Fear—I smell fear and nervousness and guilt.
“No, something’s wrong. I smell it.”
Talia’s expression gets more nervous, tinging on fear, even though she’s trying hard to mask it.
“You don’t smell right,” I insist, closing my eyes. I open the door inside a smidge, feeling through the bonds. It’s easier to do this if I ignore my external senses in favor of a more accurate read.
“What’s with the snake eyes, love? That’s not a normal look for you when you’re not fanged and fucking,” Taurus remarks, taking an opposite tactic than me.
It hits me like a ton of bricks, and I gasp, hand flying to my mouth.
Oh, no.
My husband’s head whips around to look at me. “What? What is it?”
I feel Rafe trying to calm me, but it’s not working. “She’s—she’s—oh, my goddess.”
The snake fades away and she leans against my mate for balance, her eyes not focusing on us at all. Talia looks at us with a sad smile and murmurs, “I’m blind.”
Taurus’ mouth drops open, and he looks like he’s assimilating a million clues we had to have missed last night that would have told us what she was hiding. He thought she was off, and he was right. “Bloody buggering hell.”
“I can see with the snake eyes, but not like normal. It’s all body heat and dark shadows.”
Mind racing, I sit up, trying to work out what I can do.
There must be something; it can’t be permanent.
If I try hard enough, I can think of something, I know it. There’s a wave of rage building in my husband, and it’s distracting me enough for the answer to be elusive. If he loses his temper, it will not help this situation.
“I’m fine. It’s not that bad. I’d like to get fixed, though, if anyone has any ideas?” She’s clinging to Rafe’s arm as if it’s a lifeline, grasping him.
My primary holds onto her, face buried in her hair. He’s still not speaking to either of us. I’m not sure if that is out of fear or desperation, but his focus is only on her. That’s what she wanted. He’s doing it. His touch seems to soothe her and keep her emotions grounded, so I don’t worry about it for now.
Taurus slips out from behind me, stalking over to them in a predatory stance. “You’re only telling us now? That’s not the brightest of plans. I need not ask how or when.” He turns back to me. “What can we do?”
I purse my lips, trying not to give them false hope or overestimate my abilities. “I think I can fix it. I’ve never tried something like this before, and it might take a lot of concentration and a lot of help from the two of you. The nerves and things in the eyes are very delicate and small. I’m still weak from yesterday. I will need some help to attempt it.”
Turning towards my cabinet, I think about what I might need. They all stay silent, and I don’t even care because I realized I don’t think I can get through this successfully with how I am right now. I have to unseal her door. There’s no way I can connect and heal something so delicate and important with that locked away.
Magick is tied to emotions, and with the door closed; I don’t have any for her.
Sighing, Taurus looks at his primary and then reaches a hand out to stroke her hair. “We’ll do whatever we need to do.” His gaze shifts to my mate. “Won’t we, Sampson?”
“We will.” He doesn’t look at my husband, only nods his head and looks at me. “How will you do it?”
Pondering, I study the space and the people. The added stab in the gut is that I have to get close to her, to touch her, and I feel like I’m going to barf thinking about it. Maeve gives me a little push, and the roiling in my gut calms. I close my eyes and thank her, trying to focus on the problem at hand. “Talia, you come tosit on the bed. I have to move closer to work on something this detailed.”
“Love, can you guide me over to her? Without the snake, it’s hard to figure out an unfamiliar room.”
“Not a problem.” Taking her hand, Rafe guides her over to the bed, helping her settle in front of me before stepping back.
She moves a little, then tilts her head as if trying to see me. “Is this good?”
I scoot closer, sitting facing her with my legs draped over the side of the bed. I caress her face, looking more than anything. “I think you’re good now.”
“Yeah, it works for me for sure,” she jokes, laying her palm on my leg.
Trying not to wince, I look over at the boys. “You guys will need to be close. However you want to sit is fine, but you will both have to be touching me somehow. Touch enhances the connection.”
