Chapter 32: I can’t believe we overlooked something so damn simple

The tests that Kellen had to go through made him exhausted. It was something he had noticed with the condition of his body right now. He didn’t have as much energy as he normally did, and he had a feeling that was because his body was trying to win against the poison in his system.

What also didn’t help was the fact that Taylor and Carlos would go outside and whisper to themselves after they got the results of a few tests, debate for a moment and then come in and declare that he needed to go through a few more tests.

It was exhausting, and felt very similar to the types of tests that he had done on the front lines when he had first woken up. He wasn’t going to complain though. If he complained, that would make him an asshole. They were able to do these tests because he was awake, unlike everyone else.

He was just glad that he had sent Rhys away with he had.

The hours slowly ticked by and at some point the group that was in charge of him finally finished all of the tests that Taylor and Carlos had suggested. Once they had done that, Kellen knew that it was far past the time that they would normally leave for the night.

Both people looked exhausted. Not only that, Carlos looked like he was going to be in trouble.

“Bella is going to kill me.” He muttered as they closed the door behind him after they had kicked out the rest of the team to speak to Kellen alone. Kellen let out a light chuckle.

“You can just blame it on me doing something weird.” Kellen told him and Carlos sighed, shaking his head.

“I’ve already done that once and she had no forgiveness in her heart. I was beaten until I was black and blue.” He complained and Kellen didn’t think now was the time that Carlos was going to admit that he was getting abused by Isabella of all people.

Taylor rolled her eyes and snorted.

“Any punishment you get you deserve. That woman keeps you sane. She deserves getting a few licks in every once in a while.” She said and Carlos pressed a hand against his chest, giving a gasp.

“How rude! I would never say that about you, Taylor!” He protested and Taylor rolled her eyes at his antics.

“That’s because I’m not outwardly as crazy as you are, Carlos.” Taylor told him and Kellen felt a smile touch his lips. He was glad that they were getting along. If this could be classified as such.

“Taylor also isn’t an asshole to everyone but Isabella either.” Kellen added, getting his licks in. Carlos scowled at the other man, his rough voice washing over Kellen as he spoke.

“You, out of everyone, can’t say anything to me about having sane or insane partners. You have a damn Captain as your partner. I don’t want to hear it.” Carlos said, pointing a finger at him. “He damn near scared all of my people away.” He muttered and Kellen felt his lips twitch again.

He was lying down in the bed, but not fully on his back. They had elevated his head and chest just enough that he was slightly reclined, but not fully sitting up. Kellen just shrugged, not saying anything in protest to his point and that seemed to annoy Carlos more.

“Can’t you just…stop doing strange shit? Then again, I can’t be mad at you if you found a solution without having to use someone’s powers.” Carlos muttered, annoyed while Taylor sighed.

“I would have preferred that option.” She said, looking pale. “Kellen, we found something that we hadn’t realised before because you…didn’t have bruising.” She said and Kellen blinked.

“What?” He said and Taylor looked pretty embarrassed.

“I know. It sounds ridiculous, because it is ridiculous. We should have checked for it, I normally do, but I was so worried about the poison that it was something I didn’t consider. You’re blood, Kellen. We’ve taken so much of it but we never really did the most basic tests on it.” She admitted and Kellen lay there, a little shocked.

“Does Rhys know?” He asked, knowing that was going to be more of an issue for them then it was for him. He was a little upset, but not truly upset. Rhys, however…

The way that both Taylor and Carlos shifted nervously and looked ill told him that they hadn’t told him yet. Maybe that was for the better for the moment. It would probably be better if Kellen told him.

“Okay. So he doesn’t know. What was the outcome of these tests?” He asked and Taylor looked frustrated, more at herself than at anyone else.

“That there is a chance that if we flush out the blood in your system with fresh blood you are compatible with that you might start healing.” She said. Kellen blinked.

“It’s that easy?” He asked and Taylor shook her head.

“Of course not. You could go into shock and something bad could happen. It sounds easy, but if we fuck up at any point, things could go poorly. You still have a chance of dying.” Taylor said. Her voice was harsh, but Kellen wasn’t taking it to heart. He didn’t feel like he was speaking at him, more at herself.

“Is that why you are hesitating to tell Rhys? That I could die?” Taylor nodded grimly to Kellen’s question. He held out his phone. “Let me tell him then.” Kellen said. “Give me my phone.” Taylor looked like she wanted to do anything else, but she did what he said. Passing over his phone, she hovered by his side.

“It’s not completely dangerous, but we need to source enough fresh blood. We can’t do it tonight, I don’t want to do it tonight since both Carlos and I need sleep before I’d even consider attempting it, but we could probably do it tomorrow.” She told him in a rush. Clearly she was trying to give him all the answers to the questions Rhys would have and Kellen appreciated it. He smiled, putting the phone down and reaching out and patting her shoulder with his good hand. He had to cross his body to do so, but he still did it.

“Taylor, I’m going to force either of you to do it tonight. I won’t let him bully you two into it either. You both should leave before I call him. That way when he comes rushing down, neither of you are here. Turn off your phones for a while, too.” Kellen told them. Both nodded, gulped, and Kellen waited until they were out of his sight for a few minutes and he was sure he was alone before he stared at the phone.

Letting out a deep sigh, he turned it on and easily found Rhys’ number. Partially because he had been sending him texts that got more and more unhinged, but also because he was an emergency contact for Kellen. When had that happened? Kellen couldn’t remember doing it, so it had to be Rhys’ doing.

Silly man.

Rhys answered on the first ring.

“Kellen? What’s going on? Why aren’t you home yet?” He sounded so nervous and anxious that Kellen just gave a soft laugh.

“I’m still hooked up to some machines, that’s why. I think I’m going to have to spend the night.” Kellen told him and Rhys let out a ragged exhale. He sounded like he was on the edge. “You can come down and see me. They’re done for the night.” Kellen told him and he could hear the other man moving on the other side of the phone.

“I will be there in just a moment. I’m hanging up to not hurt you.” He said before the phone went silent. Kellen blinked, stared at the phone in his hand and before he had a moment to realise what he’d done, Rhys was slamming the door open to the room. He wasn’t even panting, but his gaze was crazy.

Bright yellow eyes, panic etched into every line of his body. Kellen held out his arm without hesitation and Rhys went to him. He enfolded the other man in his arm, tucking him into his shoulder with a soft muttering. Soothing the other man. Rhys was shaking, but after a few moments he slowly calmed down and Kellen could feel the tension leaving his body.

“It’s okay. I’m okay.” Kellen told him softly and Rhys let out a shuddering breath.

“What’s going on? What did they find?” Rhys finally asked when he was more of himself. Kellen gave him a squeeze.

“Taylor and Carlos made an oopsie, and you need to be okay with it. They wouldn’t have had the equipment to do it on the front lines anyways.” Kellen said and felt Rhys tense in his arms. He went to pull away, but Kellen wouldn’t let him and Rhys wouldn’t fight his one armed Guide right now either. “You can’t be mad at them. Taylor already feels like shit for it.” Kellen told him and heard Rhys grumble.

“They didn’t test everything, Kellen. That’s their fucking job.” The swearing told Kellen he was a little more on edge then he should be. Kellen sighed.

“No. They aren’t researchers. They are doctors, and I think they did a pretty fucking good job keeping me alive. So what if one test slipped through their fingers? They caught it, and now the plan is to go through with it tomorrow. After they have both rested. You don’t want tired doctors working on me, do you?” Kellen said and Rhys grumbled.

“You are being too nice to them.” Rhys protested and Kellen let out a laugh.

“I am not being nice, I am being reasonable. People make mistakes, and this mistake didn’t hurt me, just potentially stalled me. Plus, the solution is also dangerous.” Kellen said. “We probably would have delayed it until now anyways because we wouldn’t have wanted to try it right away.” Rhys froze at Kellen’s words.

“What is it?” Rhys asked and Kellen gave him a few moments in his arms before he responded.

“They are going to replace my blood with a blood I am compatible with. Cleanse out the poisoned blood.” Kellen said and Rhys sucked in.

“You could go into shock.” He said. Kellen nodded.

“Which is why I am glad they didn’t find it out sooner. I’ve had time to stagnate as I am right now. We all know that this isn’t working, so I think changing blood isn’t the worst thing I could do.” Kellen said and Rhys growled.

“No. I don’t want you to do it. It’s too risky.” He said and Kellen rolled his eyes. Here he goes. Kellen was going to have to spend the night trying to convince him. He was going to have to get crafty.

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