That was odd. Her blood should’ve been strong enough to stop an elderly human’s heart. “All right,” Adare said as calmly as he could. “You were trying to find blood to help old humans?”
“No.” The look she gave him prickled irritation down his back. “There’s a child at St. Bart’s in Greentown, and she has leukemia. My blood hasn’t been strong enough to help her.”
Adare paused, staring at her. “You’re serious?”
“Of course.” She jerked her head, her nostrils flaring. “I know you immortals don’t care about humans, but I do.”
Sometimes he forgot what a complete sweetheart she could be. “Grace. Immortal blood can fix broken bones and wounds, but we’ve never been able to cure diseases in humans. Not even the common cold.” How did she not know this?
“Oh.” Her shoulders slumped. “I didn’t know that.”
What in the world? He’d give anything to erase that defeat on her pretty face. “However, we do have excellent doctors, and I’ll make sure they take a look at the little girl. I promise.”
“Thanks.” Her smile was soft and barely there. “The girl’s name is Janell Lewiston, and her prognosis is already good, from what I saw. I volunteer at different hospitals as I move around, and I read her chart. But still, I wanted to give her even better odds.”
Grace’s name fit her. Even so, this was all so odd. “Why didn’t you go to your sister or Ronan?” His blood brother would’ve called him.
Grace sat up, cradling her wrist. “They’re in Kurdistan right now, working on a diplomatic mission, and I didn’t want to bother them.” She cleared her throat, avoiding his gaze. “I can handle things on my own, Adare. My sister deserves some peace in her life.”
Peace? Ha. None of them would find peace for a very long time. “Would you have taken some blood to fix your wrist?” His suspicions were confirmed when she blushed a soft peach. “Have you taken others’ blood before?” His reaction to that notion was hot enough to burn him from within.
“No, but I saw Faith take Ronan’s blood when she broke her ankle a couple of years ago, and it healed her faster than she could heal herself. So I thought I could take just a little.”
“You were wrong. Another male’s blood would’ve probably made you sick.” Man, he’d neglected his duties here. That needed to stop and now. So he slid an arm beneath her legs, turned and twisted, sitting on the floor with her cradled in his lap and facing the fire.
“What in the world are you doing?” she gasped, her arm still safe against her ribcage.
“I’m going to help you heal your wrist, and then I’m going to teach you how to use healing cells.” Obviously.
She pushed his chest with her good hand, not moving an inch. “I don’t want your help. When are you going to realize that I’m not your responsibility? For Pete’s sake. I haven’t seen you in three years.”
Did she sound hurt about that? It was what he’d thought she wanted. Plus, he’d known where she was the entire time, and he’d been on more grueling missions than he could count, some resulting in nightmares that would haunt him forever. “Why didn’t you stay at the new Seven headquarters with your sister and Ronan? I wasn’t pleased when you left.” He kept his voice as level as he could, but the feeling of her soft buttocks against his thighs was heating him faster than the fake fire.
“I’m not concerned about pleasing you.” Even her lips were beginning to tremble from the pain.
“Let’s argue after we mend your wrist.” He forced his fangs down, sliced into the fleshy part of his palm, and instantly drew blood.
Her eyes widened and she pushed against him again. “Listen, no.”
“Yes.” Careful not to jostle her injured arm, he gripped the back of her head and pressed the side of his hand against her lips.
She shut her lips tight, and her eyes narrowed, sparks all but flying from them.
Anticipation melded with amusement in him, rising up fast. “I have no problem going a round or two with you,Leannain, but how about we get you up to par first?” When she still fought him, he didn’t relent. “You won’t win, Grace.” The last thing he wanted to do was bruise her pretty lips, especially when she was already hurting. So he relaxed the pressure and waited a beat. “After this, I shall have to lock you down in Scotland. Period.”
She sucked in air through her nose, her temper igniting in front of his eyes. The second she opened her mouth to let him have it, he shoved the bleeding side of his hand between her lips and applied pressure with his hand on the back of her head. Then, just to end the scuffle, he reached around and pinched her nose so she couldn’t breathe.
Her mouth opened, and he forced the liquid down her throat, making her take several drinks.
She struggled against him, keeping her injury immobile, and he could swear she growled. Finally, he relented, releasing her head and drawing his hand free to heal.
Her lips, coated in his blood, closed. She swallowed and color burst across her face. Then she gave a small moan and licked her lips.
This was why he’d stayed away from her. He shot from amusement to full on arousal so fast his ears rang.
* * * *
Grace’s throat felt like she’d swallowed a sparkler from a fourth of July party. The heat flushed through her, uncoiling and landing in her abdomen. That fast, awareness of the incredibly hard thighs beneath her butt caught her attention. His blood tasted like fire tinged with something sweet. The throbbing in her wrist diminished almost immediately.
