The memory brought him little comfort. He nodded to the hellhound, recognizing him as another alpha. It made him curious how Henry had become part of a pack where he casually referred to the alpha of the hellhounds as “uncle.”
“You must be Draco.”
“I am. Uncle Meshaq, I presume?”
The hellhound grinned and covered his heart with his fist. “I see Henry has been telling tales.”
“When does he not?” Vaughn asked. “Meshaq, I need to get back to the clinic to get some oxygen for Sawyer. I’d like to get him started on it right away.”
“Of course. Solomon is standing guard outside. Have him open a portal for you.”
Vaughn turned and left, while Draco kept his attention on the other alpha. “I understand you have some questions for me.”
“I do. I would also like to see Sawyer for myself, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind. Anything that will help.”
Draco led Meshaq upstairs. Henry still sat in the center of the bed and he stroked Pearl’s back slowly. “Hey. No change.”
Draco went to the other side of the bed and resumed his position at Sawyer’s head. He hated how helpless he felt. There was nothing or no one to rip apart to make this right.
“What happened?” Meshaq asked quietly.
“He called me. Said he needed help. I could tell… it was bad. I could hear it in his voice. Before I could ask what was wrong, I heard the phone fall and then someone around him said he was having a seizure. I ran outside and called for Eduard, then called my dragon and took to the sky. I was at his side within minutes.”
“Did you see anything?”
“No. He had a bunch of students around him, and he was shaking. It hurt him when I touched him, and he was having trouble breathing.”
Meshaq glanced to Henry. “Then you arrived?”
“Yes. Eduard flew me there. He was shaking and I just touched him. I told you how he helped me after my vision?”
Meshaq nodded.
“Well, my magic told me to touch him. So I did and the pain seemed to ease. Draco picked him up and we got him back here. Andvari had brought the car. He must have broken every speeding law in existence to get there so fast.”
Meshaq turned his attention back to Draco. “May I look closer?”
Although it chafed to allow it, Draco understood it was for the best. He stepped aside as the other alpha took his place. Both of their eyes flared with yellow-orange flames as they traded places.
Meshaq leaned in close to Sawyer then breathed in deeply. A moment later, he choked and pulled away. “What the hell?”
Draco bristled but fought the urge to pull Meshaq away. “What is it?”
“Lean in. Smell. There’s something…”
Draco did the same action, leaning in close and inhaling. His lungs immediately began to heat and his eyes watered. He pulled away with a growl.
“Is it still hurting him?” Draco asked. He couldn’t keep the anger and frustration from his tone, but it didn’t seem to offend the hellhound.
Meshaq bent back down, this time even closer to Sawyer’s face. His body tightened and Draco could only imagine the pain. If he’d only gotten a small breath and felt the amount of pain he had, what would it be like to be that close and breathing deeply? More importantly, what was it doing to Sawyer?
“Henry, you should mo—” Draco began.
Henry shook his head. “No. It’s not hurting me the way it is you. Let me see.”
“Henry, stop,” Draco said. He started to reach for him, but Henry wiggled away and put his face right next to Sawyer’s.
