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A sigh leaves her lips and she lifts a shaking hand to touch my cheek. “I’m sorry, Keenan.”
“You’ve done nothing to be sorry for.” I glance away, lifting my shoulder to catch the tear snaking down my cheek.
Charlie clears her throat, standing. “We’ll give you two some privacy.” She jerks her head at the door. “C’mon, partner. We need to get to the theatre.”
“What remains of it,” Pinky says drily as they leave. When she rolls off the bed, I think she intends to leave with the others, but instead, she rifles through the trays, pulling out orange slices and piling them into a bowl. When she notices us watching her, she shrugs. “What? I’m not giving you privacy if that’s what you’re hoping for. I claimed her first, I get to stay.”
Vanessa smiles. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
I squeeze her hand, drawing her attention. “Everyone else is down the hall in a family waiting room. Rachel was taken to another hospital, but Zach says she’ll be released tonight and they’ll head here after.”
Tears wet her eyes. “Tell them thank you for me.”
“I will,” I promise.
Vanessa drifts off to sleep while Pinky and I watch over her. The dragon shifter leaves in search of coffee, but I don’t move from Vanessa’s side. I’m afraid if I take my eyes off her, she’ll disappear.
Time passes. Pinky and I drink our coffee, then she curls up in a chair and falls asleep. I watch Vanessa’s soft breaths as her chest rises and falls. I try not to disturb them as I give into the urge to pace. My wolf wants to come out; he wants the peace of an animal brain without the complex human thoughts churning in my head.
I’m so preoccupied by my thoughts that I almost miss the green swirling portal as it appears in front of me. Mags comes hurtling through, tumbling into my chest before bouncing off and nearly falling back through the portal.
“Oh!” the witch gasps, her eyes widening. “Keenan!” Then she startles me with a tight hug. “I’m so sorry.”
There are tears in her eyes as she backs up, her gaze swinging to Vanessa. “Sorry I’m late. The curse got her before we were ready. I’ve spent days since the explosion coming up with a plan.” It’s only been hours since the explosion, but I assume the Shadow Realm gave her the extra time she needed.
“You have a plan?” I ask desperately.
“Yes! When I told the library what happened, it went into overdrive trying to come up with a solution. I think it really likes her.” She strides to the bed, looks Vanessa over and reaches for her wrist, examining the tubes pinning her hand. “Does she need these to stay alive?”
“Yes, she does!” Pinky rushes toward the bed, shoving Mags out of the way. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Mags’s eyes widen in surprise. “A dragon! My lava spell must’ve worked.” She frowns. “Though it’s weird that the spell brought you here.”
“Magdalene.” I say her name sharply. “What’s the plan?”
“Right.” She snaps back to attention, walking to the side of the bed, where she examines the medical machinery, all of which are attached to Vanessa. “Which ones does she need to stay alive?”
I don’t like the question. “All of them. Why do you ask?”
She frowns. “We can’t take them with us.”
I knew I wasn’t going to like her plan. “We can’t take her anywhere. She’s too delicate.”
“I know,” Mags huffs. “That’s the point, right? The delicate human needs to stop reincarnating. Why do you think I’m here?”
I’m frustrated by her taciturn answers. “Did you find a spell that will help her?”
“I think so,” she replies. “It’s a long shot. Never been done before.” She tilts her head. “Actually, it’s probably been done before since there is a spell, but not within the collective memory of the witches. So, yeah, a long shot, but it’s all we have.”
I stare at Vanessa, who has miraculously remained asleep through Mags’s unexpected visit. Her face is pale, strained. Even her red hair is dull against the stark white of the hospital pillow. The veins in her arm stand out vivid blue next to the tubes tethering her to machines and an IV drip.
“Where do we need to take her?” I ask gruffly.
“What? No!” Pinky gasps. “She can’t be moved, Keenan. You know it. We’ll kill her if we try.”
I don’t need to see inside Pinky’s head to read the grief and despair. Her best friend is human, this day was always going to come, but the thought of the loneliness Vanessa’s death will cause threatens to break her spirit.
“Pinky.” I wait until her eyes meet mine. “I love Vanessa with all my heart, and you do too. We have to do whatever we can to save her. You need to trust me, and I trust Magdalene.”
