what
they say about vampires?"

It made him laugh, then hiss as the pain rippled back. "A myth. We‟re
hung just as we were before the change. You‟re welcome to look for
yourself, but I‟m not hurt in that area. It caught me full on the chest."

"We‟ll preserve your modesty-and my illusions." When she took his hand the amusement faded from his face. "I thought we‟d killed you. So did he. Now he‟s suffering."

"Oh, he's suffering, is he? Maybe he‟d like to switch places with me."

"You know he would. However you feel or don‟t about him, he loves
you. He can‟t turn that off, and he hasn‟t had all the time that you‟ve had to step back from brotherhood."