Page 176 of Seasons of War
“Thank you. Stay here. Let your mom help you. You have plenty of excuses with the work you're doing here.”
“I do this alone. That's how I handle things.”
“Your mom is strong enough to tend to your wounds. What she's not strong enough for is to see you suffer alone. How can you not see what that does to her?”
“She's right.” Adelle entered the kitchen, pained expression on Zayne. “I know you're going home to take PXI. I have some here. Stay.”
Frustration broke through the mask he'd worn all day. Pain and fatigue strained his expression. He looked ready to pass out. “I don't have the energy to deal with you two worrying about me.”
“I won't dote or worry,” Adelle said. “I'll just make things easier on you. It helps to have someone bring you what you need. You won't be able to move for a few hours.”
He rubbed his eyes. “If you do, I'm leaving.” A look at Kira. “And you don't come around. Got it?”
Anger flared through her. Imagine the horror of her checking on him. “What dose of Pixi Dust are you taking?”
“It's PXI,” Zayne said. “The most advanced military-grade technology in the world, not some fairytale.”
“Zayne.” Kira slammed her fist on the counter.
He groaned. “The maximum. I need to heal fast.”
“Then I'm helping,” she said. “That's insane.”
“This is what I'm talking about. I'm going home.”
“No, you aren't. You're staying. I know Pixi Dust better than any of you, and I know what it'll do to your body. Being alone for that is counterproductive. What if you have a seizure?”
“I've taken pure doses of PXI plenty of times. If I were going to seize, I would have by now.”
“I don't think it works like that.”
Zayne pushed himself up. “Why do you pretend to be sweet and mild-mannered until it's me?”
“Because you're insufferable.”
Their glares were locked on each other now.
“I'll get the PXI and start on an ice bath,” Adelle said. “You two fight for as long as you'd like.”
Kira lifted her hands. “I'll stay in my room. Go do whatever your mom says.”
Walking out of the kitchen was way harder than Zayne would ever realize. She sat in her room, knowing he injected himself with that awful serum that helped his body heal faster, but left every nerve ending sizzling. How often did he torture himself like this?
Hours passed before she heard someone walking down the stairs. She ran out, seeing Adelle looking tired.
“How is he?” Kira asked.
“You're awake.” She squeezed Kira's shoulder. “He's okay. You should get some sleep.”
“Are you okay?”
“It's not easy to see your child hurt.” She crossed her arms. “The worst with the PXI passed.”
“You need a break,” Kira said.
“I can sleep tomorrow.”
“I slept a little. I'll handle things for a few hours.”
