Raphael

Alexis took a deep breath sat at the closest chair and buried his face in his hands. His husband and daughter sat not far in silence

< Maria ..>

< yes ?> came the young woman’s voice like a soldier ready to serve.

< there is a young human man in the guest room on the third floor.. he was badly hurt ..> he looked at his daughter < can you see if you can heal him? >

Maria stood up < oh .. yes Dad.. I will see what I can do .. can I call master if it’s serious ?>

Alexis looked at his husband and Miles answered < yeah.. gina … asks for ridiculous payment but Damon will pay ..>

< ok ..> Maria smiled sheepishly, her master was a treasure collector after all. As their daughter left the room Miles stood up and knelt by his mate holding his hands in silence.

< was I too harsh on him ?> Alexis looked at Miles worried he overdid it ..

< no .. Damon .. he .. still hasn't gotten over Raphael’s situation .. >

Alexis sighed < he was the one who found him .. but … that doesn't excuse what he did to the poor boy .. >

Miles hummed in confirmation < you know we are literally programmed to care for our mates .. he feels 100 no 1000 times worse than you can imagine .. >

< mm … >

Miles leaned in kissing his mate's hands, Alexis smiled and then said < I am still mad at you for scaring that poor kid .. >

Miles groaned and buried his face in his mate’s lap.

———

Maria took a deep breath, closed the door behind her, and wondered how that guy was even alive. He had taken a bad hit, but nothing magic couldn't heal.

She stopped along the stares as she saw Damon.

Didn't he leave the house?

< Hi Uncle Damon !! > She smiled pretending she didn't know anything, she was good at that.

< ehum .. he .. ah ..> Damon started and then looked at the door at the end of the stares.

< ah! You mean the guy you almost killed? > Maria smiled, uncle Damon was the most fun to tease, he didn't hide his frustration.

< brat.. > he said and she grinned < he is alive .. for now .. his physical wounds are healed but .. I don't know when he will wake up .. if .. he wakes up >

Damon didn't answer. He stood by the bottom of the stares glaring at his feet.

< can you .. can you … check on my mate ? >

< oh ..> Maria stared at her uncle, he was thousands of years old … how could he be so stupid she thought to herself..

When she compared how her dad treated her father she let out a sigh.. “Uncle Damon is an idiot”, that was all she could think of.

< sure uncle .. I will check on him > she answered as she followed him to the room.

—

Damon had insisted on putting Jessy in his own room. He stood in front of the door for long minutes

< emm .. I have to be inside to heal him .. > Maria commented ..

He took a deep breath and opened the door.

Jessy didn't move from that bed.

Still asleep.

As they approached, Maria let out a whistle < wow .. he's a beauty! >

Damon let out a groan.

< what? I am complimenting him ! > she replied as she approached and lifted the soft blanket < I'm still prettier .. > she felt the need to comment.

Maria hissed as she looked at the sleeping boy's feet < that must hurt .. > she whispered and began the healing process.

Damon stood by the bed, staring at the ugly wounds on his mate's feet that were slowly closing under the faint glow of Maria's palm.

His niece kept muttering unknowing words as she concentrated...

This wasn't good...

Why didn't he notice?

his mate was badly hurt ..


No, he did ….

He could smell his mate’s blood …

He chose to ignore it ..

He didn't have a choice …

He needed Jessy to fear him and obey him ..

He was not as stupid as Raphael …

He will not lose his mate because he is soft-hearted..

He clenched his fist and swallowed the lump in his throat…

It didn't matter if his mate never loved him ..if he hated him … as long as he was alive and safe ..

nothing else mattered.

———-

< done > Maria’s voice snapped him off the trans-state he was in and he stared at his mate's feet now soft and red and all healed.

< mm thanks >

< mm ..> Maria hummed and pulled out her hand palm up

She stared at her uncle arching one brow like her father always did.

< Father’s order is absolute .. but you have to pay for my services > she grinned

Damon groaned.

< brat .. >

he pulled out one of his cards and put it in the witch in training hand.

She grinned wider and said staring at the black card < nice doing business with you Uncle Damon !!>

< we ‘re family ..> he groaned as she walked out the door < shouldn't you give me a discount >

< I did !! I healed the other guy !! Do you know how bad his state was ?? If Dad called for master it would have cost you a fortune !!>

Damon waved her off.

He did not like dealing with Gina…

that witch was an old tyrant and she collected treasures like a dragon ..

As Maria closed the door behind her Damon Hurd a soft groan.

He froze

His heart stopped for a second ..

His mate was up …

Time to face the consequences..