“Fix. Her.”
15
ELIAN
Elian?”
My name was a faint whisper on her lips, the sound full of anguish even as my little sparrow tried to smile through the pain. Blood leaked from her mouth, matted her hair, stained her tattered clothing.
Most of it washerblood. I could smell it.
Fuck.
Normally, the scent of Haley's blood drove me wild. Now, it just made me want to go on a murderous fucking rampage.
But there was no time for that.
“The… guards,” she sputtered. “Keradoc’s men. They… betrayed… Tried to kidnap and… I fought.”
“I know you did, sparrow. I know.” I glanced up at Hudson, who was staring at her as if he still couldn’t believe what the fuck he was looking at. “Go get Jax,” I said. “He’s probably still at the facility. Bring him back here.Now.”
No response.
“Hudson!” I snapped.
He finally met my eyes again.
“Jax is still at work. You need to find him and bring him back.”
He glared at me, mouth pressed in a grim line, his bloodied face tight with fear.
“I can heal her,” I assured him, a promise I wouldn’t dare break. “I’ve got this. Go.”
Another beat. Two. And then, as silent as he ever was, he took off.
“All right, sparrow.” I blew out a trembling breath and took her hand, forcing a smile. “I think you’ve caused enough trouble for one night, yeah?”
She smiled back, but before it even touched her eyes, a wave of pain gripped her tight, making her grit her teeth and arch off the bed.
“Elian!” she cried, crushing my hand in a death grip.
The sight of her in so much pain broke me inside, but I wouldn’t let her see that.
“You’re going to be fine, Haley,” I said, needing to hear it out loud myself as badly as I suspectedsheneeded to hear it. “I can heal this—piece of cake. You’re not gonna like it, but you don’t have a choice in the matter because I’m a fucking vampire, I’m sober tonight, and I’lldefinitelykick your ass if you try to step to me. Deal?”
Another smile, faint. Soft. Familiar. Fuckingheartbreaking.
“D-deal,” she whispered.
I squeezed her hand. My fangs descended. I bit my wrist and pressed it to her mouth.
“Drink, sparrow. Don’t think about it. Just drink.”
I knew it the moment the first drops hit her tongue. Her nose wrinkled in disgust, her body convulsing as she fought off the instinct to gag, but she had no choice. Haley was a powerful witch, but she was still human, and she’d suffered a lot of injuries tonight. Not even her own magick could heal her as quickly as vampire blood.
And if her body didn’t start knitting itself back together in the next few minutes, she’d…
No. I wouldn’t even allow the thought.
