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Ruby shook her head and sounded sorry.
“I’m sorry. I can’t bring people back to life.”
Wheeler was staring at her oddly, but Isaiah’s words caught Nicola’s attention.
“He’s still alive.”
She pressed her fingers against Maddox’s pulse points again, willing herself to calm down so that her ears would stop roaring. She closed her eyes and felt her heart swell when she finally detected a pulse, but it was so faint.
“Barely,” she corrected.
But Ruby was already nodding.
“I can work with that.”
The woman knelt gingerly, still weak but determined. Nicola helped support her, gaze locked on Maddox as Ruby’s palms flattened on the gash and a glow appeared. Murmurs rose across the small gathered group, with one word prominent.Witch.But no one threw insults. They watched as Ruby worked her way across the gash, stitching each inch up with uncanny precision.
“They asked you to do this for them.”
“Try demanded,” Ruby muttered.
“Them,” Isaiah echoed, calculating. “A prisoner witch.”
“They hurt her so she could control those remote ships.”
Isaiah cursed and bellowed out more orders until the ship was running at full speed. Wheeler tried to take Moon away, but the boy insisted on staying. There was activity around her, but Nicola stubbornly stayed where she was, too, monitoring the progress of the magical healing. When Ruby’s fingers began to tremble violently, Nicola took her hands and squeezed them.
“Breathe. That’s enough. Ruby, you have done so much.”
Ruby exhaled wearily.
“He’s stable. Kind of. He needs…”
The woman trailed off, looking at her. But Isaiah was already there, carrying the unconscious half-vampire.
“Rest. He needs rest,” the captain confirmed, hiding what Maddox needed the most. “He can rest in your cabin, Nic.”
Nicola nodded, then sent Ruby another look. “Thank you, Ruby.”
“Welcome aboard, Ruby. Fellas, take her somewhere safe,” Isaiah demanded. “Let her rest. Water and food. Whatever she needs.”
The woman swayed when she stood up. Wheeler and Moon dove in, wary but gentle as they assisted the woman toward Moon’s cabin. Then Nicola rushed to hers, where Maddox was already tucked in bed.
“I know I said he doesn’t usually take blood…”
“But this is a different case,” Isaiah assumed. “Blood will heal him faster.”
“That’s right. Isaiah, I promise not to kill your animals.”
A hand went to her cheek, rubbing lightly. That and his answer were the only things she needed.
“Take what you need.”
Chapter 8
Isaiah left Nicola’s cabin to check up on his crew and ensure there wasn’t some retained trauma from witnessing that brutal, unfair fight, where Dan and another pirate had toyed with Moon before Maddox had jumped in and taken in the beating. He also made certain that no one was following them, especially when Cross realized he no longer had his asset onboard.
“I left traces behind,” Ruby said defiantly despite her weakened, sleepy state on Moon’s bed. “There’s enough evidence for them to think I escaped without help. It was Nic’s idea.”
