Demonic Po*nstar System

Chapter 1039: Recovering Together

Back in his room at the Moon-Thread estate, Kaiden sat bloodied and exhausted in the chair Nyx had pulled behind him. Alexandra’s restoration light still warmed his ribs when Yunohana came to his side.

”May I?”

She offered her hand beside Luna’s. Kaiden turned his wrist into it, letting her examine the silver cord.

The braid was dark with dried blood. Yunohana touched the knot with her thumb, and her face tightened before she looked back at him.

”I would like to wash this. And replenish it, if you still wish to wear it.”

”Of course I do.”

Her fingers paused beneath his wrist.

”It served you poorly today.”

”It kept me alive. We already had this argument.”

”We did,” she conceded, with a smile that made him want to hold her hand properly. ”Perhaps we could spare your family a second performance.”

She loosened the knot and laid the cord beside the basin.

”This will only restore the blessing,” she told Alexandra. ”I would not presume to know how his transformation works. Have you finished treating his wounds?”

Alexandra withdrew her light reluctantly.

”Yes. I think he needs rest, but he keeps trying to help us help him.”

”Mm. A very difficult patient.”

”Terrible,” the Hearth Valkyrie nodded gravely. She was in full agreement.

”I’m sitting right here.”

”We are pleased about that, my lord. Please continue.”

Yunohana sat on the cushion Aria moved beside his chair. She wet a clean cloth, wrung it out, and held it toward his neck.

”May I loosen your collar? The blood has dried beneath it.”

Kaiden nodded to her. She eased the fabric away from his skin while Aria supported his arm, helping him slip the ruined sleeve off his shoulder.

The cloth was warm against the back of his neck.

”Ah... That’s better.”

Yunohana worked beneath his hair, taking care around the tender spots. He let his head tilt forward, and her free hand came to his forehead to support him.

”You may lean on me. I might not look like it, but I’m quite durable.”

”You’re still injured and I’m quite heavy-”

”I noticed when Mr. Thorne threw you at me.”

Kaiden laughed, then winced as the movement pulled through his aching chest.

”Ouch.”

”I shall try to be less amusing.”

”Good luck,” Nyx murmured. ”He thinks Luna is funny.”

”Hah? Unlike you bitches, I’m funny as fuck. I’m basically the girlfriend every dude wishes he could have, while you’re the bland chicks from the magazine covers they jerk off to but never think of again.”

Luna’s answer came with enough of her usual sass that Kaiden opened his eyes to look at her. She was still crouched beside his knee, watching him, but the worry in her face had begun to ease.

He squeezed her hand.

”Could you sit somewhere comfortable? You’re making my knees hurt just looking at you.”

She studied him for another moment, then rose and bent to kiss his forehead below Yunohana’s hand.

”Keep it up.”

Luna took the cushion beside the low table. Alexandra passed her a drink, then rose to collect the food Sonoda had arranged outside.

Kaiden watched his sister detach in a drift of gold and take her own shape beside the doorway. She looked back at him before following Alexandra.

”I’ll be right outside, Big Brother.”

”I know. Thank you.”

Aria stayed beside his chair until Yunohana had cleaned the blood from his neck. When he could lift the glass without spilling it, she finally let herself smile.

”There. Much better.”

He drank slowly, grateful for the water and even more grateful for the relief in her voice.

Yunohana changed cloths and began cleaning his hairline. The others brought cushions to the table, speaking softly over the food as his breathing grew easier.

Each time she found a patch of dried blood, she held the warm cloth against it until it loosened. Kaiden closed his eyes, letting her support his forehead while he listened to Luna complain about the size of the rice portions.

After a while, Yunohana lowered the cloth.

”How do you feel?”

Kaiden opened his eyes and turned toward her.

”Much more like myself.”

He meant it. His hands had stopped shaking. The dull ache remained, but he could follow the conversation at the table without losing pieces of it between blinks.

Yunohana smiled at him, then reached to return the cloth to the basin.

Her left shoulder stopped halfway through the movement.

She adjusted her arm and finished setting it down. Kaiden caught her hand before she could reach for a fresh one.

”Yunohana.”

”Yes?”

”You’re hurting.”

Her gaze moved toward Alexandra, who was returning with another tray.

”The wound is healed. Your protector was very thorough.”

”That wasn’t what I said.”

Yunohana looked back at him. For a moment, her hand remained motionless in his.

”It is a little sore,” she admitted.

Alexandra set the tray down and came over immediately. Yunohana let her check beneath the loose collar, holding the robe in place while golden light warmed her shoulder again.

”Please rest it,” Alexandra asked. ”You went straight from being healed to taking care of everyone.”

”You’re my honored guests.”

”Your honored guests would like to see you healthy,” Kaiden said.

Yunohana gave him a wounded look. He smiled at her until she lowered her eyes to their joined hands.

”I suppose I could sit with you for a while.”

”Two professional sitters,” Luna pointed out from the table. ”Amazing.”

Kaiden laughed, and this time it didn’t hurt.

Aria remained beside his chair, watching Yunohana with open curiosity.

”Lady Yunohana, may I ask you something?”

”Of course.”

”Why weren’t you offended when Luna called you a plump JP milf?” The Moon Valkyrie looked visibly confused. ”You even played along with it.”

Luna stopped halfway through lifting another bite of rice. She made no attempt to apologize, but she did wait for the answer.

Yunohana looked around at the women gathered near the low table. A tender smile touched her face.

”I found it funny.”

Aria blinked.

”Truly?”

”Mm.” She looked down at her body. ”I am a rather well-endowed woman. I am Japanese. And although I’m not a mother, I’m Vespera’s age.”

Even Calypso stopped chewing. The room quieted around Yunohana.