Blood War (Book 1, the Halfblood Chronicles)

36.2 | Surviving Is the Easy Part

Some things were worse than death. Like languishing away in a sterile hospital chamber with nothing but the hum and ding of machines to keep you company.

Nika was restless. Bored. Despite her pestering, the nurse hadn't revealed a drop of information regarding what was happening in the world beyond. Nika didn't even know how or when she'd gotten to Konstantin Academy. And though it had been nearly an hour since she'd woken, visitors had failed to show up. It probably had something to do with the glaring sunlight that streamed through a crack in the curtains.

Damn Daemonstri night schedules. Enough is enough.

If the near-deathly nothingness in the corridor was any indication, now was her only chance to escape. So she carefully removed the needle from her arm, shuddering at the sight of its length, then threw off the sheets. Ignoring the airiness of the hospital gown, she kept her ears alert for footsteps, voices, the squeak of a wheelchair.

If anyone spotted her, she'd be damned. Keepers would be hunting her in no time. And given the fact that she could barely move without dancing on the brink of death, the odds of fighting or outrunning them weren't just bad—they were non-existent.

Nika scooted to the edge of the mattress and flung one leg over, gritting against the pain that shot through her torso. They'd done some kind of surgery, but she'd been too shocked and terrified to ask for details.

At a snail's pace, she slid off, planting her bare feet on the frigid tile. She'd made it only a few more steps when a familiar, colossal figure entered, sporting a disapproving glare. The door slammed behind him, as irrevocable as a pounding gavel.

"I can explain," Nika said as Ren set down two paper cups on a tray at the foot of the bed. "I was actually coming to find you."

"Of course you were."

Disregarding his sarcasm, she continued, "Because I want to know what's been going on." In two strides, he swallowed the space between them, and when she stepped away, she met the resistance of his hand on her back. "And to"—Ren gently lifted her into his arms, and a pained groan slipped past her lips—"make sure you're okay."

Utterly unbaited, he carried Nika back to bed and adjusted the blankets over her. She made sure he felt the full intensity of her scowl before easing into the pillows.

"I suppose this means you're feeling better?" Ren said, scanning her body as if he could see the shape of every bruise and the depth of each cut.

"I'm getting there."

Ren retrieved the paper cups from the tray. "Here." Nika frowned first at the water, and then at the pair of round tablets, cocking a brow in question. "Painkillers—since you're refusing to take blood pills."

With a guilty shrug, Nika took the medicine, washing it down with the water. As he discarded the cups, Ren said, "Sorry about the wait. I told the nurse to get me when you first woke, but since I'm not family . . . "

"You'd think that rule wouldn't apply at a boarding school." But the mentioning of family brought a name to the forefront of Nika's mind. "Is Lu—"

"She decided to sleep in her dorm today. I sent Misha to get her." Nika nodded, expelling a breath in relief. "It will be a while before they arrive. You should rest."

A scoff. "I've been sleeping for over twenty-four hours, Ren. And who are you to say I need rest? You look like a zombie."

With a sigh, he eased into the cushioned chair to the left of the bed and scrubbed his face. "Too busy with the cleanup for sleep."