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“What ointment?”
“It’s especially for vampires.” She took off out of the room.
Grabbing the ointment, she was almost back to the bedroom when Chase’s growl echoed through the cabin.
She flew into the room. Steve was cleaning the wound on his abdomen. Or had been. Now he held the bloody cloth up above Chase, while Baxter had his front paws on the bed, his lips curled back in a growl of his own.
“Down, Baxter,” Della said. “We’re trying to protect him too.”
Steve looked back at her. “You might have to hold Chase down.” He frowned. “But then again, he might hurt—”
“Is he conscious?” She dropped the ointment in Steve’s hand.
“Not fully. But he’s reacting to the pain. It could be dangerous.”
“He won’t hurt me,” she said, believing it with all her heart.
“He might not know it’s you.”
“He’ll know.” Della sat on the tiny space beside Chase and the edge of the mattress. When she first touched him, he growled again.
Steve caught her as if ready to pull her back if Chase attacked. “We might need to tie him down.”
Tears came to her eyes, realizing how much pain Chase must be in. “He’s too strong. He’ll just break loose.”
“Then let’s call Burnett,” Steve said.
She shook her head. “Chase won’t hurt me. I know that.”
Steve frowned. “But you’re not the only one in the room,” Steve said. “And considering the exchange we had earlier, killing me might not be too far off his bucket list.”
“He came to and spoke with you?” Della asked.
“Not now. Earlier today.”
Steve and Chase had talked? Della put that little piece of information in the back of her mind to ponder later. “He wouldn’t hurt you, either.” And damned if she didn’t believe it. “He even suggested I call you if he didn’t start feeling better.”
Steve seemed to give in.
She leaned down. “Chase, it’s me, Della, okay? Steve’s here. He’s trying to clean your wounds. I know it hurts. But it has to be done. So I’m gonna hold you down, so Steve can do this. Please, don’t fight us.”
“He might not be able to hear you.” Doubt sounded in Steve’s voice.
“He hears me,” she said.
Slowly, she rested her hands back on his chest.
Chapter Twenty-two
“We have to do this,” Della repeated to Chase in what she hoped was a calm voice, even though calm wasn’t even close to what she was feeling. Guilt, she felt. Shit-loads of it. She looked at his face. His eyes were closed, his skin was so pale, and his expression was empty. Chase was never without expression. Why hadn’t she stopped him? Or at least insisted on going with him? Why, damn it?
Then she tightened her hold. He didn’t growl. She looked at Steve. “Try again.”
Steve frowned as if he disagreed, but restarted cleaning the wound.
Chase moaned and arched his neck back, pushed his head into the pillow. Baxter jumped up on the other side of the bed. He didn’t growl or bare his teeth. He seemed to understand that they were trying to help now.
“Does he need surgery?” Della asked, so afraid Steve would say yes.
