Base Instincts by Larissa Ione Page B

the Harrowgate. He swiped his finger over the hospital symbol on the wall, and an instant later, he was stepping out into the emergency department.
    Immediately, two people wearing scrubs rushed over. One, a doctor he’d seen before, the one with blue streaks in her black hair and a name tag that said Gem , guided him to an empty exam room.
    “What happened?” she asked as she gestured for Slake to lay Raze on a table.
    “I think he needs a doctor who is a Seminus demon to deal with this.”
    She frowned, but she didn’t pause as she checked his airway, breathing, and pulse. “Then this is species-related? Sex?”
    “I think so.”
    “It’s okay,” she said with a firm nod. “My sister is mated to a Sem. I know more about them than I really want to.” She knuckled Raze’s sternum, but there was no response. Even Slake knew that was a bad sign. “What happened, exactly? Did you find him like this?”
    “No.” He watched her finish inspecting Raze’s self-inflicted wounds and then cover his lower half with a sheet. “When I got to his place, he was crazed and violent. He needed sex.”
    She grabbed his wrist. “Did he get it, or is he . . .”
    “He got it,” Slake said, hoping he didn’t have to go into detail. “But then he passed out.”
    “Where’s the female?” Gem’s gaze flickered to Raze’s blood-streaked hands as she prepared an IV kit. “She can’t be in good shape.”
    “Ah . . .” Slake had never been shy about sex, but this was seriously uncomfortable. Not only for himself, but he also didn’t want to betray Raze’s secret. “His partner is fine.”
    “Tell her it might still be a good idea to get checked out.” The doctor pushed a button on the wall, but Slake had no idea what it was for. “Now, I need you to wait outside.”
    Slake hesitated. He was sure Raze was in good hands, and it wasn’t as if Slake could do anything about his current condition, but still, the idea of leaving him like this . . . it bothered him. Raze was vulnerable right now, and Slake had the oddest desire to stand at his side like a guard dog.
    “Is he going to be okay?” he asked, needing reassurance before he could leave.
    Gem offered a comforting smile. “I’m calling in an expert, but I wouldn’t worry too much. His color is good and his vitals are stable. Give the receptionist your information, and we’ll get back with you when we can.”
    Reluctantly, Slake left Raze in the doctor’s care, but he didn’t stick around. Fayle had done this to Raze. She’d chained him and left him to suffer. Slake needed to finish the job he’d started, but now capturing her wasn’t entirely about his soul. Now it was also about revenge.
    Fayle had just made this very, very personal.

 
    According to Eidolon, Raze had been in a coma for three days. Three fucking days. As he stared at the doctor from his hospital bed, Raze blinked his blurry eyes. The last thing he remembered before waking a few minutes ago was having sex. With Slake.
    His gut churned at the memory, but right now he had to concentrate on why he was a patient at Underworld General.
    He searched his brain, hunting for anything that could jolt a memory, but all he had in his head was Slake. And . . . Fayle. Yes, now he remembered her chaining him up, telling him she was leaving. That happened after . . . after he and Slake went to the apartment following the explosion.
    Suddenly, he jacked up in the bed and grabbed Eidolon’s scrub top. “Thirst . . .” He swallowed, but it did nothing to get rid of the hoarseness in his voice. “Nate. Vladlena. Marsden. My friends . . . how many . . .”
    Lexi . Gods, her death came roaring back, and he sagged against the pillows.
    “Ten people died in the explosion,” Eidolon said softly. “Eight were customers, two worked at Thirst. I don’t know their names, but I can get them for you. Nate, Lena, and Marsden are fine.”
    Raze swallowed again. Hard. “I already know one of the