***
Declan was on a cot unattended. With a gasp of sheer dismay Belinde rushed to his side. Tears sprang to her eyes before she saw his chest rise and fall, then rise again. Bran appeared from a door at the back of the infirmary. "What is the matter?" he asked in concern.
"I'm just an idiot," Belinde said exasperated with herself. "I saw Declan by himself and..." Her voice trailed off as she swallowed a lump in her throat and tried to compose herself.
Bran patted her on the shoulder and steered her to a small couch across from Declan's bed. "Miach tended to Declan’s wounds and he has had a blood transfusion which was quite successful.” Bran offered happily. “Thor came to assist us in moving some displaced tissue back into its rightful place and his internal injuries are mending quite nicely, thanks to the blood offered by Smith and Heimdallr.”
Belinde released a long shuddering sigh. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized how terrified she was to lose Declan. For the first time in her life she had been free to love only to have that love taken away after the first passionate night.
Now that the fear and sorrow were receding, the rage was starting to build. It would probably be best if she got out of The Estate before she vented her wrath upon someone who didn't deserve it. "I should go," she said quietly.
Bran looked her in the eyes and nodded knowingly. From what Declan had told her, Bran had lived at least one lifetime as a Celtic warrior. He knew full well what she needed to do this evening.
"Fare well, and return to us, Adjustor," Bran said formally and rested his hand upon her shoulder. "Watch your back. We don't call them the Sly because they are clumsy." And with that he withdrew his hand and gestured with a tilt of his head and a twinkle in his eye that told her to go and seek her retribution.
Belinde nodded and left without a word.
"Is it safe to come out?" a voice asked from the shadows behind Bran.
"Yes, Angus," Bran said as the gorilla crept from the back of the infirmary toward his post near Declan's bed.
"Sorry for disturbing you, sir,” the gorilla said. “I heard she was on the war path." Angus attempted an explanation that ended in a shrug, which looked quite strange coming from a gorilla carrying an automatic shotgun.
"No mind," Bran said. "Keep Declan safe and make sure he isn't disturbed," Bran said over his shoulder as he left for the small cot he kept in back. Even gods got tired.