Lover Awakened

of numbers on a keypad, the back of the thing released outward into a dim kind of passageway.

'Here we go.'

John stepped inside even though he couldn't see much.

A metal tunnel. Wide enough to fit three people walking side by side, and so tall there was some space above even Tohr's head. Lights were set into ceiling every ten feet or so, but they didn't carry far through the darkness.

This is the coolest thing I've ever seen, John thought as they started walking.

The sound of Tohr's shitkickers rebounded off the smooth, steel walls, and so did his deep voice.

'Look, about meeting Wrath. I don't want you to worry. He's intense, but he's nothing to fear. And don't be freaked out by the sunglasses. He's nearly blind and hypersensitive to light, so he has to wear them. But even though he can't see, he's going to read you like a book anyway. He'll know your emotions clear as day.'

A little later, a shallow staircase appeared to the left, leading up to a door and another keypad. Tohr stopped and pointed down the tunnel, which continued forever, as far as John could tell.

'If you keep going straight here, you'll be at the gatehouse in another hundred and fifty yards.'

Tohr went up the flight of stairs, hit the keypad, and threw open the door. Bright light flooded in, like water released from a dam.

John looked up, an odd feeling ringing in his chest. He had the weirdest sense he was dreaming.

' 'S all good, son.' Tohr smiled, his harsh face softening a little. 'Nothing's going to hurt you up there. Trust me.'

'Okay, it's done,' Havers said.

Zsadist opened his eyes, seeing only Wrath's thick black hair. 'Has she been…?'

'She's just fine. No signs of forcible intercourse or trauma of any kind.' There was a snapping sound, as if the doctor were removing his gloves.

Zsadist sagged and his brothers accepted his weight. When he finally lifted his head, he saw that Havers had removed the bloody nightgown, put Bella's towel back in place, and was pulling on a fresh pair of gloves. The male leaned over his case, took out a pair of needle-nose scissors and some tweezers, then looked up.

'I'll do her eyes now, all right?' When Z nodded, the doctor held up the instruments. 'Be of care, sire. You startle me and I could blind her with these. Do you understand?'

'Yeah. Just don't hurt—'

'She won't feel a thing. I promise you.'

This Z watched, and it took forever. He had some vague thought halfway through that he wasn't holding himself up anymore. Phury and Wrath were keeping him on his feet, his head lolling on the side of Wrath's massive shoulder as he stared down.

'Last one,' Havers murmured. 'Okay. The sutures are out.'

All the males in the room took deep breaths, even the doctor, and then Havers went back to his supplies and picked up a tube. He smoothed some ointment onto Bella's lids; then he packed up his suitcase.

As the physician got to his feet, Zsadist broke away from his brothers and walked around a little bit. Wrath and Phury stretched their arms.

'Her injuries are painful, but not life-threatening at this point,' Havers said. 'They will heal by tomorrow or the day after, provided they are left alone. She is malnourished and she needs to feed. If she's staying in this room, you need to turn up the heat and move her to the bed. Food and drink should be brought in for when she comes around. And there's one other thing. On the internal exam, I found…' His eyes bounced between Wrath and Phury, then settled on Zsadist. 'Something of a personal nature.'

Zsadist went over to the doctor. 'What?'

Havers drew him into the corner and spoke softly.

Z was stunned speechless when the male was finished. 'You sure?'

'Yes.'

'When?'

'I don't know. But fairly soon.'

Z looked down at Bella. Oh, Christ…

'Now, I am assuming you have aspirin or Motrin in the house?'

Z had no clue; he never took pain meds. He glanced at Phury.

'Yes, we do,' the brother said.

'Let her take them. And I'll give you something stronger as backup in case they don't work well enough.'

Havers took out a small glass bottle that had a red rubber seal as a top and palmed two hypodermic syringes that were in sterile packs. He wrote on a little pad, then handed the paper and the supplies to Z.

'If it's daytime and she's in a great deal of pain when she wakes up, you may give her a shot of this according to my directions. It's the same morphine I just gave her, but you must mind the dosage information. Call me if you have questions or you want me to walk you through the injection procedure. Otherwise, if the sun is down, I'll come and give her the shot myself.' Havers glanced down at Z's leg. 'Would you like for me to examine your wound?'

'Can I bathe her?'

'Yes, definitely.'

'Now?'

'Yes.' Havers frowned. 'But, sire, your leg…'

Z walked into his bathroom, cranked the Jacuzzi's faucets, and stuck his hand under the rush. He waited until it was warm enough; then he went back for her.

By this time, the doctor had gone, but Mary, Rhage's female, was in the bedroom's doorway, wanting to see Bella. Phury and Wrath talked to her briefly and shook their heads. She left, looking stricken.

As the door shut, Z knelt down next to the pallet and started to pick Bella up.

'Hold it, Z.' Wrath's voice was hard. 'Her family should be caring for her.'

Z stopped and thought of whoever had fed her fish. God… this was probably not right. Keeping her here, away from those who had proper cause to attend her in her pain. But the idea of letting her go out into the world was unbearable. He'd only just found her…

'She'll go to them tomorrow,' he said. 'Tonight and today she stays here.'

Wrath shook his head. 'It's not—'

'You think she's ready to travel like this?' Z snapped. 'Leave the female alone. Have Tohr call her family and tell them she will be given over to them at nightfall tomorrow. Right now she needs a bath and some sleep.'

Wrath's lips tightened. There was a long silence. 'Then she goes to another room, Z. She's not staying with you.'

Zsadist rose to his feet and walked over to the king, getting all up in the male's grille. 'You just try and move her.'

'For chrissakes, Z,' Phury barked. 'Back off—'

Wrath leaned forward until their noses almost touched. 'Careful, Z. You know damn well that threatening me won't just get you cracked in the jaw.'

Yeah, they'd been through it over the summer. Legally Z could be executed under the old rules of conduct if he pushed this much further. The king's life was valued over all others'.

Not that Z gave a shit at the moment.

'You think I care about a death sentence? Please.' He narrowed his eyes. 'But I'll tell you this. Whether you decide to go majesty all over my ass or not, it'll take you at least a day to condemn me with the Scribe Virgin. So Bella's still sleeping here tonight.'

He walked back to her and picked her up as carefully as he could while making sure the towel stayed where it needed to be. Without looking at Wrath or his twin, he swept her into the bathroom and kicked the door shut behind him.

The tub was already halfway filled, so he kept a hold on her as he leaned down and checked the temperature. Perfect. He lowered her into the water and then stretched her arms over the sides so she was braced up.

The towel quickly dampened and fused with her body. He saw clearly the gentle swells of her breasts, the