"According to John, he went out of that house into the Band of Bastards. Alone. "
"Band of Bastards?"
"The ones who tried to assassinate Wrath tonight. This dumb son of a bitch took it upon himself to go out right into the middle of them, all alone, like he was some kind of superhero - it was a miracle he didn't get himself killed. "
She immediately transferred her glare to the bed. Clearly, the Lessening Society had a new division, and the idea that he had exposed himself in such a way made her want to yell at him. "You. . . dumb son of a bitch. "
Qhuinn coughed a little. Then a little more.
With a stab of fear, she jumped up. "I shall get the doctors - "
Except Qhuinn was laughing. Not choking to death.
He laughed stiffly at first and then with growing expression, until the bed shook from the hilarity that only he saw.
"I find no levity in this," she snapped.
"Nor I," Blay cut in. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Qhuinn just continued to laugh, enjoying himself over the Scribe Virgin only knew what.
Layla glanced over at Blay. "I find myself rather wanting to hit him. "
"It'd be redundant at this point. Wait until he's better, then have at him. Matter of fact, I'll hold him down for you. "
"Right. . . thing. . . to do. . . " Qhuinn groaned out.
"I agree. " Layla put her hands on her hips. "Blay is absolutely right - I shall punch you later. And you taught me exactly where one needs to strike a male. "
"Nice," Blay muttered.
After they all fell silent, the intense way the males stared at each other made her heart light up. Mayhap they could find an accord now?
"I shall go forth and check the others," she said quickly. "To see if anyone else requires feeding - "
Qhuinn reached out and snagged her hand. "You?"
"No, I'm fine. You were more than generous enough last week. I feel very strong. " She bent down and kissed his forehead. "You just rest. I'll check on you later. "
On her way past Blay, she said softly, "You two talk. I'll tell everyone to leave you be. "
As the Chosen departed, Blay could only stare in disbelief at the back of her perfectly coiffed head.
When he'd walked into the room, the connection between Qhuinn and that female had socked him in the gut: all that eye contact, that hand-holding, the way she curved her elegant body toward him. . . the way that she and she alone sustained him.
And yet. . . it appeared as if she wanted him to be by himself with Qhuinn.
It made no sense. If anyone was incented to keep the pair of them apart, it was her.
Refocusing on the male, he thought, God, those injuries were hard to look at, even though they were in the process of healing.
"Who did you go up against?" he asked roughly. "And don't bother arguing - I spoke to John as soon as I got home. I know what you did. "
Qhuinn lifted a swollen hand and made an X.
"Xcor. . . ?" As the guy nodded, he grimaced like the movement made his head hurt. "Don't - yeah, don't force yourself. "