That bastard would pay. Kyrian planned to make sure of it.
Amanda's heart wrenched at the wounds on Kyrian's body.
His forearms and hands were covered with nail holes.
Never in her life had she hated anyone, but right then she hated Desiderius with so much passion that if he were here, she'd rip him apart with her bare hands.
She left Kyrian only long enough to call her parents and check on Tabitha.
While Essie bandaged Kyrian, Nick paced the floor.
"What do you want me to do about Desiderius?" Nick asked Kyrian.
"Stay away from him."
"But look at you."
"I'm immortal. I will survive this. You wouldn't."
"Yeah, well, had we taken another three minutes to get there, you wouldn't have survived it, either."
"Nick," Amanda warned. "You're not helping. He needs to rest."
"I'm sorry," he said, raking a nervous hand through his tousled dark brown hair. "I attack when I'm worried. It's a defense mechanism."
"It's all right, Nick," Kyrian said. "Go home and get some sleep."
His jaw rigid, Nick nodded. He looked at Amanda. "Call me if you need anything."
"I will."
As soon as he was gone, Esmeralda finished tending Kyrian. "That really must hurt. What happened?"
"I was stupid."
"Okay, Stupid," Esmeralda said pointedly, "we're going to have to set those legs and I don't have a splint."
"Can I borrow the phone?" Kyrian asked.
Frowning, Esmeralda handed it to him.
Amanda carefully bathed the blood from his face as he dialed. "How can you be so lucid?" she asked him. "This has to be excruciating for you."
"I was tortured by the Romans for over a month, Amanda. Believe me, this is nothing."
Still, it made her ache for him. How could he stand it?
She listened while he talked to whomever he'd called.
"Yeah, I know. I'll see you shortly."
Amanda took the phone from him.
Kyrian closed his eyes and rested while Esmeralda motioned her into the kitchen.
"Now I want an explanation. Why is there a wounded vampire on my couch?"
"He saved my life; I'm just returning the favor."