Locheran is all I care about right now.
Xander sets him on a table, and a group of men and women surround him and start chanting in a low hum. A healing spell, if I were to guess. Evangeline leads me to an open spot next to his head. My best friend then standsbeside a woman working on cleaning Locheran’s wound, waiting for instructions.
That’s right. Evangeline quit her human nursing job to become a supernatural medic. Xander wasn’t thrilled about the new position, but mostly because he’s possessive about his mate. He worries about Evangeline’s safety, which is why he always has at least two bodyguards with her at all times… sometimes three… when she takes a shift at the supe clinic.
An older woman stands next to me. Despite her graying hair, her slightly paled and freckled skin is flawless and lacks wrinkles aside from barely visible crows feet around her eyes. She introduces herself as Saoirse, coven leader for the New York City witches, then points to the woman next to Evangeline, explaining to me that she’s a wolf shifter and supernatural medic named Claudia.
Claudia inserts an IV into Locheran’s arm and checks his pulse. “It’s weak, but it’s there. That’s good. He’s still breathing. He’s still fighting. The toxin from the warspear is slowing his healing. We just have to hope it hasn’t spread too much.”
"We can try to push it out of his system,” Evangeline adds. “If it’s spread too much, it won’t work and will only cause him more pain.”
“Can Ihelp?” I ask.
The two look at each other momentarily in thought. Before they can answer, Mira clears her throat. She’s standing at the end of the table at Locheran’s feet.
“Try giving him your blood.”
I nod, not hesitating and determined to do anything they suggest.
Millie stands on my right. She takes my wrist and opens my palm. She drops her fangs and pierces the skin. Blood beads to the surface, and I hover my hand over Locheran’s mouth. Squeezing into a fist to allow the blood to drip down over his lips and onto his tongue.
“Has this worked before?” I ask. “A gargoyle mate’s blood to save him after being injured by a warspear?”
Mira offers me a hopeful smile. “It’s just a guess. We all saw the bright light behind the building. It came from you, correct?”
“I… yes, but how?”
“Fated mate bonds are an ever changing and beautiful thing. Perhaps it was the magic of your connection fighting an enemy. Fighting the one who threatened to tear you two apart. If that’s the case, then Locheran needs you. He needs your blood, your touch, your love.”
My mind, my body, my soul.
My blood continues to pour into his mouth. I’m leaning over him, the fingers of my other hand running throughhis soft blue hair. I’m crying too, and I don’t stop my tears from falling onto his skin.
“I do love him. So much. My mate. The monster of the night who never let me fall to darkness. Who saved me from myself and the life I never belonged to. He saw me before I saw myself. I love how he kisses my forehead any chance he gets. Or how he makes sure he’s touching me in some way—holding my hand, pressing his palm to my lower back, skimming his fingers over the nape of my neck. I love that he worships my body… a body I’ve struggled to appreciate. I love that he knows exactly what I need when we’re together. I love how cats terrify him, yet he makes sure my cat, Potato, is always fed and cared for.”
A few sniffles and soft laughs sound around me.
“I love you, my gargoyle soldier, who fights wars with such viciousness yet holds me in those strong arms as if I’m fragile.”
I lean in to claim Locheran’s mouth with a kiss. It tastes like blood and salt andlife.I pull away, and say, “I love you, Loch,” and wait. And wait. I wait until I’m sure it didn’t work and my mate will die.
Then he gasps.
And opens his eyes.
Chapter 32 – Locheran
It hurts.
Everything hurts.
Of all the times I’ve been injured in battle, my wounds have never felt as if they were on fire. As if my blood had been replaced with flames. As if a million bees were stinging every inch of my skin. As if a horde of cats were clawing me to death.
I was ready to give up. I was preparing for my end.
Then I heard her.
My mate.
