Page 59 of Healer’s Betrayal

“It worked,” Bryce says.

I look down at my mate, searching for any sign that she’s any better. “Now, I can go to work,” Ava says. Her mate speaks softly to her, but I block it out. I watch my mate, looking for any sign of improvement. The healer pulls up Kayla’s shirt, and my hand shoots out, stopping her. “I have to touch her skin, but I’ll go under her shirt,” she explains.

I want to argue, but I stay silent. I watch as the healer closes her eyes and focuses. Her mate keeps a hand on her shoulder, and I assume he’s sending his power into her. It’s what I would do. Slowly, the ghastly look on Kayla’s face begins to dissipate just a little. Her lips don’t look quite as blue anymore, and her cheeks have a tiny bit of color in them. Another agonizing ten maybe twenty minutes pass in silence before the healer leans back and sags against her mate. “She’s stable.”

I take in the injuries still obvious on her body. “Her injuries,” I ground out.

“I’ll get to those,” the healer says, but it’s obvious she’s tanked. She sags, and her mate stands and picks her up.

“What happens next?” That comes from Raechel.

“She needs to heal now,” the male voice on the phone says. “Jackson.” I don’t want to, but I acknowledge the voice on the phone.

“What?”

His voice is quieter now. “Ava’s tapped out. That’s probably all she’s going to be able to do for now or at all if Bryce has anything to say about it. She needs to continue healing, and she needs a safe place to do it. I’d like to check her out.” A growl reverberates through my chest, but he ignores it. “I can come to you, or you can bring her here. But I really think she needs to get checked out by a doctor. She’s stable right now, but she’s not out of the woods. You can take her to a hospital there if you want but...” His voice trails off, and I know what he’s implying. If I take her to a hospital, I lose control over what they do to her. And I don’t know that I’ll be able to control myself if a bunch of people I don’t know get their hands on her, especially males. I rub my hand over my face and look down at my mate again. She looks so small lying still on the floor. Regret so thick bubbles up, it almost chokes me. I should have been here; nobody would have touched her. I don’t know the right thing to do here. She and Noah—the thought freezes me in my tracks. The thought of her little brother slams into me like a freight train, and I stand to my feet. I shut everyone and everything around me out and let my wolf come to the surface. I have no idea if they brought him with her into this room. There are too many scents in the room, so I use my ears instead. My hearing senses have always been superior, even for a shifter. I listen to each heartbeat. I'm aware that the guy on the phone is still talking, but I tune him out for now. I close my eyes and listen with my wolf’s senses. Kayla’s heartbeat is still weak, and I hate that; but I don’t focus on it. I keep sending out my senses, listening for another heartbeat. I move around the room, listening. I’m almost convinced he’s not in this room when I hear the faintest sound. I move until it’s a little stronger. I stop in front of a wall and examine it further. I don’t see anything. But when I put my ear to the wall, I hear another heartbeat. I run my hands over the wall, looking for something, anything.

“What is it?” Ransom asks, at my shoulder.

“There’s another heartbeat.”

His eyebrows lift. “Noah?”

“Maybe.” I run my hands over the wall again. This time, I feel a small bump in the wall. I push on it, but nothing happens. I push it harder; this time, I freeze when I hear what sounds like a lock disengaging. Ransom looks at me and steps back. I push on the wall and it slides a little. I push the door to the side; it’s heavier than it looks. As soon as it opens, my heart drops in my chest. For the second time today, I beat myself up for not getting here sooner. I take in the small boy tied to the chair with a gag over his mouth. Anger like I’ve never known on both their behalf fills me, and rage consumes me.

“Jackson.” Ransom’s voice holds a warning, and I force aside my anger and take a step forward and stop. I’m not sure how scared of me he’s going to be.

“Noah.” My voice is deep and gritty with the presence of my wolf and not the least bit comforting. I wish in that moment that I knew how to be tender and gentle, but I don’t. His eyes are wide, the pupils blown out; and I can smell his fear. It's like a gut punch. I move forward, keeping my movements slow and measured. “I’m going to free you.” I drop to my knees in front of him and break the ties around his feet first and then his hands. Last, I untie the gag around his mouth.

“You have to help Kayla,” he says as soon as he’s free to speak. “She’s hurt; I h-heard h-her s-scream. Please—”

“She’s okay.” Those two words cut off his spiral. “She’s unconscious, but she’s stable. We’re going to—” He launches forward and throws his arms around me, surprising me. I catch him and steady myself. I know the exact moment he catches sight either of his sister’s body or his uncle’s. I pull back but keep my hands on his upper arms. I don’t pull any punches; I won’t with this kid. He’s been through too much, seen too much. “Your uncle showed up and hurt Kayla.” I don’t bother keeping the anger from my voice.

“Is he dead?” he asks with no emotion.

I look him square in the eye. “I killed him.”

“Good.” He keeps his head up, looking so much older than his seven years. “I want to see Kayla.”

I stand to my feet and move out of his way, so he can see his sister. He doesn’t make a sound as he stares at her. “Will she be okay?”

“Yes.” I don’t falter in my answer because she will be okay; there’s no other option. “We’re going to get her some help.” He doesn’t say anything, once again the stoic boy I first met. I look around the room and land on the healer. “Is it safe to transport her?”

Chapter 25

Jackson

Ava nods, but she doesn’t look super confident. I take in the droop in her shoulders and her pale face and realize that’s all we’re going to get from the healer tonight. I remember what happened to Kayla after she healed the man that was stabbed and feel grateful that she was able to heal Kayla as much as she did. “Thank you,” I tell her, meaning it. She only nods, leaning heavily against her mate. I pause a moment. “Will you be okay?”

She nods. “I just need something to eat and some sleep.”

Her mate pulls her up into his arms. “We’re going to get both of those things.” She drops her head on his chest, and he looks over at me. “I’ve got to get her back to the hotel.” I nod. “Keep in touch; let me know what you need.” He looks over at Max and Raechel.

“We’ll help,” Raechel says.

But a quick look at her shows she’s not doing so hot either. I make the call. “Just go; get some rest. We’ll get Kayla and Noah to our hotel.”

Raechel looks like she might argue, but Max nods. “You have our numbers. Call if you run into trouble.” I remember every other run-in I’ve had with her; she’s always mouthy. The fact that she’s quiet must mean she’s really sick or something. I can’t help it; I turn back to them.