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The rough ride couldn't be avoided, but each vibration and harsh jerk worsened Frankie's fragile state. Unyielding and relentless, the rugged dirt road was the enemy, but it was leading them to the doctor who could save Frankie's life.
Dagor prayed to the Fates that they would make it in time.
Now that he was experiencing what Aru had when Gabi had texted him from the hospital, he could empathize with Aru so much better.
No wonder Aru had been going insane.
The difference was that Gabi hadn't been bleeding or unresponsive, not while she'd texted Aru anyway. Later, when her transition had kicked in full force, she had been going in and out of a coma, and he'd seen how difficult it had been on his commander.
Squashed between the two front rows of seats, Dagor was absorbing all the bumps and shielding Frankie as best he could, ignoring the cramping in his legs and the ache in his back that had nothing to do with the bullets it had expelled. With his rapid healing, he could barely remember where he'd been hit, but the back of the seat in front of him was digging into his skin, and there was nothing he could do about it without moving Frankie.
Any attempt to adjust her position might worsen her condition, and the fear of causing further harm kept him frozen in place despite the discomfort.
The helplessness was suffocating, debilitating.
Dagor's body was one big knot of tension. His chest felt like it was being squeezed in a vise, his arms and hands tingled, and not just because he hadn't moved or because his blood circulation was impaired. It was the anxiety that made it hard for him to breathe and boiled his blood, so it was running hot in his veins and making his hands tingle.
Underneath it all was the gnawing fear of loss.
Frankie's unresponsiveness was a deafening silence in the chaotic drive, a void that he was terrified would become permanent.
The thought of losing her was unbearable. He tried to push the thought away, but it refused to go, lurking in the background and submerging him in despair.
Dagor's world had been reduced to a maelstrom of fear, anger, and desperate hope, all centered on the fragile human in his arms.
Behind him, he could hear Negal talking on the phone, but the engine roar combined with the howling wind and the turmoil in his mind made it impossible for him to hear what was being said.
"Dagor." Negal leaned forward, poking his head between the seats so his mouth was as close as it could get to Dagor's ear. "Aru just called," he said quietly. "There is something we can do to help Frankie heal faster, but it requires secrecy and careful handling."
Hope warring with skepticism, Dagor nodded. "Whatever it is, I'll do it."
Pushing his shoulder through the gap between the seats, Negal got even closer to him. "Did you know that a god's blood could heal a human?"
Dagor frowned. "I've never heard of such a thing. Did Aru tell you that?"
Negal nodded. "A small amount no bigger than the tip of your pinkie can make all the difference. The problem is that we need a syringe, and there is no medical kit in the truck. We have to wait for the doctor. The other problem is that it's a closely guarded secret. Kian doesn't want anyone to know, not even his own people, because it could put the heir, Toven, and us at risk. If word ever reached the humans, they would do everything to get to us and use our blood to heal those who would pay the most for it."
"Yeah. He's right about that. But how do we do it without the doctor knowing? Do we thrall her?"
Thankfully, immortals were almost as susceptible to gods' thralling as humans, but Dagor didn't feel right about deceiving their new allies.
Negal glanced at Jin's back, but nothing in her posture indicated that she'd heard anything. "That's precisely what Aru told me to do if we can't swipe a syringe from the doctor and administer the transfusion while she is tending to Luis. You can draw your blood yourself and administer it to Frankie, or I can do that if you don't have the stomach for it, with either my blood or yours."
"Mine," Dagor said. "Your hands are probably steadier than mine right now, so you will have to do it, but you will use my blood."
Negal smirked. "I knew you would say that."
Dagor ignored what Negal was trying to imply. "What are the risks?"
"To Frankie?"
Dagor nodded.
"None that Aru mentioned. He just said not to get overzealous and give her too much. That might be dangerous to her."
"But there is a chance it can save her?"
"That's what he said."
