Chapter 25: 25__Grumpy nurses

The words filled Maia’s heart with prickly trepidation and she slowly looked up at the man whose arm tightened around her.

If he wasn’t Aiden then… who the hell did she kill back there?

Maia gasped. Had she just killed the King of Geminor?!

“Stay back,” said the Aiden who held her, eyes staring fiercely at Rogan.

“Come here, Maia,” Rogan retorted darkly, the power in his hands glowing harder. “That man isn’t— urghh!”

Rogan’s body jerked violently and Maia gasped when he suddenly crumpled to the ground, blood staining his back.

“Rogan!” she gasped.

“Fucker,” came a dark mutter.

Maia raised her gaze to the voice and was absolutely shocked to see another Rogan. She blinked.

“These bastards just don’t quit,” he muttered, lowering the power-wielding hand he’d killed the other Rogan with.

“Took you long enough,” muttered Aiden, seeming to relax as he leaned on Maia more.

“Don’t whine,” Rogan retorted. He moved his gaze to Maia who still stared at him like he was a talking tree. “Rag-skins! Didn’t I tell you to stay in the house?”

Maia felt dizzy, barely able to wrap her head around everything. “What the hell is going on?” she asked in nearly a whisper.

Rolling his eyes, Rogan pushed a hand through his hair as he approached them. “That was a shifter trying to get his hands on you, that’s what. The stupid fucktards don’t give up.”

She blinked up at him, suddenly filled with joy at the sight of him and knowing, by some strange instinct, that this was him. It was Rogan.

“He took my form and tried to trick you,” explained Rogan as he shoved Aiden’s arm off of Maia’s shoulder.

“Hey!” Aiden snapped crossly, tottering on his one leg. “She arrowed me in the goddamn leg, the least she can do is carry me!”

Maia flinched. “I’m so sorry about that, please don’t be mad at—”

“Stop whining, it’s just a little arrow!” said Rogan.

Aiden narrowed his eyes to silver slits. “Just a little arrow? Just a little arrow, my plump ass! She’s a goddamn markswoman with that bow and arrow, I thought I was dead!”

Rolling his eyes, Rogan grabbed Aiden’s arm, pulling it over his own shoulder to support the moody king. “Just lean on me and walk.” Reaching back, he took Maia’s hand, knowing she was still dazed, staring at him like she was hypnotized. If he didn’t tug her along, she’d probably stay right in that spot. Goodness, was she that wooed by his good looks? Gosh. And Rogan wasn’t even at his best at the moment.

“So,” said Aiden as they limped out of the property, a sly grin curving his lips. “I heard you’re heart-eyes for my powers.”

************************

“You guys are a huge mess!” tutted Cecile as they rushed around the Hostel, getting supplies for the injured who’d just stumbled into their home in the middle of the night.

Rogan pushed his hair back, tying it when it tried to escape. “Take care of him first.”

Him, being the scowling king who was currently sitting on a sofa like he was sitting on sharp nails.

“Don’t know why we had to come here of all places…” Aiden muttered to himself. “…my damn reputation as righteous King down the fucking drain…”

Cassie eyed him and crossed her arms. “If you have such a problem with being here, I’ll be only too glad to call you a coach! It’s not like this place is a damn hospital.”

Silver eyes cut a sharp look up at her. “Look here, Cassidy Germaine Philips,” Aiden muttered. “I’ve had a shitty day and an even shittier night! If you get on my nerves, I will burn your Hostel down first thing at morning light!”

Cassie’s eyes flashed with rage and her arms lowered to her sides, hands clenching into fists. “Just try it, Aiden. I dare you!”

“Okay! Ha-ha!” chuckled Cecile, more nervous than amused as she hurried between them with a bowl of water and medication. “Apologies, my King. Our Cassie’s been having a bad day. Please, allow me to treat your wound.”

Aiden released a calming breath and looked at the blonde with the sharp eyes. He nodded at her, waving for her to proceed.

Cecile lowered the supplies and quietly got on her knees. She picked up a pair of scissors, carefully cutting into Aiden’s pants, removing the part of his the trousers which hid his wound.

Cassie stood by, watching with a sour look on her face, secretly hoping Cecile’s hand slipped and the scissor dug into Aiden’s thigh. She clenched her jaw at the darkness of her own thoughts, but as always, quickly justified it. He deserved it.

Aiden suddenly jerked his leg out of Cecile’s hands and she looked up, blinking in puzzlement.

“Is… something wrong, King Aiden?”

He very slowly raised his gaze to the woman who stood beside Cecile, glaring down at him.

“I want her to do it,” he said simply.

“What?” said Cassie and Cecile at the same time.

Aiden raised an arm and pointed a finger right at Cassie’s face. “You. Get on your knees and serve me. Right now.”

Cassie’s jaw dropped open.

Cecile looked up at Aiden in panic, wanting to argue, but hesitating at the King’s firm tone.

Anxious, she stood and tugged Cassie closer, leaning over to whisper in her ear. “Please get it done without hurting or insulting him, Cassie, I’m begging you! That man has the power to destroy our Hostel! Yeah?”

Cassie’s mouth closed and she clenched her teeth, barely stopping herself from grinding them. Cecile squeezed her arm and hurried off, leaving Cassie to stare at Aiden with deadly rage. The cocky bastard! How dare he make her serve him?!

Stiff with anger, she lowered onto her knees and grabbed the white towel, dunking it in the bowl’s pink liquid.

Aiden’s gaze was intense on her face, his mouth pressed in to a stubborn line. “Do it well. Understand?”

Cassie’s teeth did grind this time and she glared at him, her hand stilling in the bowl.

Aiden narrowed his eyes. “You’re far too arrogant for someone of your class.”

Her eyes falling closed for a tense second, Cassie dragged in a ragged breath. “Excuse me?” she asked in a trembling whisper. “What class is *that*?”

“A class that should know how to be humbled in the presence of a King,” he told her with a raised brow.

Cassie swallowed the lump in her throat, trying and failing to diffuse her anger. “You know what? Maybe Cecile should treat your wound. I happen to be a Gemini Tigress and my temper isn’t very reliable.”

Aiden’s mouth curved in a despicably sexy smile and he lowered his leg, leaning forward until there were merely inches between their faces. “A wild cat, huh? I happen to just *love*… taming wild cats.”

The corner of Cassie’s lip twitched with anger. “Not this one, you bastard.”

With an easy smile and a sigh that sent fury boiling through Cassie, Aiden leaned back in the chair, stretching his muscled thigh out for her. “Clean my wound, little kitty. Do it right and I just might give you a treat.”

Claudia, Clover and Maia watched them from a distance, ears straining to hear even a word of what the two were so heatedly muttering.

“Which genius put those two together?” Claudia asked with a shake of her head.

“The King personally asked for Cassie,” said Clover with a raised brow.

“Seems like he’s trying to bully her,” added Maia.

“Hah!” scoffed Claudia. “Good luck to him. Cassie is not the type that gets bullied.”

“Stop gossiping,” said Rogan as he barged into their little triangle, moving Claudia and Clover out of his way.

“Hey, no shoving!” snapped Claudia, following Clover who hurried away because Rogan’s eyes were uncovered.

Rogan ignored them, wrapping his hands around Maia’s waist and hoisting her up to sit on the bar.

She gasped and clutched his shoulders, looking down at him even as he glanced up at her.

“Stay still,” he ordered.

Maia watched as he took hold of one of her feet, inspecting it. He cursed and before she could brace herself, Rogan started pulling out bits of thorns that had gotten stuck in her flesh.

“Could’ve put some damn shoes on, you know?” he muttered. “Got your feet all torn up, little fool.”

Maia winced at slight tweaks of pain in her feet, but couldn’t stop the wry smile that curved the corners of her mouth. “Are you caring about me right now?”

Rogan’s hands stilled and he gave her a look. “You wanna do this yourself?”

“Okay, no! I’m sorry!” Maia said quickly, her smile not dying away.

Lowering his gaze, Rogan returned to cleaning her feet and healing the wounds that were bothering her.

Her gaze was heavy on him, but he ignored it. He had to. If he looked up at her and got caught in those big grey eyes, Rogan didn’t know what would happen. The Hostel had far too many empty rooms for him to not be tempted.

“Earlier tonight…” said Maia softly. He straightened, leaning into her as he reached for bandages. Maia grasped his arm when he was close, making Rogan stop mere centimetres from her face. “Where did you go…?”

“What?” he asked, his expression uncertain. Whether Rogan was uncertain about answering her question or about his ability to withstand her mouth being this close to his, he wasn’t sure.

“Where did you go?” Maia repeated softly. “You called Aiden to deal with the ghosts so where did you go?”

Her eyes were filled to the brim with curiosity and Rogan sighed. Letting the bandage slip from his hand, he leaned his palms against the bar top and came even closer to her.

“Why?”

Maia’s lips jutted out. “Well… I was worried about you.”

Rogan looked at her for a moment, trying to think to the last time anyone had told him they were worried about him with all sincerity. Right. They didn’t. Because he didn’t *need* them to since he was a *villain*. Duh.

He grabbed the bandages and moved away, lifting her foot again. “I went to work some magic on the house,” he said monotonously. “To stop shifters and ghosts from entering in future. Took longer than I thought it would.”

She stared at him silently, her eyes swivelling with thoughts Rogan was hesitant to read.

“What?” he demanded when her stare started getting him strangely hot.

“Those ghosts… and shifters,” she began. “They’re not after you, are they?”

Rogan froze, but kept his gaze away from hers. “They are.”

“Why?" Maia asked, sensing lies. "What did you do?”

Rogan scoffed out a laugh as he wrapped her foot up. “What did I do?” Raising his gaze, he locked eyes with Maia. “I took something from them, which they’ve been searching for for a long time. I basically stole their Trojan.”