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Distantly, she heard someone calling to her, but couldn’t make sense of it through the sadness pouring from her heart and soul. Hands shook her, hard, and she stopped howling, peering with her coyote’s eyes at the intruder on her grief.
“Shift back,” Mac commanded. “Now. If you want to help your mate, shift. Understand?”
Mate. Help him?
That penetrated the fog, and Jacee obeyed, shifting back to human form. She was briefly tangled in her clothing, but the doctor quickly helped her straighten the garments and get to her feet.
“What can I do?” Jacee asked, her voice thick with tears. “He’s gone.”
“We’ve got a machine breathing for him, buying some time. We’re going to give him some of your blood, and we’ve called Calla, Nick’s mate. She’s on her way to donate as well.”
Hope sparked in Jacee’s chest. “Whatever will save him. I’m ready.”
“I can’t promise this will work, but we’re doing our best.”
“I know, but it’s a chance, right?”
“Yes, the best one he has.”
Jacee followed Mac, shaking so violently she thought she might throw up. This couldn’t fail. Could not. If Micah didn’t make it, she’d have no reason to go on. No desire left.
“We’re going to do two transfusions,” Melina said, pulling Jacee to a chair beside Micah. “One from you and one from Calla to give him that rich, healing vampire blood. She’ll be here any second, so let’s start yours. Both will be direct from the source to your mate.”
The faster, the better, as far as Jacee was concerned. Once she was seated, Noah stretched out her arm on a small platform attached to the chair, designed for taking blood. Then he wrapped a stretchy rubber tube around her arm above the elbow and felt for a good vein. When he was satisfied, he wasted no time sliding the needle in and starting the flow into the tubing directly to Micah’s left arm.
“Blood flow from the left arm goes to the heart first,” Mac explained.
Jacee just nodded, anxiously watching her mate. The machine continued to breathe for him, but there was no spark of life. Not yet. Even though there was still a black void where their bond should have been, she reached out through their mental link. If there was any chance, she had to try.
Come on, honey. I know you’re tired and hurt. But you can do this. Don’t leave me here without you. Please.
Melina readied the pads on her mate’s chest and nodded to Noah. A shock jolted Micah’s body, and the line on the heart monitor jumped a couple of times and went flat again.
Another shock. Four blips.
Calla burst into the OR, Nick on her heels. Jacee didn’t know the vampire princess well, but she’d never been so glad to see anyone, ever. If her blood couldn’t save Micah—
“Okay, time to switch,” Noah said briskly. Working fast, he removed the needle and tubing from Jacee, wiped the puncture, and applied a cotton ball and strip of medical tape.
Jacee moved so Calla could take her place in the chair, and Noah repeated the procedure all over again. She was amazed at how speedy he was, hands steady, completely calm, at least on the outside.
When Jacee crept to Micah’s side and took one of his hands, nobody stopped her. His skin was too cool, but not cold. Not yet. Lashes like black lace fanned across his cheeks, and his hair was silky around his face and neck. He could’ve been sleeping—if it weren’t for the bloody, partially healed gashes on his chest and stomach and the multitude of other wounds.
Come back to me, baby. You can do it.
Several blips.
That’s it. Reach out to me, Micah! Can you hear me? Fight for us!
Just then, the bond flared to life, so bright and sudden the brilliance of the reconnection took her breath away. Every eye in the room turned to her, silently questioning.
“I feel our bond,” she gasped. “It’s there!”
And t
hen the heart monitor began a steady beep. This time, it didn’t stop.
There was a collective sigh of relief, and a few murmurs of thanks to whatever gods where listening. Jacee sagged and would’ve hit the floor if it hadn’t been for Nick’s quick reaction.
