whether or not Lisa would find Ashi suitable. Jessica must have been used to it since she was doing a great job of ignoring them.
“That may be, but I’m still concerned. You—” she said, tapping Ashi lightly on the chest with the stethoscope, “—need to drink more water, stat. I’ll give you some supplements to take with that. Even a Were has to get the stuff to fuel their healing from somewhere. Oh, and you can let him go.”
Analie released Ashi. He promptly went to the closet and shut the door.
“All things considered, he’s not actually being a weenie,” Analie said, slightly distracted by Angus and Clarisse. “Goliaths like to sleep in small, dark spaces and it’s kinda natural that he’d feel safer there.”
She rubbed her arm where he’d chomped her. “You’re probably the first doctor he’s seen since he was bitten. I mean, bitten by a Were. Hell, I’ve only been to a doctor once and that was when I broke my leg and scraped my face up.” She was rambling. “Uh, I’m glad Ashi’s being his usual self didn’t totally ruin your day. You held up better than most of his packmates.”
“I learned from the best,” she said dryly.
“Blazes and tarnation, woman!” Angus howled, abruptly dragging Jessica’s attention away.
“Take it back!” Clarisse growled, tugging hard on his ear until he was practically laid out on the bed.
“Never!”
“Take it back!”
“Nooo-OW!”
“Now!”
“For th’ love of Saint Pete! Fine!”
“There,” she said, finally releasing him, looking smug as she folded her arms and flounced back onto the bed, making it bounce. Angus slowly sat up, rubbing his ear and giving her a baleful glare.
“Wasn’t necessary, ye ruddy harlot.”
“Piss off,” she told him, turning back to Jessica and Analie, then looking around in surprise. “What happened tae the wee lad?”
“He went back in the closet.” Analie paused a moment, then said, “Man, I wish you two were in my pack. You’d totally be high-ranks in no time.”
The two vampires smiled at that. Clarisse then prodded Angus in the side.
“I think ye should take the lad.”
“Ye’re daft, woman.”
“He needs someone who won’t really use him. Might break his mind.”
“Ruddy daft.”
“Ye donnae feed from men so much,” she said defensively.
“Bugger all if I’ll take a useless donor.”
“Ye have a better suggestion, ye great oaf?”
In the closet, Ashi covered his ears with his hands. He didn’t want to hear about anyone encouraging anyone else to take him on as a never-ending juice box. He was starting to admit to himself that he’d made a pretty terrible decision. Hell, he’d be lucky if anyone in the pack even looked at him when he got back.
Angus thought about it.
“Mouse?”
“She’s too softhearted.”
“Wes?”
“He’s not the forgiving sort. Might hurt the lad if he got too angry.”
“Oh, and I’m that much better, aye?” he replied, laying the sarcasm on thick. “Wha’ abou’ John?”
Jessica answered that one. “Hell no. Why do you think he’s hiding in the closet to begin with?”
“Lass, ye aren’t helping.”
Analie watched the closet door to see if Ashi would re-emerge. He didn’t. She wondered how he could spend so much time in such a cramped space. Sure, it was dark and enclosed and den-like, but it was also tiny.
Hearing Clarisse and Angus talk about who should claim Ashi was starting to unsettle her. Goliaths didn’t belong to anyone. Even though it was in Ashi’s best interest to find someone fast, before other vampires came around looking for a sip, it seemed wrong. She wasn’t going to say that in present company, but it didn’t sit well with her.
“Unless you need me to drag Ashi somewhere else, I’m gonna head out,” she said to Jessica. She smiled and tried to sound cheerful to mask her unease.
Jessica nodded absently, fiddling with some things in the bag of equipment she’d dragged over. “Just make sure he hydrates and has something sweet to keep his blood sugar from dropping, okay? If Thad doesn’t have anything, I’ve been saving a package of thin mints in my freezer, but I’ll give a couple up for a good cause. I have to get some more homework done, but I’ll come back in a little to check in.”
She left the bag where it was, took a sidelong look at the arguing vampires, and headed out. Clarisse and Angus, not paying her any mind, followed her out, the sounds of their argument fading as they followed Jessica back to her apartment to continue the “discussion” there.
Analie booted the closet door with the side of her foot. “Hey, drink