“Simon? What’s going on?”
I hear a long horn honk in the background and then Simon cursing. “Junes? It’s Gerard. He was hit with the Ever Ember hex and is being taken to Saint Marmora’s Hospital in an ambulance. Cass and I are on the way to meet his family there.”
Saints, it’s worse than I could have possibly imagined, and I can’t bear to think of how my mate must be hurting right now.
“Cassian,” I say, my voice soft and soothing. “We’re picking up Ian and we’ll meet you at this hospital right away. Your father is going to be all right. We figured out how to completely remove the Ever Ember. I promise, Cass, my love. My mate. I’ll see you soon. Stay strong for me, okay?”
“Junes, no?—”
“Cassian,” Simon interrupts. “The ward will be heavily guarded and locked down. She’ll be safe there. With us. Junes, beautiful, Beth’s calling, so we’ve got to go. We’ll see you soon.”
The moment the call disconnects, I dial Ian’s number. He picks up on the first ring, a frantic growl in his voice.
“Tell me you’re all right.”
“I am. But Gerard was hit by the Ever Ember hex. I’m in the SUV with Marcus and Luca. We’re coming to pick you up. You can help him, can’t you?”
“I… it’s not tested yet, but I can at least remove the hex. I’ll do everything in my power. Hurry, I’ll be waiting for you at the curb.”
CHAPTER43
We’re the last to arrive at Saint Marmora’s, a private hospital and a state-of-the-art facility dripping with wards, protective spells and mage tech. We’re only permitted inside when Cassian comes down to get us and the moment we’re through security, I run into my mate’s arms, nuzzling against him, covering him in my scent. His agony floods through our bond, and tears prick at the corners of my eyes.
“Come on, Cass. Let’s get Ian to your dad, okay?”
He nods against me and begrudgingly lets me go, though he immediately captures my hand in his, holding tight to me like I’m the only thing keeping him from falling to pieces.
We waste no time, heading up to a secured wing on the top floor, and the moment we tell the staff that Ian can remove the ember, he’s permitted into the operating room.
Cassian watches the doors swing shut and swallows hard, pressing his eyes shut. Bethany sees her son standing helplessly before the swinging doors and lets out a loud sniffle. She’s cuddled between Colin and Roman on one of the sofas in the waiting area, her eyes red from crying. Douglas must be in with Gerard, and while that thought should give Bethany some comfort, I know the only thing that will truly set her world to rights is seeing Gerard safe and well.
Simon and I draw Cassian over to another sofa and sit him down between us, each of us taking one of his hands in ours.
Bethany meets my eyes and fresh tears well in hers, spilling down her reddened cheeks.
We have the privacy to grieve as we need to; we’re the only family in this ward’s waiting room and for that, I’m grateful. My affinity is already bowing under the swell of emotion in the small room. Aside from a few doctors, nurses and other hospital staff coming and going, along with the ever-present guards, we’re left to ourselves.
I’ve never felt so hopeless. I’m battered by wave after wave of Cassian’s despair and there isn’t anything I can do for him. I can’t find the words to say, knowing they’ll all sound empty. The only thing I can do is sit here and love him, sending whatever comfort I can down our bond to him. I know Simon does the same. I see it in his eyes when ours meet. He feels just as helpless against the onslaught of Cassian’s sharp, wounded worry as I do.
Ian and Douglas emerge from the operating room about an hour after Ian disappeared back there, and Cassian and Bethany both stand quickly, looking over at the pair expectantly.
“The ember has been removed completely. The magic Ian performed was the best casting I’ve seen in my life—or a miracle. But Gerard—” Douglas takes a deep breath, but I can tell it does nothing to settle him. “Gerard is weak. We’ve stopped the internal bleeding he sustained from the other hexes, but the ember did considerable damage and…” He shakes his head. “I don’t know, Beth. Saints, I don’t know. I wanted to give you good news, but I can’t yet.”
The older omega runs into her mate’s arms, shaking against him as she sobs. Her pack gathers around her, just as my pack gathers around Cassian.
He bows his head and cuffs Ian on the shoulder. “Thank you for what you did for my father.”
“It truly worked? There’s no trace of the ember left?”
Ian shakes his head. “No trace whatsoever. All the dark magic is gone. Our spell worked exactly as it should have.” He looks to Cassian and then to Marcus. “I can remove your embers whenever you’d like me to. Saints know I didn’t want your father to be the first person I tested the spell on, Cassian, but Douglas insisted. I’m… I’m relieved it worked, and that your father will have the best care in the world as he heals. Because he will. He’s going to heal.”
Cassian looks up at Ian, a sheen of tears in his smoky quartz eyes, and nods, swallowing hard.
I squeeze his hand in mine and wrap my arm around him, guiding him back to the sofa, though after a few minutes, Cassian stands to pace. I go to lure him back to the sofa, but Simon stops me, touching the back of my hand.
“Let him. He’s brimming with energy he doesn’t know what to do with.”
My sweet beta slides closer, blowing out a breath as he sets his head on my shoulder. “You okay, kit-kat?”
