I bit back the growl that rose in my throat. I knew the shifter was offering out of concern for Ava rather than a doubt in my ability to care for her, but that didn’t change my instinctive reaction.
“I can handle it,” I replied, pulling small glass bottles of liquid and canisters of herbs from the shelves. When I turned around with my hands full, I noticed that Harrison looked pale and shaky himself. “You look like you’re about to fall down,” I stated bluntly.
He barked out a harsh laugh. “I feel like it.”
Placing my supplies in a set of three nested bowls, I reached into the refrigerator and grabbed three bottles of water. I gave one to Harrison.
“I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping,” I said as I shoved the other two bottles beneath my arm and grabbed the bowls.
The last free guest room was separated from the master bedroom by a linen closet and a bathroom. Unless he pressed his ear to the wall, he wouldn’t be able to hear anything said in my room. The original owner had been a shifter who liked his privacy and he’d had the interior walls insulated, making the rooms nearly soundproof.
I gestured to the door. “That will be your room while we’re here.”
“Thank you,” he murmured as he opened the door, his shoulders slumping.
It seemed the short battle with Rhiannon and the creature had taken a great deal of strength from all of us.
Without another glance at me, he went inside the guest room and shut the door. I put the wolf out of my thoughts as I walked back into the master bedroom to find Ava exactly as I’d left her.
I shut the door behind me and carried the herbs, potions, and water to the side table. My hands began to shake as I lined everything up. I wanted to believe it was the adrenaline crash, but I knew better.
In my mind, I could see the moment Ava collapsed on the ground and the pain in her features as she tried to hold off the creature. I could see the slow, measured steps the man had taken toward her and I knew that no matter what I did, I would be too late.
I could have lost my mate.
When my trembling fingers knocked over a bottle, I fisted my hands and took a deep breath. I had to regain my calm or I wouldn’t be able to help Ava heal.
The thought steadied me.
My first priority was to take care of my mate. She was here and still alive, but in pain. And I could do something about that pain.
With that purpose filling my mind, I set to work, my hands once again sure and steady. In the smallest bowl, I made a healing tea with herbs and a bottle of water. I would use magic to heat the water before I woke Ava to drink it.
In the largest bowl, I mixed a poultice to place on her wound. A spell would heal her, but the poultice would ease the burn as the spell worked to knit her flesh back together.
I carried the medium-sized bowl into the bathroom and filled it with lukewarm water. Grabbing a washcloth from the cabinet, I carried it back to the bed and sat down next to Ava.
This part would be the most difficult.
Placing a gentle hand on her forehead, I whispered the incantation that would keep her asleep as I removed the burned garment from her upper body and separated it from her wound. I knew from experience that this would hurt like hell and I didn’t want her to suffer that kind of pain if I could prevent it.
When I was sure she would remain unconscious, I set to work. She remained still and serene as I used my pocketknife to cut the shirt from her body, leaving on the burnt square.
Once that was done, I gently lifted one corner, wincing as it tugged at her skin. Ava breathed a bit deeper but gave no indication she felt pain.
And even though she slept through the entire process, I took as much care as possible when I peeled the fabric from the burn. Sweat tricked down my face and neck as I tried my damnedest not to hurt her any more than I had to, even though I was certain she couldn’t feel it.
The cloth finally came free and I nearly groaned at the sight of the damage to her body. Dark purple bruises bloomed along her ribcage and down to where the charred skin from the electrical burn spread over her skin.
I had to fight back the wave of murderous rage that filled me as I took in her injuries. Rhiannon would die the next time I saw her and so would the abomination she created.
I used the damp washcloth to remove the dirt and dried blood from Ava’s abdomen so I could clearly see the extent of the damage. I gritted my teeth and plucked up the bowl of poultice. I would place it on the bruises and burns first before I used the healing magic.
The tea would have to wait. I wanted Ava to sleep through this part of the remedy because it would be agony if she were to wake.
Moving swiftly, I used light touches to pack the poultice on her ribs and stomach. Once all of her injuries were covered, I held my hands a few inches above her body and let the magic fill me. The invocation tumbled from my lips as I focused on the damage done to her body. I could feel each of the broken capillaries, fractured ribs, and deep burns as separate entities.
Using magic to “see”, I watched them heal, one by one.
It took over an hour for me to remove the last bruise from her body. I couldn’t believe that she’d been able to remain conscious after taking the hit from the creature. Not only conscious but lucid.
Most of the vampires I knew would have been incoherent from the pain, but she’d only cared about Savannah. And instead of using her abilities to heal herself, she’d funneled that power into Kerry so that she would be able to save Savannah.
As much as it pissed me off, this selflessness of hers, it was one of her most admirable qualities. When Ava Amaris loved, she loved fiercely and completely.
And I desperately wanted her to feel love that all-consuming for me.
