Eleven Dianna

“She seems well.”

I blinked my eyes open. The sunlight made me hiss, and I turned from it, covering my face with my hand. The bed sank, and large hands ran across my forehead.

“What’s happening?” I groaned and propped myself up, hating how my head throbbed.

“Killie is here to help you.” Samkiel’s voice drew me further from the darkness. “I told her you hit your head pretty hard in training.”

I blinked, confused at what he was talking about, as my eyes adjusted. Samkiel sat next to me. Killie hovered on my other side, clasping her hands. Reggie stood behind Samkiel near the wall. Training? Oh, yeah. Right. I went to the inbetween with Samkiel to cloak us, and then I must have passed out. I smiled weakly at Samkiel. He was learning how to lie for me. I was so proud.

“Yes.” I groaned, rubbing my temple for effect as Samkiel glanced toward Killie and patted my hand.

“Well, you look fine. I left a remedy on the table for you. Just chew the leaves, and any swelling you have should go down.”

I smiled at her, Samkiel gripping my hand. After seeing the storage room with all those jars, I knew even Samkiel doubted their trustworthiness.

Killie beamed at him, and I caught the flush of her cheeks. “It’s also time for your treatments.”

My eyes narrowed at the word treatments. Treatments, my ass. I was starting to think they weren’t helping at all. I had noticed the small purple and red lines forming around the edges of his scar, but when I asked him about it, he said it was nothing and probably just part of the healing process.

Samkiel shot me a brief smile, noticing my death glare. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

I turned away from Killie to look up at Samkiel. “Yes.” I raised my hand between us, my small finger grasping his. “Pinkie.”

He squeezed back before leaning forward to place a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll be right back.”

I smiled and nodded, and he started toward the door with Killie.

“Killie, perhaps it is better for Xio if you stay. Make sure she is okay, given her head injury,” Reggie suggested.

Samkiel glanced at Reggie, a look passing between them that made me snicker. Killie looked sad she couldn’t walk Samkiel to his treatment but agreed to stay. Samkiel gave me one last look before closing the door behind him, his footsteps retreating. Reggie went back to standing sentinel against the wall.

“Do you feel nauseous?” Killie asked, with a little less pep in her voice. She sat on the end of the bed.

“Yes, but it’s not from a head wound. I know what it is.”

She pulled back, tilting her head slightly at me. “What is it?”

“I’m starving.”

Fangs erupted from my gums, and I jerked forward, grabbing her by the throat. My hand covered her mouth, and she screamed into my palm as my fangs pierced her neck. I moaned as her blood hit my throat, and I drank deeply. My eyes rolled back in my head as I fed. It had been too damn long. Liquid filled my stomach, my entire body tingling as I drank and drank.

I heard her heartbeat and knew it was close to time to stop, but I couldn’t control my hunger or myself. My moan vibrated against her throat as she slowly fell limp in my arms. A hand clasped my shoulder and pulled me away. My eyes flared open, and I snarled, my fangs bared and dripping blood. Reggie held up a hand. “You keep feeding, and you will kill her. Do you want her to find Samkiel that quickly?”

As if a switch flipped, the world came back into focus. Killie lay half-sprawled on the bed. Reggie lifted her and sat her in a nearby chair. I glanced at my reflection, grimacing at the blood coating my chin and my burning red eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

Reggie didn’t scold me. “Heal her enough and let her stay here until she can at least walk.”

I knelt in front of her and pressed my thumb to my fang. She fell limply in my grip as I smeared my blood over the bite on her neck. The puncture marks healed, and I cradled her head.

“Killie,” I said as she blinked. “Look at me.”

Her eyes snapped open, and her lips trembled in fear. She pushed at me, her fingernails digging into my arms as she fought to get free. She opened her mouth to scream. I clamped my hand over her lips and said, “Hey, you’re fine. Calm down, everything is fine.”

She went slack, her eyes gaining that all-too-familiar glaze.

I dropped my hand slowly as she stared at me. “You have been overworked, and you’re tired, that’s all. Tell the others you need a nap.” Reggie glanced at me, and I shrugged before going on. “You helped heal Xio, and she never bit you or fed from you, okay?”

“I’m overworked and tired,” Killie repeated, her eyes still blank and glassy. “I need a nap.”

“Thatta girl.”

I moved away from her, standing as she rose to her feet. Reggie grabbed a cloth from the washroom and handed it to me. I cleaned her neck, made sure no blood had spilled on her dress, and then sent her on her way. As soon as the door closed, I faced Reggie.

“That was stupid and reckless.” I pushed my hair from my face, my stomach still gnawing at me. It craved, demanded more.

“You are not satiated.”

“Why does everyone think I’m not satisfied? I am satisfied,” I growled.

When I looked back at Reggie, I realized that was not what he meant. His eyes held no flicker of understanding, only stared at me, scolding. “You have not fed since Tarr. How long did you think you would last without sufficient feeding? You must tell Samkiel or risk his exposure.”

“You do not tell me what to do,” I snapped back.

“I do when it endangers us all.” He shook his head. “An Ig’Morruthen that is starved and deprived of their basic needs could cause immeasurable damage. If that happens, if you snap while you are so concerned for him and not yourself, you will damn us all, and his entire resurrection will be pointless. Is that what you wish?”

The air sucked from the room. I had never heard Reggie even slightly raise his voice, yet here he was.

“What have you seen?” I asked, realizing what had instigated his sudden spark of anger.

His eyes met mine. “I saw Jade City ablaze.” He didn’t lower his gaze. “I saw it crumble and fall to the waiting sea below.”