Healing Fire

by BA Tortuga

  His mate craved milk.

  I need to get up, love. Mikhail needs his shot of protein and milk. He let the wolf fall away, the naked human emerging. Oh now he was even colder. He shivered, everything shrinking.

  Lee rose to grab his robe, and Drew slid over to Mikhail to cuddle in.

  He smiled. Drew was a devoted friend, giving Mikhail as much energy as he could. Lee worried, because it didn’t seem to help too much. They needed that ambulance.

  He wasn’t sure Drew would survive his friend dying.

  Milk heating, he got out the protein powder to dissolve in it. He stirred, humming, listening, but all he could hear was the scrape of the spoon on the pan.

  Oh.

  The mental sound was shocked, odd. Wrong.

  Lee turned off the burner, then whirled and ran to the main room. “Drew? Baby?”

  Drew was draped over Mikhail, one human hand pressed hard into the wolf’s chest.

  He slid to his knees beside them, reaching for Drew. “What is it? What happened?”

  “He needs this.” Drew blinked up at him. “He’s --”

  Drew slumped back down, holding Mikhail close, and this time Lee could see Drew’s strength pouring into Mikhail, unchecked.

  “No! Drew. No, you have to slow down.” He tried to pull away, but Drew hit him across the chest with terrifying strength, throwing him back. “Drew!”

  “He’s dying! He can’t go. I tried so hard!”

  Lee crawled over to Drew, grabbing his wrists. “No. If it’s his time it could kill you to try to help.”

  Drew looked up at him, tears streaming down his face. “I have to save them.”

  “You can’t save all of them. Neither can I.” He didn’t want Mikhail to die, but Drew was fragile, having pushed too hard for too long.

  Drew stared at him. “It hurts.”

  “I’m so sorry, love. So sorry.” Lee’s hands were going numb.

  Mikhail surged up, the wolf slamming into his mate, teeth clamping on Drew’s throat. Drew’s cry was sharp and high, and cut off almost immediately.

  “No!” Lee jumped over Drew, grabbing Mikhail from behind to choke off his air.

  Mikhail shook and tore away from him, the wolf’s eyes wild, feral. LET ME OUT!

  His head throbbed with the intrusion, so unlike Drew’s gentle touch. But he scrambled to the door to throw it open, knowing the best way to get rid of the threat was to let Mikhail run.

  Mikhail scrambled away, heading out into the snow without a single hesitation.

  Lee didn’t even spare him another glance. He ran to Drew, who was bleeding out on the floor. “Drew! No!” He ripped off his robe, pressing it to Drew’s neck.

  Mate. Mate, please. Drew’s heartbeat was slowing, his breath shallow, bubbly.

  “Stay with me. Drew. Please.” He knew how to do basic triage type first aid, but there was no way anyone could get here to help before --

  I waited for you. Drew blinked up at him. I waited my whole life.

  Don’t leave me. Drew was a healer. He’d taken energy from Lee before. Surely they could heal him.

  I don’t want to. Tears flowed down Drew’s cheeks as the sweet body began to shake.

  “Then stay with me. Think of healing.” He gathered Drew up in one arm, keeping the pressure on the wound with the other hand. “Take it from me. Please, mate. Take from me.”

  His throat began to burn.

  Drew was laboring, wheezing, but he could feel the glow, could feel where Drew’s hands touched him burning as well.

  Yes. We can live, mate. Please. I want to live with you. He needed Drew to hear him.

  Lee. His name was faint coming, from a faraway place, but the heat was spreading through him, making him feel as if he was glowing.

  Drew. Please. We mate for life.

  For life!

  All of his and all of Drew’s. He’d just found his mate. Lee wasn’t letting go. Not now.

  Not ever.

  They had so much to explore.

  Suddenly he couldn’t breathe at all, and his vision tightened to a single point. He knew he was teetering on the edge, knew Drew was pulling all his reserves.

  Lee gritted his teeth and held on, even when his body wanted to let go.

  Suddenly he collapsed, sinking down against Drew, landing on his mate with a thump.

  Chapter Eight

  Lee? Lee, I’m scared. Are you here? Drew wasn’t sure where they were, but surely he wasn’t in the cage again. Lee?

  Love? Lee sounded confused, worried.

  Yes! Yes, I’m here! I’m right here!

  So am I. He felt Lee move against him, and it felt real. Not like a dream.

  He grabbed his mate, opening his eyes and gasping at the blood, at the mess, at the sight of Lee looking pale and wan.

  Sshhh. We’re fine. We’re okay. Lee stroked his cheek, hands red as fire.

  I hurt you! Oh Goddess, forgive me. I hurt you! He pushed into the touch, his heart slamming against his ribs.

  “No.” Lee’s physical voice was like sandpaper. “No, I helped you. Mikhail… he ran, Drew.”

  “Ran? He was… wild. He didn’t know me.” His own voice was husky and it hurt to push through.

  “He’d been through too much. He seemed strong enough to make it, wherever he goes.” Lee kissed him gently. “Do you think you can stand?”

  “I’m so sorry.” He fought his way to his feet.

  “We need to go to the shower, love. Clean up some.” Lee staggered upright.

  “So much blood.” He stared at Lee, horrified.

  “Mikhail tore out your throat.” Lee came near to stroke hair.

  “I -- He didn’t mean it.” He felt himself starting to panic, his world spinning in nauseating waves.

  “I know. He thought he was still trapped. He ran.”

  “Should I go find him?” He didn’t want to. He didn’t want to at all.

  “No. No. I need to make a call, but I want to clean up first. He was healed. He was wicked strong. He’ll be okay.”

  He nodded and sighed, shivering hard. He needed to heal his mate, then sleep.

  “We both need sleep. I’ll call a friend who can look for Mikhail, just to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself or anyone else.”

  “A friend? Okay.” He wrapped his arms around himself and held on, swallowing convulsively.

  “Yes. I also need to call off Tran, huh?” Lee smiled a little, the lines in his face etched deep. “Oh, love, you scared me.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m sorry it hurt you.” He reached for his mate, needing to help.

  “No. No, you needed my help.” Lee grabbed him, pulling him into an embrace.

  He held on, the comfort sudden enough that he gasped. Oh, moon. So much better.

  Love. Lee held him, warmth suffusing him, the love for him clear.

  You’re not angry with me?

  God no. No. I love you so. Lee nuzzled him, nose to nose. Shower.

  Water. You’re okay? You’re not sick? He couldn’t stop his tears.

  “Just a little shaky.” Lee said it out loud, chuffing out a little laugh.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.” He kissed Lee, pressing their lips together carefully.

  I know. I know. You needed me. Lee kissed him back before leading him to the bathroom.

  Soon they were in the water, heat pouring down around him, and he closed his eyes against the pink foam of the water. When Lee had soaped them both and rinsed them twice, he finally looked. There. Normal again.

  “See, mate? We’re tired, but okay. Whole. I’ll get us some food.”

  “No. I’m the reason you’re hurt. I’ll get you food.” He needed to take care of his mate. He’d never hurt anyone before. Never.

  “You didn’t hurt me.” Lee grabbed his shoulders, catching his gaze. “Mikhail hurt you, and I helped you heal.”

  “I’m sorry. I wouldn’t ever hurt you on purpose. Ever.” He needed Lee to know that, to get it.

  �
�Baby, I know that. I do. You were trying to stop me.” Lee stared into him. “Do you understand? I gave you everything. You didn’t force me.”

  Drew searched Lee’s eyes, needing to believe. He felt Lee inside, so deep in him, so much bigger, like their souls were entwined.

  There was solid truth there, and he knew then that Lee would never lie to make him feel better.

  “Love.” Drew sighed. “Thank you. I didn’t want to leave you. I just found you.”

  “I know.” Lee rinsed them off one more time, lingering. “Can we just eat something in bed? I don’t want to clean up yet.”

  “Uh-huh. Cookies?” Surely there were still cookies.

  “Jase brought pecan sandies and oatmeal scotchies.” Lee gave him a wry grin. “Chocolate issues.”

  “What’s better?” Whatever Lee liked, he would get.

  “Oh, the two he brought work. So do Nutter Butters.”

  He nodded, although he didn’t have the foggiest idea what that meant. “I’ll get them.”

  He padded in the kitchen, still wet and shivering, searching for cookies that were what Lee needed. He found oatmeal. That smell he knew, and he took them back to the bedroom.

  “Thank you, love. Get under the covers with me.” Lee was holding up quilts and blankets.

  He nodded and handed the cookies over, his teeth chattering. “Did you want something to drink?”

  “No. I have water here for us.” Lee nodded to some bottles of water. Drew loved that he kept some on the windowsill now that the snows had come. “Come in, baby. You’re blue.”

  He looked down at his belly, just to make sure.

  Lee hooted. “It’s a figure of speech.”

  “Oh. Like I’m cold.” He nodded and slid in, gasping at Lee’s warmth. “Love!”

  “Mmm. Feels so good.” Lee gathered him close. “That’s so much better.”

  “Yes. You want food? I brought you cookies.” He just wanted to snuggle.

  “In a bit. The sugar will help with the shock, but I want to hold you right now.”

  “I’m so sorry this happened, but I’m glad you saved me. I need you. I want forever.”

  “I’m sorry about Mikhail.” Lee said it quietly, stroking his back. “He was just freaking out so bad.”

  “He hurt. Everywhere. It was awful. He scared me.”

  “I could tell. He was dying, love. You did an amazing thing.” A huge smile dawned on Lee’s face. “I guess we did.”

  “We did. Us. Together.” He cuddled into Lee with a sigh. “You promise Mikhail is okay?”

  “I do. And I know Dash will find him, yeah? He’s never once failed on an op. He’s an amazing tracker.”

  “He is? He won’t hurt Mikhail?” He wasn’t sure what in his friend was broken, but he knew that was deep, abiding fear.

  “No. No, he’ll take him to a place where they can help him.” Lee petted him, soothing.

  “I --” He met Lee’s eyes. “I was… It was bad. It was bad, and you came for me again.”

  “You’re my mate.” Lee laughed again, this time happy and deep. “I love saying that.”

  He loved hearing it. More than that, he could feel it in his soul. Drew cuddled close, making sure the cookies were safely on the night table. He was so tired now.

  He wasn’t hungry. He just ached for this -- warmth and comfort and quiet. The snow could fall around them and keep them safe. Here was his safe place. His lover, their cabin, their bed. Their world.

  Chapter Nine

  “Dude, was there a murder?”

  Lee started awake to a very Southern California voice coming from the front room, and he jumped out of bed, blinking at the light coming through the window. How long had they slept?

  Robe. Then front room.

  “Tran? You’re early.”

  “No shit. Jase said you needed help. Who died, seriously?”

  “No one. Well, actually me. And my mate. But it’s a long story.” He moved to hug Tran. “Thanks for coming so fast. Mikhail, he was the one you were supposed to come get, he went nuts and injured Drew.”

  “Was?” Tran hugged him, then looked him over at arm’s length. “You need a B12 shot. I have some in my bag.”

  “Thanks. I need to get Dash on finding the one who was so sick. Mikhail.”

  “Okay. Stop. Was sick? Was alive?”

  “Mikhail is alive. Partly healed, though I think his mind is a little…” Maybe it would be better to let Tran meet Drew. “Hold on a minute.”

  He went to the bedroom, finding Drew awake, huddling in a corner with the blankets.

  “Oh, baby. It’s just Tran. The medic. Can you come meet him?”

  “The ambulance man?” Drew was washed out, faded and wan.

  “Yes. I think it will be easier to show him who you are rather than explain. He’s a friend.”

  Drew nodded and stood, even though Lee could feel his fear. “Should we have clothes on?”

  “There’s a robe, but I have sweats if you want.” Lee got some out of the closet. They would hang on his lover, but they would make him feel better.

  “Thank you.”

  They threw on some sweats and headed out, Drew cuddled into his side.

  Tran blinked over at Drew, then held out one hand to shake. “I’m pleased to meet you. I’m Tran.”

  Drew reached out to shake hands, and Tran saw Drew’s -- scars? Birthmarks? -- arms, and Tran’s eyes went wide.

  Tran shook hands. “Oh, man. Talk about complicated. So you healed Mikhail?”

  “I tried. He was mad.”

  “And then you fed off Lee?”

  Drew shook his head. “He healed me.”

  “It’s not like he’s a parasite, Tran.” He gave Tran a hard look. “I gave him what I could.”

  “Then you both need that B12 shot.” Tran grinned a little. “Wow. I thought you healer guys were a myth.”

  “I think we might be.”

  Yeah, his mate was special. Older than he could imagine, and so strong.

  “Well, I’m glad you’re both okay. Can I -- do you mind if I look where he bit you?” Tran was such a science guy.

  Drew looked to Lee, and when he nodded, Drew lifted his chin.

  “Your throat?”

  “Yep.” Lee grinned a little at Tran’s shocked expression.

  “Wow. Wow.” Tran touched Drew’s throat, and Lee swallowed back a growl. “Ah. Right. I need to get you both some vitamins and maybe some meds for just in case. You want to come see if there are any supplies you need Lee?”

  “Yeah. That would be great. Will you call Dash?” He didn’t want to have to explain it all in front of Drew.

  “No problem. Get some boots on. I have fresh milk.”

  “Oh, that rocks. Man. I had a whole pan go bad.”

  “That stinks.” Tran waited for him to get his boots on, then led him outside. “Jesus, Lee. You need to keep him safe. Did they know what they lost?”

  “No. I mean I doubt it. They had him in a big dorm with other wolves and they chased way harder after the sister.”

  “Good. I’m going to take you off the rescue roster, friend. You can’t risk him.”

  “Okay…” He blinked. “What am I supposed to do? To live, I mean?”

  “You stay here and we’ll reroute people.” Tran dropped his voice. “Seriously buddy. He’s worth… no one knew any were alive.”

  “Oh. Okay, so I’ll be like a rest stop and recovery area?” He could do that. They could even put in another cabin.

  “Yeah, but you have to protect him before anything.” Tran handed him a shotgun and a box of shells. “I’m serious.”

  “I got it.” He did. Tran didn’t condone more than a tranq gun usually. He had to trust his friend.

  “Okay. I’ve got two gallons of milk, some cheese, some potatoes, some snacks.”

  “You rock so hard. Do I need to call anyone?”

  Tran gave him a hard look. “No. Keep a lid on it. I’ll only tell a few guys we can trust.”


  “Oh. Wow. Okay. Thank you.”

  “I’ll deal with your runner, too. If you see Dash, I sent him.”

  “Okay. He’ll be cool with Drew, right?”

  “Dash is one of the good guys. Like you. No weird motives. Just doing what he’s good at.”

  “Right. I’m just…”

  Tran clapped his arm gently. “He’s a gift, Lee. You’re blessed to have him, and he’s the same. He has you.”

  “He’s my mate.” He beamed. “I can’t believe it, but it’s true.”

  “I’m going to give you both a shot of vitamins. You’ll feel better faster that way. Do you think he’ll be okay with that?”

  “We’ll see what happens when you get the needle. I’ll take mine first.” He helped Tran unload, then headed inside.

  Drew was standing at the window, staring out, watching them, still as a statue.

  He waved, breaking into a trot, listening to milk slosh. “Right here, baby.”

  “Milk!” That made Drew beam. “Thank you! I can put it away.”

  “Thanks, love. Tran would like to give us both a B12 shot. I know that might make you nervous, but I think it will help.”

  “You promise? He won’t try to take me away from you?”

  “I promise. He’s a medic. He heals people. Differently than you but he wouldn’t hurt you.” Lee tucked away the gun while Drew wasn’t looking.

  Drew let Tran give him the shot without a fuss, only hiding his eyes from the needle. Lee was so proud, because he knew his sweet mate had to be frightened.

  The shot was an instant energy boost. Man, he’d forgotten how nice it was to have one.

  “That’ll keep you until you have a chance to heal completely.” Tran nodded to them. “I’m heading out. I’ll call Dash for Mikhail.”

  “Thanks, buddy. I mean it.” They shared another hug, because Lee was a hugger, and Tran seemed to be cool with that.

  “It was nice to meet you, Drew. Be safe.” Tran lifted a hand to Drew, and then he was out the door.

  Drew went and locked the door. “I cleaned up the blood. It was ugly.”

  “Oh, sweet. You’re amazing. Milk?”

  “Again? We should save it, shouldn’t we?”

  Lee could feel Drew’s hunger like a living thing.

  “We didn’t get our last batch.” Lee would order a delivery every week if he had to.