Page 92 of Call of the Blood

“I hope this doesn’t offend you, but it was beautiful, and I think the werewolves know more about that I ever wanted them to.”

“Don’t tell me⁠—”

“They would have smelled how I felt, the whole myriad of things I felt. No, I wasn’t…” Alexius leaned back, then got up and left.

And for the first time in hours, maybe even the entire night, I laughed.

34

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

The next night, I woke up and my foot hurt. It hurt worse than it had when I slept. I had been warned about this. About an hour before I passed out, the surgeon came to the suite and gave Alexius and me a full explanation of what to expect. He said since I was young enough to still deep sleep during the day, Alexius just needed to make sure I didn’t pop up. They would take X-rays and everything while I slept and finish the day with the surgery. I just needed to be on crutches for a couple of days to make sure I didn’t reinjure it.

I hadn’t expected pain.

“Good evening,” Alexius said.

I realized he was sitting beside me. It didn’t startle me. I was less rested and more out of surgery. Of course, someone was going to be there. Of course, it was going to be him.

“Hi. So, how was it?”

“You hadn’t healed it fully, which makes sense, considering it hadn’t been that long and you’re a young vampire. How you were walking around without noticing any pain pointed at possible nerve damage. But there wasn’t any evidence of that. We all decided it was adrenaline.” Alexius was clinical. “Some bones had started to fuse back together. Everything seems healed just enough to support you. You ran really hard on it, though, and yet you never noticed how painful it was. Not even afterward.”

“I did when it happened,” I said, trying to make it seem more normal. “And I drank blood and focused on the healing. I had to stop Henry.”

Alexius leaned forward. “You don’t need to tell me the reason. I don’t feel injuries sometimes, either. Do you think I even considered the wounds I had in New York when we fought demonic vampire?”

“Then why the… thorough dissection of my injury and actions?

“I just want you to know what I recognized, and you need to have a full idea of your own health.” Alexius leaned back again. “Next time, once the fight is over, do an inventory of your body and how it feels. Look for injuries you may not have realized happened. It could save your life.”

Oh yes, we must never forget that everything can be a training opportunity.

“Okay. Sorry for the mess with the foot.”

“Don’t apologize, Everly.” Alexius started to get up. “Also, Declan didn’t rise. He won’t tonight, from Maria and my estimation. He’s safe to fly to Savannah tonight. We can probably leave tomorrow if you want to give yourself time on your foot.”

“I’d like to head home,” I admitted. I looked to the other side of the bed and saw the crutches.

I was able to figure them out quickly. I fed the blood Alexius put in front of me, and he finally let me out of the room.

“One last thing, before we see them⁠—”

“Everly!” Lexi’s voice was clear, ringing down the hall as she came into view.

“The werewolves are here to talk,” Alexius finished, gesturing at Lexi, her parents, and Callahan, standing deep in Maria’s nest, an odd sight.

They didn’t fit. The more I looked at them in the environment, the more I saw how inhuman we all were but differently inhuman. The werewolves packed together, looking at every angle, like any good group hunter, while vampires slinked around them, giving a wide berth, all a bit too pale, too washed out compared to the sunkissed outdoorsy werewolves. Even in a suit that was probably worth several thousand dollars, Callahan was natural in a way vampires were not.

“Hi, Lexi,” I greeted, having to use the crutches, which was distantly embarrassing. The crutches could make me look vulnerable or weak.

“How are you? How’s Declan?”

“Declan apparently isn’t up yet,” I answered. “And I had foot surgery. Henry got me with a knife before we followed you out of the house. But otherwise…” I shrugged. There was little reason to discuss any emotional things I was not willing to address with anyone, much less my brother’s werewolf girlfriend.

“He might not be up for some time, but I’m certain we can reach out from Savannah when he does,” Alexius added, directing it mostly at Lexi but ending on Callahan. I saw Callahan frown.

“You’ll leave with him to Savannah?”