Balm by Viola Grace

Orb did to others, when Quinn took in the extra power, it hurt.
    The moment they were out of standard view, he flashed them back Home.
    Kali was on their balcony in seconds, running to Quinn to help relieve her of her burden.
    Odin misted in, and Iskanu fought a scowl. The fact that the shifter had seen his mate naked still rankled. It didn’t matter that Selna were not monogamous, it still filled Iskanu with a deep irritation that was not going to fade anytime soon.
    Quinn groaned, and the energy poured out of her eyes and mouth directly into Kali.
    When the exchange was over, Iskanu quickly lifted Quinn in his arms. She was pale, very pale.
    Kali was sombre. “I am sorry. She had to take the two at once. There was no other way.”
    He nodded grimly. “Fine. Get out.”
    Kali walked to Odin, and together, they disappeared in a flare of light while he went to the bedroom to care for his mate.

Chapter Ten
    Everything hurt. There was no doubt about it, her body was not happy.
    “You are awake, good. First a massage, then you eat.” Iskanu didn’t ask her, he simply lifted her and carried her into the bathing room where the table was covered with a sheet and waiting for her.
    “Why not food first?”
    “I am going to be squeezing a lot of muscles. I don’t want you puking.” His voice was no nonsense.
    She shivered as he warmed oil between his palms and started working on her. There was nothing sensual about his exploration, he was working to help her ease the aches of her body.
    “How did you know that everything hurt?”
    He snorted, “Because you were lying next to me, stiff as a board, for the last sixteen hours. That has to be tension, because I am all warm and cuddly.”
    She laughed and felt a relieved pop under her shoulder blade. “I would not call you cuddly, but I do enjoy curling up so most of me is touching you.”
    Quinn could feel satisfaction radiating from him. He worked at her back and legs until she was warm and limp. He then flipped her over and treated her to the same thorough mauling on her front. She had no idea that she could hold that much tension at the top of her breasts, but when the muscle released, she shuddered with relief.
    She was limp but relaxed, and her body’s pain was fading when he was finished. He took a fluffy robe off a warming hanger and wrapped her from neck to ankle.
    “This way.” He led her out into the kitchen, and she noticed that the temperature had been increased.
    “Is it warmer in here?” She was toasty but a distinct gleam of sweat was forming between his shoulders.
    “I don’t want you knotting up again before you have a chance to relax your muscles.”
    “I don’t want you passing out from overheating.”
    “I will be fine. Sit, eat and drink plenty of water.” Iskanu pulled her chair out for her, and she took a seat in front of a huge expanse of food from a dozen different worlds.
    Blinking, she reached for the first item she recognized and tore the bread into pieces. Once she had the bread, she used it to pick up bits and pieces of the other items as she figured out which flavour matched which item.
    It took her nearly an hour to eat enough to satisfy her mate, but when she had downed her third half litre of water, he finally relaxed.
    She reached out and took his hand. “What happened while I was out, Iskanu?”
    “The two doses of power almost killed you…again.” He frowned.
    “I am sure that it was necessary.”
    “I am not sure that there wasn’t a better way. Perhaps taking the mother’s power first?”
    “Hara would not leave her powerful daughter undefended. It was definite that it had to be both or none.” Quinn sat back and folded her hands over her full belly.
    He grumbled.
    “This is why we were brought back to life, Iskanu. It is the reason we are here, to work for the Orb. If it asks me to bear a little pain to be with you, then that is what I will do.”
    He turned his hand in hers and gripped her hand tightly. “I