[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.Jase was family.That tiny spark of magic in her trickled up again, and she felt the bullet lodged in his femur, was able to pop it out into her hand and slow the bleeding.She couldn’t heal him, but she could make sure he didn’t die.Still pressing down on his wound, she looked over at the fight.As she watched, a thought struck her and she nearly cried out.She knew where the power had come from.Please don’t let me have hurt my babies.Forcing her consciousness into her own body even as she maintained pressure on Jase’s leg, she felt nothing but well-being.With a roar that shook the ground, the demon went down.Greg and George each tore a chunk from the monster’s throat, turn by turn, until the head rolled away into the grass.The being sizzled, smoked and disappeared.Greg and George rose and limped over to Fianna and Jase, where both shifted to human form.“Are you all right?” both of them asked at once, kneeling beside their mates.“I’ll be fine.” Fianna leaned back into Greg’s arms when George pushed her hands aside to keep pressure on Jase’s wound.“Jase should be, too, though we could use Elise right about now.”“Thank heavens.” Greg buried his face in her hair.A few moments later, he whispered sadly, “Grandfather’s gone.”She wove her hands into his hair and held on.“I’m sorry.He was a brave, loyal man, even if he did suck at raising children.”“Peter’s gone, too.And Sofia.The guards—some of them had families.”Fianna nodded.“From what I’ve learned about the drug, I suspect they were all addicted unknowingly by the demon.One or two doses in their coffee, and they’d be nothing but his pawns.”Greg sighed.“The pack is never going to be the same again.”Fianna kissed him and took his chin in her hand so he could look at her tear-stained face.“You’ll rebuild it.It will be different, and yes, there were losses that you’ll all have to grieve.But you’re going to be a magnificent leader, and I promise you, the pack will recover.I’ll be right there to help you.After all, you’re going to need a good secretary.”Despite his grief and the pain he had to feel from his numerous wounds, Greg smiled.“Thank you.And thanks for the help.You’re a good shot.But how did Jase get you free of the cuffs?”“He didn’t.” She took a deep breath and patted her belly with her left hand, which still had the handcuffs dangling from it.“I think our babies did.The magic was suddenly welling up when I needed it to unlock one side, and to help Jase a little.I didn’t mean to draw on them, but they feel fine as far as I can tell.We’re going to have our hands full with these two, I think.Powerful magic and lupines.”He closed her against his chest again and gave a strangled laugh.“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”Chapter ThirteenIt was a solemn group that trooped back to the house.They’d paused so George and Greg could shift several times, until they were in decent shape to walk.Greg had taken the least bloody of the guard’s jackets and given it to Fee.He didn’t care about the pack seeing him naked, but he couldn’t stand to see her shiver.The reality of how close he’d come to losing her—again—made his chest hurt in a way that had nothing to do with his wounds.As they trekked through the woods, George carried Jase.Greg cradled Ivan’s body in his arms, while Fee walked by his side on her blistered feet.Sofia and the guards had been left behind, but laid out respectfully on the grass with their eyes closed.Even though they’d turned traitor, they’d once been pack, and their families still were.Greg didn’t even know how much of their guilt was unwitting.Nightshade—if that’s who the demon had been—could have gotten them addicted without their knowledge or will.Odds were they’d never have all the answers.A short distance up the path they were met by another group from the house.Derek.Maurice and David.The rest of the guards and a handful of servants.Maurice howled and dropped to his knees when he saw Ivan unmoving in Greg’s arms.Slowly, the others dropped and bowed their heads, as well.“Thank you,” Greg said, his voice thick.“Lana, Derek, I need you to check each of the guards and servants for the smell of bleach or vinegar.”Since they all knelt, it was easy for Derek and Lana to move from one to the other and sniff.Finally, Lana shook her head.“None of these have been drugged.”“Come here, Derek.” Greg’s cousin stepped up and Greg sniffed him, relieved to his soul when he scented no trace of the drug.“I’m naming you as one of my betas, if you’ll accept it.”“Of course.” He knelt again.“I give you my oath.”“Take the men and go get the other bodies from the side of the pond.We’ll lay them all out in the ballroom while we figure out what to do.I have no idea what the demon did with Peter.Probably burned him to a crisp, but he’s dead as well.Katy’s going to be devastated.Sofia is one of the others
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]