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Gently, he stroked blood matted hair from Melody's face and brushed her cheek. "Melody, please, wake up. I'm here now. You shouldn't have come without me."
Guilt and anger mixed in his stomach until he was so angry he wanted to slap her awake. But he fought it with all he had when Tara appeared in the den doorway, shoving Miranda in front of her.
"What do you want us to do with these two?" she asked, inclining her head toward Kai, who was still being kept at bay.
"I no longer care," Jake snarled, hoping that Miranda would feel the sting of his words after all she had put him through.
"They kidnapped a kid," Tara pointed out. "They are a danger to the pack and need to face fair punishment."
Jake cringed. Nothing about the punishment he'd have liked to give would have been fair. But he was certain it was justified.
Again, he shook his head. "It's time Dash dealt with these things now. Take them to the manor. I'm sure my cousin will have a field day."
Tara grunted her acknowledgment and began to battle Miranda toward the door.
"You won't get away with this!" Miranda called over her shoulder, even as she was manhandled out and Kai was dragged out by magical force after her. "I won't leave my daughter with you and that…that bitch!"
As if the insult had awoken her, Jake was surprised to see Melody's eyes flutter open. Though there was pain in her gaze, the first words she croaked were, "Is Sally safe?"
Jake's heart swelled at her utter disregard for herself when it came to the safety of his daughter. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Rest now. She's safe."
As if his words had soothed her, she fluttered her eyes closed again and her breathing deepened as if she had fallen to sleep.
"Daddy, is she going to be okay?" Sally asked, her voice filled with concern.
"She'll be fine," Jake assured her. "We ought to get you both to the infirmary though, just to be on the safe side."
And with that, he scooped Melody up into his arms before he offered Sally his back and smiled, "Climb on."
"No, no! I won't lose my daughter like this!" Miranda continued to rave halfway down the street, but when Jake glanced over his shoulder at Sally's face, he could guess that she had lost her long ago.
When he glanced down at the woman blacked out in his arms, he couldn't help but think,we found something better amongst the ashes.
All he could do now was pray that it would return to them.
Chapter 16 - Melody
When Melody woke, the harsh fluorescent lights of the infirmary stung her eyes. She cringed and groaned, attempting to sit up and use her arm as a shield. Something snagged in the back of her hand, and she looked down to see an IV needle.
Growling, she yanked it out of her vein.
"You shouldn't have done that."
Tara's voice made her jump, and she looked to find her sitting in the armchair by the bed.
"Where is Sally? Is she okay?" Melody asked as the memory of all that had happened came flooding back. Though her entire body still ached, she couldn't feel a single open wound beneath the bandages that covered half her torso and limbs.
"She's fine. Jake took her home."
Melody gulped. "Washeokay?"
She cringed to ask the question. Judging from the look on Tara's face, she guessed not.
"He was angry with you for not waiting for him," Tara said, shrugging. "I am sure he will get over it."
Melody bit her lip. She wasn't so sure. After all that had happened, all they had been through, she couldn't imagine how they could possibly get back to a good place. Their lives were so entangled, so complicated, she couldn't help but imagine she had lost everything.
But just as she thought she might lose herself to despair, someone cleared their throat in the infirmary room doorway.
