This made no sense.
“Xuri?”
He caught her before she fell.
Everything seemed to fade around her. While she heard their voices, they were at a distance. Like something in a dream or nightmare. She felt Nibo holding her. Smelled his rich rum scent that was mixed with the salty seawater, but even it grew fainter.
And the last words she heard were his, and they were tear-filled.
“She’s dead.”
Rage darkened Nibo’s vision as he held Valynda’s lifeless body. Of all the low and dirty tricks that had been done to him, this was the worst.
To poison his Vala …
He glared at Brigitte as the urge to rush her throat went through him.
“Calm yourself, Nibo. It’s not what you think.”
How could it not be? They were treacherous and cold. He’d known better than to trust them. He should never have brought Valynda here. They’d killed her once before.
How could I have trusted them again?
This was all his fault!
Brigitte stepped forward to place her hand on Valynda’s forehead. Before he could stop her, she cupped Valynda’s chin and held her head before placing a kiss to each of her cheeks.
Nibo curled his lips at her cruelty. He tried to push her away.
Until Valynda gasped as if awaking from a nightmare.
Stunned, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. She was alive! “Vala?”
Opening her eyes, she met Nibo’s gaze. “Xuri?”
Tears choked him, especially when she reached up to wipe at the moisture on his cheeks. “Hey,mon ange.” He pulled her in and kissed her with all the relief coursing through him. “Never die on me again.”
“Um, I’ll try not to.”
Shaking with relief, he laughed at her confusion, then kissed her forehead. Sobs hung in his throat. He still couldn’t believe that Brigitte had saved her life.
Until she pulled away. “I don’t feel good.”
“What’s wrong?”
She began to shiver.
Even more worried, he tightened his arms around her. “Vala?”
“She’s fine.” Brigitte knelt beside them. “Breathe. Relax. Don’t fight what you feel.”
Valynda sank her hand into his hair. “What is she talking about?”
He had no idea.
“I gave her some of my powers, and it’s her human body trying to adjust to them. If she’s to live among us, she’ll need them.”
Stunned, he gaped at Brigitte. “What?”
