I motioned to my mate. “Let’s get her off the floor.”
We eased Honey into my room, tucking her under the blankets. I went to kneel on the bed.
“The bed’s too small, Declan. You’ll jostle her.”
I curled my lip at Noreen and pulled at the Old Magic, letting it flow through me to expand the bed to hit the opposite wall.
She stepped back, fear and awe on her features. “Uh, that works.”
I shifted as I climbed onto the bed, ears flatteningto my skull. The bed dipped dangerously as I swelled for Fallon’s protection. My eyes lit up the room as I tucked her body under my pointed chin.
Get out for now. You can bring her your potions this afternoon.
I needed to be near my mate at that moment. If she required time and rest, I was the Godd of Patience.
They scurried out the door, closing it behind them. Searching the bond, I dove deeper into Fallon than ever before, drawing her pain into myself. The endless well of anguish had me awestruck all over again. I shuddered against the sensations she dealt with daily. My tongue flicked out to lick the frost-like presence on her skin.
The first cut hurt. The second breathed ice across my tongue. I panted, watching as the crust receded just a little. I swallowed the blood oozing into my mouth. My tongue touched her wrist again, lapping over and over, making minute progress. My tongue in ribbons, I wouldn’t stop. Her other wrist got the same treatment–her knees, her ankles. I pushed through the self-inflicted agony and took more of hers. No time to relent even when blood drooled from my mouth. I just cleaned her again.
When she unconsciously curled into my fur, I carefully stripped her clothes from her to take long licks up her spine. The crust had grown into short shards that cut my lips, my gums, my nose. Ignoring it was easy when my intent sharpened to determination.
I have you, Honey.
Dec?Her thready voice spurred my protective instincts. I checked and she was still unconscious.
I’m here.
Her hand twitched in my fur. Her reaching for me heartened me. That way I would be ready to shake the life out of her when she woke up. That she kept this from me seethed inside me as I fought the pain of my mouth knitting together and her suffering.
Help me.
Sleep, Honey.
We both did once I grew satisfied that I had made some progress on the shards sticking out of her skin. I awoke to her bright cinnamon eyes staring at me, my face healed and some of her misery lessened.
“You’re big again. Or did I get smaller?”
Noreen, bring what you have.I put all the command of the pack behind it.
I checked every inch of her and pulled the blankets over her as I went to protect her modesty, since she valued it so highly.
“Why am I naked?”
Noreen burst through the door at speed, bottles in hand, a strange-looking hooked instrument in the mix.
Fallon retreated further into my fur. “What’s happening? Why did you summon a healer?” Her rising panic bristled it to cover her.
I nuzzled against her cheek.You passed out, Fallon.
“I WHAT?!” she screeched and every wolf in the houseducked their heads. Fallon clutched the blankets up to her neck.
She’ll check how you’re doing.
I expected her fear to recede, but it only doubled.
She pointed at the instrument. “No way. Not with that thing.”
Noreen put it down on the floor. “I’m just going to take your pulse first.”
