Amanda Bonilla - Shaedes of Gray - A Shaede Assassin Novel

I abandoned trying to talk and instead let out a loud groan. I didn’t need my tongue for that, and it managed to interrupt whatever was going on between the two men. I heard the shuffling of feet and maybe a shove or two, and then felt their presence beside me. I pried open my heavy lids, and the blurry room and occupants slowly came into focus.

“Hey,” Ty said, obviously jumping in to be the first to speak to me. “How are you feeling?”

My tongue popped loose from the roof of my mouth and I parted my dry, cracked lips. “Water,” I whispered.

The room blurred out of focus and I heard more commotion. Their voices low, they’d begun fighting again.

“Here,” Xander said. I felt a depression in the bed where he sat beside me. “I’ll help you drink.”

I managed to clear my vision and caught sight of Tyler, arms folded in front of his chest. He snorted derisively.

Xander lifted the glass to my lips and I drank. It had to be the best-tasting water I’d ever had. Not too cold, not too warm, and it loosened up my dry mouth. Delicious. Xander pulled the lip of the glass away and I leaned back onto the pillow, exhausted from just the small task of drinking.

“I feel like shit,” I grumbled. “When is this damn Lyhtan venom going to wear off?”

The bed shook with Xander’s laughter. Tyler entered the fray and took a seat on my opposite side. He gave my hand a light squeeze. “Soon,” he said. “It’s already wearing off. It won’t be much longer.”

Xander grabbed my other hand. What was this—a battle for Darian’s appendages? I didn’t like it. “You’re healing faster than we expected,” he said. “We’ve already had to remove the stitches.”

I clenched my stomach muscles and tried to sit up to see the extent of the damage. The cuts pulled and stung, piercing my side with a sharp pain. I sucked in a quick breath and eased myself back down onto the pillows.

“What were you two fighting about?” I asked.

Their voices answered in unison. “Nothing.”

“Nothing, my ass,” I said.

Tyler took the high road, just like I knew he would. “There was another attack just after sunset. Two more Shaedes were killed.”

“And . . .” I said, prompting him along.

“And Xander thought that you should move into his house. I told him no.”

“And I told him to stay out of matters that don’t concern him,” Xander interjected.

“Darian is my business,” Ty said, gripping my hand a little too tight.

“No more than she is mine,” Xander shot back.

“You’re the reason she’s in this mess,” Tyler hollered.

“If you were more adept at protecting her, this never would have happened!” Xander yelled.

“Both of you shut up.” I wanted to yell too. But I couldn’t muster the energy; it only sounded weak. “You know, Xander, for immortal creatures, we sure are easy to kill, aren’t we?”

I sensed his chagrin, but I didn’t care. I’d been lied to. I had no clue what my true limitations were, the extent of my invincibility, and the actual length of my life. He could suck it up for a while and come clean.

“We’ll talk,” he said. “But not while the Jinn is here.”

“I have a name, asshole,” Tyler said.

“Stop it!” My voice had a little more to it that time. Good. I needed to kick my ass into gear. “Anything you have to say to me you can say in front of Tyler.”

Gloat rolled off Tyler like a soft wave. Xander tensed, and I sensed another row about to begin. Jesus . I couldn’t take the testosterone anymore.

“Tyler,” I sighed. “Could you give us a few minutes?”

Hazel eyes widened and then narrowed. His body straightened, and I sensed the hardening of his form, his hurt at being asked to leave.

“Come on, Ty. Don’t be like that.” I wasn’t strong enough to worry about his ego right now. “I don’t have it in me to sit through another pissing contest. Just a few minutes.”

He stood, his body still tense with anger, and he walked to the lift without a word. The gate slammed down in front of him and he left.

Xander relaxed beside me and smiled. Great. Hurt one; encourage another. Not exactly what I was going for. “Listen, Xander,” I said. “This doesn’t mean I like you better. In fact, you’re at the top of my shit list. Just say whatever you need to say and get the hell out.”

His smile grew. I really hated the way my anger encouraged him. He was a no-means-yes kind of guy all the way around.

“I hate to burst your bubble, Darian,” Xander said, “but invincibility is a concept best left to comic books. There is nothing in the natural world that is unkillable . Including you. We heal incredibly fast; therefore, most injuries that would be fatal to another creature do not affect us in the same way. We don’t succumb to illness, though as you can plainly see, toxins can weaken us and make us vulnerable. We hold dominion over one another when bonded by love, magic, or blood. Therefore, no matter the hour or the circumstances, we have the power to send one of our own forever into shadow. And we can live for generations, ages. Is that what you want to hear, Darian? Is this what you’re so bitter about? The fact that it’s not laid out for you in simple terms, black and white?”

“The natural world,” I scoffed. “Do you really think we’re a part of the natural world?”

“Yes.” His answer was simple, definite, final.

Xander smiled and stood. No matter how much I hated him, I couldn’t deny he was something to look at. His blond hair had been pulled neatly back and secured with a band at the nape of his neck. And his eyes sparkled against the darker backdrop of his face, which was angular and strong, a kingly face if I ever saw one. I wondered at his outfit—a silk T-shirt and slacks, both black. Hmm. An homage? Or maybe just a somber color for the somber tone of his visit. Oh yeah, he was something to look at all right, but he was Azriel’s father, for chrissake, and my own personal tormentor. At the moment, I didn’t think the line between love and hate was fine enough for me to feel anything for him but insufferable frustration, and no amount of beauty was going to change that fact.

“I suppose I’ll leave,” Xander said, as if leaving was the last thing he wanted to do. “Your slave is no doubt pacing the sidewalk right now and is eager to see to your care.”

My slave? Laughable . “He’s anything but a slave, Xander.”

He raised a challenging brow. “Oh no?”

“What do you know about him?” I asked, my suspicions aroused.

“The Jinn has bound himself to you, Darian.” He almost sounded sorry for Tyler. “Everything, even his own life, comes second to your wishes.”

“Well, I never asked him to do that,” I said, defending myself for something that wasn’t my fault. “I don’t need a genie.”

“Oh no?” Xander said again, daring me to contradict him. “Don’t be so sure. Heal quickly, little assassin. I need you.”

The last traces of gray light must have been swallowed up by dark night, because Xander passed into shadow and disappeared from my presence.

Chapter 16

Xander’s comments about Tyler left a sour taste in my mouth. I didn’t want to think that by binding himself to me, Ty had given up his free will. It made me sick to think of anyone giving themselves over in that way, so completely, without reservation. I’d done that a century or so ago when I’d given my life over to Azriel, and look where that decision landed me. Slave. The word was degrading, disgusting, weak. Tyler wasn’t weak. He was shrewd, handsome, and loyal. He didn’t have to be flashy about his power; you could see it in his eyes. Tyler may have looked like a harmless sidekick, but only because that’s what he wanted people to see. He wasn’t weak—not by a long shot. And he was no slave.