“Yeah, that’s less sexy. But talking of the kids, let's go deliver treats. Sometimes a candy bar can make everything so much better.”
Everything in the back of the van is quiet. “Hey, Lu?” I tiptoe through the sleeping forms, then gently shake his shoulder.
His body slumps to one side.
My heart stops beating and I drop to my knees. “Lu?” I hiss, running a hand across his forehead, then grabbing his wrist.
—Something's wrong…—I scream out to our link.
Max and Donovan are there in a flash. Their arrival wakes the kids and some start to sob. I drag in a ragged breath and try to calm myself.
“Unconscious,” I whisper. Donovan kneels beside me while Max invites the kids to the end of the van, tempting them with soda.
Only a few go to him.
“What’s going on?” Willow asks, climbing in as well. “Shit, what happened to him?”
I push Lumina in as fast as I can, but after continuously trying to energy-feed the children I’m almost tapped out.
Donovan raises a hand; it’s sticky and red. “He’s been shot in his thigh—lost a lot of blood.”
Willow grabs the scarf from around her neck. “Bind it tightly, we have to stop the bleeding. Press hard.”
How did I not know he was hurt? I failed him and now he’s bleeding out in a cold, rusty metal box.
“Fuck,” Donovan mutters. “Does anyone know any healing spells? Wait, Tee, can’t you do it? You fixed me…”
“When we had sex, not really a possibility right now,” I reply. But nonetheless, I press myself up close to Lu, wind my arms around him and nuzzle.
“Where the fuck is Alexis?” Max whispers furiously. “They should be here by now. Can you reach him, Theo?”
—Alexis?—
Still nothing.
“You’ve tried his cell?” I ask.
“There’s no signal. I can run up the ridge and try there?” Max says while stripping off his shirt and handing it to Donovan.
Dono adds the material to the scarf, in an attempt to staunch the wound.
“I think we need to get going,” Willow says, straightening up. “This is more than we can handle, but my aunt can help him.”
“Your aunt is five hours away, Wills.”
“All the more reason to start driving. Alexis and Cosmo are big boys, they’ll follow on when they can.”
I look at Ludo’s face, pale and bloodless. “Yes, you’re right. Max, go fill the SUV. Dono, you drive us over to the pumps too.”
Taking charge makes me feel calmer.
“Don’t you dare leave me,” I murmur to Ludo, pressing my lips to his cold ones. “You come back to me, you hear?”
The van lurches slightly as Donovan gets us moving. Willow hustles the kids away from the open back. “Snuggle up to the cab wall, kids, then I'll pass out some food.”
“I hungry,” one little voice replies.
I hold onto Ludo as we come to a stop again. Five minutes later, Donovan looks in. “We’re gassed up and ready.”
