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It took a hell of a lot more effort to shift his head than even ten minutes ago to look at her. "You're not a fae witch doctor."
She stood tall, the subtle air of authority now emerging reminded River of Leo Yates; they were definitely related. "No, I'm not. My name is Nora Yates, and I may be a vampire, but I've spent the last forty or so years studying healing. And right now, I say you need to rest. You can answer more questions in greater detail later, when you're stronger."
"Why should I listen to you? I have no fucking clue who you are, beyond your name."
Nora's brows came together, but it was Yesenia who spoke up. "Nora is Leo's younger sister and my sister-in-law, River. So be nice to her." She stood. "And she's right, you need more sleep. Although since you've regained consciousness, I can remove this."
His sister took a small metal band from his wrist and a surge of magical energy flowed through him again. "A magic-containing training bracelet?"
Yesenia nodded. "The fae witch doctor said it could come off if you woke up. You should be strong enough to help speed up your own recovery with your magic now." She stepped next to her husband—River still couldn't believe she'd married a vampire—and turned toward Nora. "Do you want me to stand watch? I know it's your turn now and I'm supposed to get some rest, but I don't mind sitting with my brother."
Nora bit her bottom lip, her small fang poking out, and for a split second River wondered what it'd feel like to have her fangs in his skin.
What the fuck?He quickly pushed the thought away. He'd fucked a few vampires before, but after being tortured by them, he had no desire to bed one.
No, really, not even for the mind-blowing orgasm the pretty, curvy female's fangs would most assuredly give him.
Nora released her lip and shook her head. "No, I'll stay and finish my turn taking care of him. You've been up most of the night. Besides, your brother needs his bandages and salve changed anyway, and that's my responsibility."
He studied the dark-haired vampire female. She'd been changing his bandages? And by the sound of it, helping his sister too?
A sense of guilt crashed over him. True, he still had a fuckton of questions and wouldn't trust either vampire further than he could throw them. But if they were important to his sister, River could at least not be a dick for no reason.
And he should probably fucking apologize.
Then he noticed Nora still gripping the arm she'd banged up. At the lull, River blurted, "Nora should stay. I need to heal her arm anyway."
Leo looked at Nora. "Are you hurt, Nora? Why didn't you say anything?"
And then Yesenia jumped in before Nora could. "And absolutely not, River. You don't have the strength for it."
Nora started, "I'm fine—"
But River drew on his remaining strength and put every bit of authoritativeness he could into his voice, like his mentor had taught him to do when it came to uncooperative patients. "Just listen to me, okay?" All eyes moved to him. "If you fetch me a restorative drink, Senia, I'll be strong enough to heal a simple bruising." His gaze moved to Nora's. "It's the least I can do, given how I acted."
His sister demanded to know what he'd done, but River's eyes stayed on Nora's.
The fear from before was gone. And while she wasn't exactly looking at him as some sort of sex god or even a friend, her curiosity was a welcome change.
Although why the fuck he should care if she was curious about him, he had no idea.
Yesenia waved a hand in front of his face and River frowned. Before he could say anything, his sister did. "I'll get you a restorative drink. But if you overdo it, so help me, River, I'll put the training bracelet back on and maybe even tie you to the bed until you recover. Understood?"
He resisted smiling. Despite the fact Yesenia was older than River by three years, she was many inches shorter and pounds lighter than him, not that she'd ever let that intimidate her. Even if they were both grown-ass adults now, she would always play the older sibling. "Yes, sir, Yesenia, sir."
His sister rolled her eyes and he grinned. It only hurt a little, but it felt so fucking good to smile that River endured the slight ache.
Yesenia sighed, leaned over, and kissed his forehead as if he were still a child.
But since he'd been through hell over the last few months and hadn't had a soft touch from anyone, he didn't put up a fuss.
He wished Meadow could be here too, but at least he had his older sister.
Yesenia stepped back. "I'll have them send the drink and some food up here for you both." She moved her gaze to Nora. "Don't hesitate to come get me anytime, Nora, if you need me. I mean it."
The female vampire nodded, and after murmuring goodbyes, both Yesenia and her husband left, leaving him alone with Nora Yates.
He looked at her and decided he may as well get it over with. "I'm sorry for acting like an asshole earlier. Can we start over?"
