Zephan explains the plan and then I turn the shifter’s body, holding him in place as Zephan grabs his mangled arm.
“It’s a good thing he’s asleep because this is going to hurt worse than swallowing a fishhook sideways.”
“Will he wake up?” I feel a little thrill of excitement at the possibility.
“If he don’t wake up to this,” Zephan says. “He ain’t waking up for a while.”
“Okay,” I say, taking a deep steadying breath. “Let’s do it.”
We count down and then Zephan yanks his arm out with a grunt, ripping it from the socket. His face twists back up in concentration as he places it back in at the right angle.
The shifter remains motionless throughout the entire horrific ordeal and that makes my spirits sink. Maybe he won’t recover…
No. I can’t think like that. He’ll be fine. Ihaveto believe that.
“That may do it,” Zephan says as we place him back down on the bed. I cover him with the sheets again, willing some color into those cold pale lips. “But I still say we should toss him backinto the ocean. If he don’t die in your bed, a shifter like this will eat up half my stores of food in no time.”
“He’s staying here,” I say, keeping my eyes on the man’s gorgeous face. “I’ll call you if I need you for something else.”
Zephan leaves without a word.
I drop to my knees beside my bed and grip his cold hand, willing him to wake up. I just want to see his eyes. I want to see more strength in his chest as he takes deeper breaths. I want to see some kind of—anykind of—sign of life.
Briallen appears in the doorway a few moments later with a roll of bandages. “I thought this might help.”
“Come in,” I say, waving her over.
She closes the door behind her and we get to work, wrapping up his wounds.
“What do you think happened to him?” she asks.
“Whatever it was, he barely escaped with his life.”
I wish I were there with him, helping to fight whatever hurt him. Maybe we both wouldn’t have survived, but at least we would have faced it together.
“He’s handsome for a wolf shifter,” Briallen says when we’re done.
“Yeah,” I whisper, gripping his hand, willing my warmth to travel into his body. “He’s not so bad.”
“Do you want to take my bed tonight?” she asks.
I shake my head and look at her sadly. “I’m going to stay here with him.”
“Okay,” she says, backing away toward the door. She looks at me curiously. I know how strange it must be to see her tough ruthless Captain on her knees with tears in her eyes, clinging to a stranger’s hand. It’s strange for me too.
I don’t understand any of this.
All I know is that I’m not leaving his side.
Ever.
Chapter Four
Kieran
The darkness lightens and there’s…
Pain.
