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Ten

Bed Bound

I feel the heat first, flowing through me like I have been asleep in the sands for days. My entire body drips with sweat, and my skin burns from it.

Then comes the agony.

Red-hot pokers pierce every inch of my skin, ripping me open, flaying me, cutting me, and I hear Ivar’s laugh. Is that where I am? In his torture chamber? It sure as fuck feels like it.

I feel something prodding at my stomach, so I smack it away, at least I think I do. Two seconds later, my arms are pinned down by something heavy, then my legs. I thrash, snarl, and bite, and words spill past my lips, even though I can’t open my eyes.

Something sharp stabs into my arm, and then a moment later, coolness flows through me and I slip back into the waiting darkness, this time relaxed and happy. I’m no longer in pain.

When I wake up again, I’m not as hot or in as much pain. I’m lying on something soft, the ceiling mouldy and stained above me. I’m in my room. Turning my head, I spot my guys in the next room talking to Evan, and they all look worried.

I must make a noise, because they quiet and rush in. Jax helps me lift my head while Drax presses a bottle of water to my mouth. “Sip it, babe, tiny sips.”

I do as I am told, quenching my thirst, and then they lower me back down, my body still numb. “What happened?” I croak.

Evan huffs and crosses his arms, glaring down at me. “What happened, she asks?” He throws his hands in the air as he leans in. “Did I or did I not tell you to rest? ”

“Yeah?” I offer, confused.

His eyes narrow further, his nostrils flaring—oh, he’s really pissed. He looks like an adorable little dog when they are angry. “And did you rest?”

I blink and open my mouth, but he beats me to it, pointing his finger at me. “No, you fucking didn’t. Instead, I got a rude man waking me up while I was spooning my girl, telling me you almost killed yourself and were now, and I quote, ‘sweating like a whore on payday.’”

I snort at that, and he wags his finger. “Not done. So I get up and haul my ass here to find you feverish, bleeding to death, and completely out of it.”

I turn my head to Maxen and grin. “What happened? Doc is too busy having a tantrum.”

“I am not having a tantrum!” he yells, but we both ignore him. Dray is on the bed next to me, stroking my arm lovingly. He’s quiet for a change.

Maxen sighs and crouches beside me, stroking my face. I’ve scared him, I can tell. “ Mi Alma , a patrol found you half dead in the sands bleeding a lot. He got you here and raised the alarm… You’ve got an infection.”

“Probably from digging fucking graves or sleeping in dirt!” Evan scoffs before sighing.

“It has been brewing for a day or so I would say, but you got the thick of it last night. I don’t think it’s blood poisoning though, otherwise you would be dead.

Luckily, I stole supplies from Paradise, so I managed to knock you out last night and give you some antibiotics to treat it.

But you are going to be weak. There is no guarantee these are the right antibiotics for the infection, and without my lab, I can’t test you. ”

I nod, trying to swallow with my dry mouth. I can feel myself getting warmer again, but I don’t know if that’s just my imagination or not. “So…I could die?”

He lowers his eyes for a moment before meeting mine. “Yes.”

The room explodes.

All my men shout and gesture at once. Dray has his knife to Evan’s throat, who is pale and wheezing but not fighting. Jax stands by my side, but he’s quiet, very quiet, and not with us.

“Dray, put him down,” I snap and then cough.

That makes them stop, and all of them rush to my side.

Jax passes me water, his panic-filled eyes meeting mine.

I squeeze his hand when he pulls the bottle away and settle back into the bed.

Thorn fluffs my pillows for me until I’m comfortable, his face drawn and lost. Maxen takes my hand and holds it.

Drax crawls onto the bed by my feet, watching me worriedly, his hand stroking my leg.

Dray is next to the end again, his weapon sheathed at last. I assure them I’m all right as I watch Evan put himself back together, tossing Dray a glare which luckily my crazy man doesn’t see.

When they calm down, I keep my eyes on Evan. “What are my odds?” My voice is calm.

“If you make it through the night, I say we are in the clear.”

“What can we do?” Dray asks, and the fact that he’s ice-cold and composed worries me.

“Ice baths, cold compresses, keep her fever down as much as we can. I will double her antibiotics, which might shut her body down and kill her, but I think it’s the only way. You are on bed rest. Eat and drink, even if you don’t want to, you will need it. Your body will need it.”

“Okay.” I sigh.

“Okay?” he repeats. “Just like that, you will do as you’re told?”

I snort. “I’m not an idiot, Doc. You know what you’re doing, and as much as you might think I do, I don’t have a death wish. If this is what it takes, I’ll do it.”

He smiles at me encouragingly. “You can kick this infection’s ass the way you do everything else. Let me draw up those antibiotics. Do you want some pain meds with it?”

I debate it. The pain isn’t too bad right now, but it might get worse, then again, I’ve never wanted to dose with meds to not feel. I would rather feel the pain and know I’m still alive. “No.”

He nods like he expected it and leaves me with my men, who are all looking at me. All worried. “All right, stop watching me like I’m already dead, okay? I’ve had infections before, but this time, we’ve got a handy doctor,” I joke, but it falls flat.

Jax turns my head and stares down at me. “I can’t lose you,” he whispers, voice cracking.

“You’re not going to,” I tell him, leaning into him, letting him see the determination in my eyes. “I’ve been ripped apart, raped, tortured, stabbed, burnt, and worse. They didn’t kill me, and this won’t either.”

He swallows hard, searching my eyes. My poor demon. “Look at me,” I snap, and he does. “I’m not going anywhere, I promise you. I’ll even do as I am told and stay in bed.” I wiggle my eyebrows. “You can join me.”

“No hanky-panky!” Evan yells from the other room, making me laugh.

“Hanky-panky? How old is he?” Drax snorts as he reaches over and grabs Jax’s arm for a moment. “Come on, brother, you know our girl is tougher than any infection.”

“He’s right, baby girl, you will be fine. Might teach you to look after yourself more though,” Thorn chides and grins at me, flashing pearly whites. His smile softens his face, so I can’t really be mad .

“It’s simple. She will survive it, or we all die anyway,” Dray points out, lounging next to me.

They all share a look, wearing smiles on their lips. “Fuck, you are all insane,” I mutter. “Now someone get some cold compresses, I’m sweating like a bitch.”

“Sponge bath in bed?” Drax suggests and perks up, tumbling from the bed in his haste. “I’ll be right back. Get naked!” He stops at the door and looks back at us worriedly. “Just Tazzy, I don’t need to see your cocks.”

I laugh, but it cuts off in a pained moan as I breathe through it. Maxen kisses my cheek before bringing his lips to mine, rubbing them against me a hairsbreadth away. His warm breath washes over me. “I’ll play nurse for you.”

“Yeah? Going to wear an outfit?” I murmur.

He grins, I feel it against my lips. “Anything for you, Mi Alma , you know that, and when you’re better, I’m going to prove to you just how much I love you.”

“I can’t wait,” I whisper as he leans back and looks at the others, taking charge.

“We take it in turns. One awake at all times, checking on her temperature, making sure she is eating and drinking.” He looks to Dray. “Apart from you. I’m betting you’re not leaving her side or sleeping.”

Dray salutes him. “Correct.” He winks at me. “Me and you, soulmate.” He seems to debate something before looking up at Evan. “If I cut myself, will I get an infection too so we can go through it together?”

Evan blinks, seemingly at a loss for words, so I save him. “Baby?” Dray looks at me, and I grin. “I love you, but don’t, okay? I need you to protect me while I’m out.”

His eyes flash as he grips my chin hard, forcing my gaze to his as Evan stabs me with a needle. “I will always protect you, so will your other men… Well, apart from me. Now rest, soulmate, we have some celebrating to do.”

I nod and turn back, closing my eyes. I feel them around me. It gives me something to look forward to, getting better and being held and loved by my men. “Celebrate how?” Evan inquires.

I don’t bother saving him from this one.

“With my tongue in her pussy and her knives in my chest,” Dray answers.

“Hell yes,” Jax adds, making me smile.

“Or her bouncing on my cock,” Drax calls.

“Or between us,” Thorn remarks .

“All of them.” Maxen laughs, and when I peek open an eye, I see Evan blushing furiously.

“Leave the boy alone, the things we do would make him faint in shock,” I tease.

“Especially if he saw our foreplay.” Dray laughs. “One time, she tried to kill me… I swear I came so hard, I nearly passed out.”

“Tried to kill you?” Evan questions.

“Failed, clearly,” I deadpan. “I won’t next time.”

“Save the dirty talk for when you can follow through, wife. If we try to play right now, your men might try to kill me, and wouldn’t that be a shame if I had to gut them all?”

Maxen laughs. “You could try. You might be insane and an assassin, but we could kick your crazy ass.”

“Keep telling yourself that. I would offer to test it, but I have a feeling my soulmate would kill me if I ruined your pretty boy face.”

“Boys,” I snap, opening my eyes. “Behave. No maiming, torturing, or killing when I can’t join in.”

“Party pooper.” Drax chuckles as he draws closer. “Now, my queen, where would you like me to cool you down?” he queries, lowering his voice and almost purring. I flip him the bird.

“No dirty talk. You can’t get me hot and turned on when I’m dying,” I protest.

He pouts. “I can’t help that you continually want my dick, princess.”

Maxen smacks him on the back of his head. “Stop talking about dicks. We need her to cool down, not warm up.” He winks at me. “That can come later.”

“You are all pervs,” I mutter.

They move around me then as the medicine starts to kick in, and I think the bastard must have given me more than antibiotics, because I’m starting to fall asleep as they place a cold compress on my head.

I narrow my eyes on Evan as I fight closing them, and he grins. “Just had to make sure you did as you were told,” he offers.

That rat bastard, I’m going to stab him…when I can move again.