Victor paced back and forth, his fists clenched at his sides and his face pinched tight. He was worried and trying to hide it. No way was Flint allowing his friend to get away with that. Not now. Not when he and Kenzie had come so close to…death.

“Out with it and don’t try and sugar coat anything,” Flint ground out, his steely glare pinning his friend in place.

“Ace found two of his men dead just by the area you were. Two of his best guards and those Wolves that attacked you, we don’t think they did that alone. There’s evidence that they were helped in taking out Ace’s men. It looked like there were at least four in the attack against them before two left the area. So, it looks like there’s more to come.”

Flint couldn’t hold back the snarl that erupted from him, vicious and unbidden, from deep down inside him as a cold rage built. The thought that his beautiful Kenzie could still be in danger was not something he could stand…not again. It would be the end of him.

“Kenzie, I think you should…”

She sprang up, shaking her head and interrupting him. Damn.

“Don’t you dare say it, Flint. Don’t you dare. I’m not going anywhere. I know that’s what you were going to say and it’s not happening. I will stay inside. I’ll concede to that, but I will not leave. So don’t say another word or you and I will argue and I don’t want that. Not now. Not after what we’ve just gone through…I love you, darling, and I nearly lost you. Please, please, don’t let us argue. Not now.”

Her eyes were glowing brightly. A sure sign she was upset, and he couldn’t argue with her. He didn’t have the strength and he loved her too much. He adored her more at that very second than he had since he’d found her. For her fire, for her strength, for her loyalty. After everything she’d gone through and she was still willing to stand by his side…his Bloodmate. Strong as anything he’d witnessed, even after being mauled by a vicious Wolf and half drowning.

How could he deny her? Quite simply…he couldn’t.

“If you promise to stay within the castle and to always have someone with you, either me or a guard…then okay, babe. But, and it’s a huge but, you have to do that…okay? If I can’t be with you then you need to have a guard, preferably more than one, with you at all times.”

She was about to argue when Victor intervened, thankfully.

“I agree. I’ve already said the same thing to Kimber and I know Quinn has to Amaya too. It’s the only logical thing to do in the circumstances.”

Kenzie flew her hands up in the air, stomped back and forth for a few seconds and finally huffed out. “Fine! If the others are having them then I guess I will too, but for now it won’t matter because I’m not leaving your side.”

“That’s okay,” Victor smiled, “there’s guards outside in the hallway.”

“Good.” Flint held his hand out, waggling his fingers. “Give me some more of that blood. I need to get back to normal and I’ll be right as rain in a few hours if I feed.”

Victor reached into the cool-box on the floor and threw him a couple more just as there was a soft rap on the door. It opened slightly, and a head appeared, one that Flint wasn’t familiar with…or was he? The guy had light hair and blue eyes, dressed in jeans and a shirt and…wait, he was one of the couples invited to the Ball. Wasn’t he? His mind was still fuzzy and he felt drained but he’d never admit that. Not to anyone.

“Excuse me for interrupting, but I heard what happened and I wanted to come and see how you were doing. If that’s okay?”

The man stepped inside but waited by the door. He had a British accent and although it was obvious he was an ancient and powerful Vampire, he gave off a more ‘bookish’ stuffy kind of aura. Definitely not one that set off any alarms anyway.

Victor looked down at him, raising an eyebrow in question.

“Sure, it’s fine.” Flint agreed.

“I’m Victor, it’s a pleasure to meet you…it’s Grey, isn’t it?” Victor stayed in place, next to the bed with his hand out.

“Indeed, and I know who you are, who doesn’t?” Grey strode over and shook Victor’s hand.

“Please, call me Victor, we’re all friends here.”

“Victor it is then.”

“I’m Kenzie and this is Flint.” Kenzie turned and smiled but didn’t hold her hand out, instead she came to sit beside him on the bed.

“Hello Kenzie, I’m sorry to hear about what happened to you both, and if there’s anything I can do then please, just ask.”

Grey sounded sincere and Flint gave him a good long look to try and see if he was being deceitful, but he could sense nothing but the truth from him. The man looked and sounded like a…oh wait…he was. A damn school teacher. No wait. He was a Professor. That’s it. He was a Professor and he looked, acted, and talked just like one.

“Thanks,” Flint waved the bag of blood he was holding. “I should be fighting-fit after a few more of these.”

Grey frowned, he looked at the bag then at Kenzie, looking confused but he didn’t say anything although it was obvious he was wondering why he was drinking donor blood instead of from his Bloodmate. Not his fucking business though.

“I also wanted to let you know that we had prowlers last night around our cabin…cottage, whatever, but we did have uninvited guests. Mila and I were sitting outside, very late because we haven’t quite got used to the change in time zone yet, and my senses picked up someone coming our way.”

Victor butted in, causing Grey to stop. “What? Where were your guards?”

Grey didn’t seem upset and carried on as if Victor hadn’t said anything at all.

“I called for the guards and sent Mila inside, which she was not best pleased about. She’s a feisty one and wanted to rip someone’s throat out. Anyway, we left a guard on Mila and went in search of the intruder and we did find scents, yes that’s plural. Two to be exact but they’d fled, and we didn’t actually see anyone. I just thought you should know.”

“Oh dear,” Kenzie didn’t look happy, looking up at Grey then Victor and back at Grey again. “Is there anything I can do for Mila?”

“That’s nice of you to offer but Mila is a Blood Faery and she’s not easily scared. In fact, she’d have been happier out hunting them than being left behind. Anyway, I understand that there’s a problem and I’m aware that you’re doing your best to deal with it. As the Ball is looming I just want to say that we’ll remain for that, but, we will be leaving the day after. I don’t want to offend you, but I also don’t want to place Mila in any further danger.”

Flint understood exactly how this guy was feeling. Fuck, only a short while ago he wanted to send Kenzie far away.

“Thank you for staying for the Ball, Grey. I appreciate it.” Victor held out his hand again, shaking Grey’s with one while his other clasped his shoulder. “I’d also like to extend my gratitude for placing your safety in our hands. I promise we are doing our utmost to ensure that you and Mila will be okay. I’ve also been in touch with Jana and she’s on the case too. We’ll get to the bottom of this fiasco. Don’t think for a minute that we won’t.”

“Jana Noskova is helping you with this?” Grey raised his brow, tilting his head to the side.

“She is.”

“In that case, I pity the poor sods responsible when she gets her hands on them.” Grey smirked. “I know her, and I also know that she will not stop until she gets those responsible. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must get back to Mila. I’ll see you all soon and hope you’ll be better by then, Flint. Nice to have met you, Kenzie.”

“Bye,” Kenzie said as Grey left and Flint drank down yet another bag of donor blood.

He was already feeling the effects; his wounds were knitting together, and, although it was painful, he relished it because it meant that soon he’d be whole again and able to protect Kenzie once more. Lying here weak and unable to do that was the worst feeling ever. The only solace he had was that his best friend stood nearby, and he knew that Victor was going nowhere. He’d stay right where he was until he saw a vast improvement, and only then would he leave the room…just as he would do if their places were reversed.

“Do you need another?” Victor already had two more in his hands, holding them prepared.

“I think I’m good.” Flint shook his head, feeling his strength returning by the second and counting the empty plastic bags lying beside him. Five. That was more than enough to heal him. Or it damn well should be.

He couldn’t manage any more. No. The thought of further blood that wasn’t Kenzie’s was out of the question.

“Are you sure?” Kenzie sat beside him, her eyes roaming over him.

“Yeah. I’m almost healed. It won’t be long now, babe. I promise. I just need to rest for a little while longer.”

“Victor?” Kenzie looked up at him. “What do you think? I’m still worried.”

Victor leaned over, staring down and checking him out. Victor’s eyes bored into Flint’s and then he winked at him. “He’s good. He might need a nap but after that he’ll be right as rain.”

“A nap?” Flint growled, the sound rumbling up his throat and coming out like a boom of thunder. “I don’t need a damn nap. I’m fine.”

“I do,” Kenzie pushed on his shoulder, “move over so I can join you. I’m tired and need a lie down.”

“What? You need to lie down, baby? Of course, get in here and I’ll cuddle you.” Flint shuffled over, lifting the cover and making room for her.

Kenzie fell in next to him, her arm lying across his naked belly and her head on his chest, snuggling against him. At first, he thought it was a ploy for him to rest but no, in moments, she was out for the count and sound asleep. Shit. She wasn’t as well as she’d let on.

“I told you that she needed rest. Didn’t I?” Victor whispered, walking over to the sofa in front of the bay window where he sat down, crossing his legs and getting comfortable.

“Yes, you did. She’s pale, Vic. I’m worried about her, and you look like you’ve settled in for the day. You don’t need to stay. Not if there’s guards out there.”

His friend looked over his shoulder, out the large bay window over the Scottish countryside and didn’t say a word for several moments. Flint thought he was going to remain silent, but finally Victor turned back to him, his lips pursed together, and he shook his head briefly before a long drawn out sigh escaped him.

“Flint, I’m not going anywhere. Not until I sense you’re back to full strength and don’t think you can hide your weakness from me, my friend. I know you too well and you know me just as well. We’ve been together far too long for you to try and hide anything from me, and if you think for one damn second that I’d leave you, or Kenzie, vulnerable…think again.” Victor canted his head to the side, quirked his brow and glared at him. “Would you if the situation were reversed?”

Once again Flint’s throat felt constricted. Fuck. He’d not felt this emotional in…forever. Victor was spot on. He’d never, not for a fucking second, leave Victor or Kimber, if his friend were lying in this bed. He’d stand guard until he knew, for certain, that he was fighting-fit again and could take care of his Bloodmate…and himself once more.

“Thanks. That’s all I can say,” Flint managed to get out. He could hear the huskiness in his voice and hated it. He sounded weak, tired, feeble, and that was not who he was…what he was. He was Flint; hard, cold, deadly.

“Don’t.” Victor held up a hand, his voice snapped. “You don’t ever thank me for doing what we do for each other. We are brothers, Flint. Always have been, always will be. So, shut up and have that damn nap. You need it and we both know it.”

Flint didn’t argue further. He held Kenzie tighter, closed his eyes and fell over into a healing sleep, hoping when he woke there would be some good news from Jana or that they’d caught the fuckers who were behind the attacks…and then he’d be able to take some revenge on them for what they’d done.