Lover Reborn (Black Dagger Brotherhood 10)

As John Matthew got to his feet, a loud crack sounded out, like his back was playing DIY chiropractor. And when he limped over, Tohr realized the kid had been injured.

"You have Doc Jane take a look at that?"

John bent down and lifted the pant leg of the scrubs he had on. His calf was wrapped in white gauze.

"Bullet or blade?" Tohr asked.

Bullet. And yes, they kept it as well.

"Good. How'd you fare, Blay?"

"Just a surface wound on my arm. "

That it? Tohr thought. Because the fucker looked a little hollow - then again, it had been a long night and day for everyone.

"I'm glad, son. We'll be right back. "

"I'm not going anywhere. "

As John came over to the wide-open door, Tohr stepped aside, and then followed him in.

"How you doing, son?" Wrath asked as the kid approached him and bent down to kiss his ring.

As John signed, Tohr translated, "He says just fine. He says. . . if it would not offend, he has something he and Blay need you to know?"

"Yeah, sure. G'head. "

"He says. . . he was with. . . Qhuinn at the house. . . after you were shot, before the Brotherhood arrived. . . . Qhuinn went out alone. . . . ah, Blay spoke with the guy a little while ago. Blay said that. . . Qhuinn told him he'd engaged with. . . Xcor. . . so that - wait, John, slow down. Thanks. . . Okay, engaged with Xcor. . . so that you could get free in the van - "

Beth stirred, her eyes opening, her brows tightening as if she were catching the drift of the conversation.

"Are you serious?" the king blurted.

"He took on. . . Xcor. . . one-on-one - " Holy shit, Tohr thought. He'd heard the kid had gone out there, but that was it.

Wrath whistled under his breath. "That's a male of worth, right there. "

"Wait, John, let me catch up. One-on-one. . . so that Xcor, who was waiting to attack the van, was neutralized. . . . He - John, that is - wants to know if there is some kind of official recognition that. . . you can give Qhuinn? Something to recognize. . . his above-and-beyond. . . service? And P. S. ," Tohr spoke for himself, "me, personally? I'm so on board with that. "

Wrath stayed quiet for a moment. "I'm sorry, let me get this straight. Qhuinn went out after the brothers arrived, right?"

Tohr got back with the translating. "John says no. It was on his own, unguarded, unprotected before they came. Qhuinn said. . . he had to do what he could to make sure you were okay. "

"That dumb-ass idiot. "

"Hero is more like it," Beth said abruptly.

"Leelan, you wake. " Wrath became instantly focused on his mate. "I didn't want to disturb you. "

"Believe me, just hearing your voice is heaven. . . you can wake me up with it anytime. " She kissed his mouth softly. "Welcome back. "

Both Tohr and John got busy looking at the floor as tender words were exchanged.

Then the king came back online. "Qhuinn shouldn't have done that. "

"I agree," Tohr muttered.

The king focused on John. "Yeah, all right. We'll do something for him. I don't know what. . . but that kind of shit is epic. Stupid, but epic. "