“No! You promised me we had time. You promised me!” I raise my hand, summoning the electricity in my palm. Someone grabs my wrist.
“That’s too much. You'll kill him,” Reggie exclaims. “Let me do it.” Everyone steps back. Once again, arms pull me away. Reggie kneels on the floor and slams a jolt directly into Tyler’s chest.
Liam immediately resumes chest compressions. Liam lifts his hands after a full round. Sodie checks his pulse and grimly shakes his head.
“Do it again!” I order Reggie. “Now!” I demand.
Reggie lifts his palm, gathering electricity.
“More!”
He hesitates before conjuring more power and slams his hand down on his chest again. Tyler’s body jerks off the ground. Nothing. Chest compressions continue.
I look around the room at everyone who came to save him. Sixes and Emily cling to each other, crying.
“You can’t leave us. Please, Tyler.” I gaze up to the ceiling. Both Toby and Tyler’s souls are gone. I want to scream and kick, but I don’t have the strength to fight anymore. I let them drag me back.
Sodie stops his chest compressions. Skunk checks Tyler’s pulse and shakes his head slowly. “We did everything we could,” Sodie mumbles.
Emily wails.
“No,” Liam says quietly. “We didn’t try everything. Reggie, do it again. This time, Sodie, you and Skunk channel your healing magic into Reggie’s magic. All of you, channel your energy and magic into Sodie and Skunk.” He looks around the room. “We’ve done it before.”
Sodie hesitates.
Please, I silently plead.Please.He doesn’t look at me but nods his head.
Liam’s eyes connect with mine. “I promise you we will do everything we can to bring him back to you.”
I swipe at my tears with the back of my hand.
Reggie holds his hand in the air, collecting electricity. Every guard and our newfound friends squeeze themselves into the apartment. We all pour our magic into Sodie and Skunk, and they transfer their healing magic into Reggie.
He delivers the shock. Tyler’s entire body jolts off the floor and lands with a hard thump. Sodie and Skunk hold their hands above Tyler, infusing him with their healing magic. We all hold our breaths, waiting…
Tyler gasps for air. I almost don’t believe that sweet sound of him taking a breath.
Sodie checks his pulse and nods to Liam.
Tyler groans but remains unconscious. He’s alive. That’s all that matters.
It has been nine days, and Tyler is still unconscious. He is still breathing, and the heart monitor continues to beep steadily. Most of his wounds closed. Only a few remain. His many scars now serve as a reminder of what he endured.
Anders is also on the mend. I catch him pacing in his room, frustrated with the nurses and physicians who won’t allow him to leave. Although his body is healed, his magic and the ability to shift have not returned. Despite his annoyance with me, I toggle between his room and Tyler’s.
“Anders is still pretty mad at me for venturing into the rough part of the city to rescue you. He said he’s going to lock me up in the dungeon when we return home. I don’t really think there is a dungeon, though. I think that’s just Anders speak for ‘I will keep you in lockdown for the rest of your life.’” I brush Tyler’s hair off his forehead and run my hand down his bearded jaw.
The truth is Anders is mad at me for another reason. He’s mad at me for being in this room alone with Tyler. Anders is convinced that those Resistance bastards brainwashed him, and I’m risking my life staying in here alone. But he’s wrong. I heard him. He called for me on his last breath and reached out for me. He’s in there, and I will not give up on him because he didn’t give up on me. I promised him that we would face any obstacle together.
Sighing, I wring out a washcloth. “I’m just going to wash your face and the rest of your body. When the nurse gets back from her break, we’ll freshen you up with a clean shave. I know how you hate the bearded look.”
Leaning forward, I place a soft kiss on his lip. I miss the tingling sensation along my scalp whenever he touched me. I hope it returns. I blink back the tears that threaten to fall.
“I love you,” I whisper and begin to hum our song. Carefully, I wipe his face. An idea strikes. Tyler told me once that it was my magic that realigned their souls. What if they’re trapped in his mind and body again? I could try…
I take in a deep breath, slowly release it, and place one hand over his heart. Envisioning the yellow-white orb, I place myother hand over my solar plexus. The energy flows from me into Tyler.Come back to me.
“Princess?” Jumping at the sound of my title, I drop both hands and hastily reach for the washcloth. Alpha Larson’s Beta, Wade Dydrian, stands in the doorway of Tyler’s hospital room. He points a thumb over his shoulder. “I didn’t see your guards at their usual post. I assumed you went home to get some rest.”
