Clive stood paralyzed at the ambulance doors, numbed by what he hadn't been able to see in the scattered beams of their flashlights. He knew she was covered in blood, but the actual sight was horrifying. Her skin was pasty white, a color he'd never seen on a living human being.
Shandari had already gone into the Sight, her hands roaming an inch above Tina's body. The Flatlander ignored her, concentrating on finding a vein to insert an IV. Clive could see the pale aura of his son, and thought that maybe the baby was responding to Shandari's movements.
He turned in sudden rage, coming up short when he ran into Kasia, who stood directly behind him. He met her sympathetic gaze with a growl. “I'm going to find him.”
Her voice held him still. “Yes, you will. But not right now.”
“Don't send me back yet.” He glanced at the sky, although the moon had already set. “It's not full moon until tonight. Give me the time I need.”
“I'm not sending you out there now,” she said. “You need to rest. We've got a second shift coming through the portal now. They'll take over. I'm not sending anyone out there who's not at peak performance, Clive. Especially you. You're the only werewolf we've got. It all depends on you.” She looked him over and he glanced at his blood-covered jacket.
“This is all hers.” His voice was hoarse. “I'm not hurt.”
“I know. But you should see yourself, Clive. You look almost as bad as she does. You're pale, your eyes are glazed.” She placed a hand on his face. “Your skin is clammy. You need food and rest. That's an order.”
He gazed over her head at the forest. “He's out there. He's been taking her blood, her spirit. He's going to be too powerful.”
“I'm not sending neophytes out there, trust me. We've robbed him of his power source. He'll have to concentrate on staying hidden while surrounded by searchers.”
“The traps...”
“We'll keep an eye out. I've got a few witches coming. They can figure out what he's done. We may not find him, but we can keep him hopping. That will give you more of a chance later today.”
The ambulance driver moved past them, slamming the doors shut, and climbing into the cab. Clive's heart beat in sync with the flashing lights as the van turned onto the road back to town. Part of him was in that van, watching over his child and the amazing woman who carried him. Kasia was right—he was in no shape to continue the search. He started to rub his burning eyes, but stopped at the sight of all the blood on his hands.
His heart twisted.
He heard Kasia telling Riff to drive him back to the Keeper's house.
“Not yet, please,” Clive said. “Take me wherever they're bringing her. I've got to know how she is.”
“All right. But eat something.” Kasia jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “There's sandwiches and coffee over there. Take some with you. I've got to get these Flatlanders out of here before one of them becomes the next victim.”
She stalked away, already snapping orders to Ringstrom who practically scurried to carry them out. Clive managed to return Riff's rueful grin, before following her orders himself.
Chapter 33
It wasn't hard to find the clinic where they'd taken Tina. The ambulance was parked outside a two-story ranch-style, one of the few buildings with a light on this early in the morning. The sign said Green Roads Medical. Riff pulled in next to the ambulance. A green sedan was parked on the other side.
A nervous deputy guarded the door and insisted on seeing their ID before he'd let them in. Clive appreciated the sentiment, but knew the deputy would be useless if Damien showed up. He hoped Kasia was sending some of their own people to guard the place.
Inside, the reception area was still dark, but a light farther down the hallway led them to a large room filled with hospital beds. Two of the beds held patients. On one, Tina's dark and bloody hair sprawled over a pillow. Two Flatlanders—the doctor from the ambulance, and a middle-aged woman—were busy cutting her clothes off. On the other bed, Shandari lay unconscious. The paramedic was taking her blood pressure and looking puzzled and frantic.
He noticed Clive and Riff, and raised his hands. “I don't know what's wrong with her. Doc Summerlin says she just collapsed while examining Tina.”
The woman turned. “Who are they?” She skewered the air with her scissors, determined to protect Tina from any further danger. Clive appreciated that, too.
The doctor—Summerlin, Clive assumed—spared them a quick glance. “It's okay, Sharon,” he said. “Those are the two who found Tina. FBI, they say.”
Her eyes raked over Clive. “Are you hurt?” Her expression suggested he'd have to wait his turn if he was.
He shook his head.
“Well, you can't be in here.” She lowered the scissors, but her jaw tightened. “You'll have to wait in reception.”
“We will,” Clive said. He stared past the woman, shaken anew at the dried blood covering Tina's leg where they'd cut the pants. “But can you tell me… is she… all right? Is the baby all right?”
Summerlin glanced up with an angry glare. Something in Clive's face made him relent. “I think so. Whatever Dr. Uboron did, it's done a lot to restore her strength. But she still needs some urgent care, so please wait outside.” He nodded toward Shandari. “Unless you can help Phil with your friend there.”
“She's all right,” Riff said, moving to Shandari's side. “She just needs to rest. Make her comfortable and give her a blanket. She'll probably sleep for several hours.”
The paramedic still looked skeptical, so Clive said, “I'm sure Captain Windblood will be along to handle things. Until then, you should just let Shandari rest.”
Clive was betting that the paramedic had seen enough of Kasia that invoking her name would convince him to follow their advice. He was right—the fellow backed away. He pulled a blanket from a cabinet and Sharon waved toward the hallway.
“Go,” she said, turning back to Tina without waiting to see if they obeyed.
Riff took Clive's arm. “Let's get washed up and eat, like Kasia ordered. Let them take care of her.”
~~
The waiting room was small, with just a few chairs and tables. A coffee service took up one table, awaiting the arrival of the receptionist to put it to work. Clive and Riff were just finishing their sandwiches when the doctor came in the waiting room. The Flatlander went straight to Clive and held out his hand. Clive stood and shook it, wary of the man's penetrating stare.
“I'm Will Summerlin,” the doctor said. “I'm Tina's colleague and friend. Dr. Uboron tells me you’re the baby's father.”
“Yes, I am.”
Will sat down and ran his hands through his hair. Clive sat too, and Riff wandered into the hallway to give them privacy.
“I've never seen anything like this,” Will said. “I don't understand what Dr. Uboron did to Tina. But those cuts are healing before my eyes. I've done two blood counts. I don't want to take any more blood from her than I have to, but the last one showed a marked increase in red blood cells. Her body is making blood at a faster rate than it should be capable of.” He shook his head. “I don't understand it.”
“That's good, though, isn't it?” Clive asked. “Is she okay? The baby's okay?”
“Yes, it's good.” Will seemed to think about that statement, lips pursed. “I think it's good. Right now, she and the baby are recovering nicely. But where's she getting the energy to do it? What are the side effects? How do I know she's not in further danger from this?”
“I can assure you that Shandari's treatment is both helpful and harmless,” Clive said, wondering how much he should tell the doctor. “I've experienced it myself more than once.” He rubbed his face. “Is Tina awake?”
“No. And I want her to sleep for now.” Will tapped a finger on the table, giving Clive a penetrating stare. “She hasn't told me anything about you, Mr. Winslow, beyond the fact that the two of you had one date, and that she didn't want you involved in the pregnancy. I hope you understand that my place is t
o see that her wishes are followed. After what's happened, she may feel differently, and she can tell me that when she wakes up. Until then, I must insist that you stay away. She doesn't need anything to upset her right now.”
Clive pinched the bridge of his nose, biting his lip until he could gain some control over his voice. Then he nodded. “I agree. I assure you, I will follow her wishes. Just please... tell her...” He raised a hand as if begging, then let it drop and stared at the table.
Will stood, meeting Clive's gaze with steady eyes. “Dr. Uboron spoke highly of you. Of course, I don't know her either, but I recognize compassion when I see it, and she has it in spades. For what it's worth, I hope Tina does change her mind. I'd like to see the two of you work things out.”
“Thank you.” Clive stood and clasped Will's hand once more.
A trace of amusement lit the doctor’s eyes. “Tina showed me her medical records,” he said as he turned to leave. “I saw Dr. Uboron work on her in the ambulance. I don't know who you people are. But I do know you're not FBI.”
~~
Clive slept for six hours on one of the cots scattered throughout the Keeper's house. When he woke, amid the sleeping sounds of twenty other agents, he stared into the dim daylight of the room. He knew what he had to do. He knew the cost of it. He just had to convince Kasia.
He wasn't surprised to see her already in the kitchen when he wandered in a few minutes later. She looked up from her monstrous plate of eggs, sausage, and potatoes, and pointed him toward the buffet of food spread out on a long table. He didn't argue, just filled a plate as large as hers, grabbed some coffee, and joined her.
“News?” he asked.
“Didn't find him.”
“Anything on Tina?”
“She's awake. Wants to see you.”
His heart missed a beat. He didn't look up. “Is that all right?”
“Pixie-shit, Clive.” She was laughing at him. “Of course, it's all right. Whose side do you think I'm on?”
“Mine, as usual.” He managed to smile and wagged his fork at her. “That’ll get you in trouble one day.”
She shrugged and kept eating.
He took a sip of coffee and decided to jump in feet first. “If we don't find him before full moon, I want to stay and hunt him. In wolf form.”
She stared at her food, chewed, swallowed. He watched her.
She looked up. “Yes. You'll have to.”
He nearly choked trying to swallow his arguments. She returned his stare and he saw the guilt in her eyes.
“That was their plan all along, wasn't it? The Council.”
“They didn't come right out and say it. But yes,” Kasia said.
“By the seven sisters...” He looked away, staring out the window. The sun was bright today, making the evergreen wall of trees shine with reflected light.
“You understand the danger?” she asked.
“What? That I might get killed? Better than you know.” He leaned toward her. “Do you understand that you might have to kill me? If there's any chance I might hurt someone?”
Her lips were tight as she nodded.
“They'll hold you responsible if I do hurt anyone,” he reminded her.
“That's what surety means, Clive.”
“Kasia... the sentence for that is death.”
“I suspect Raison will be able to spare me that. But the penalty will be stiff. There’s no point debating it. We both know it’s the only way.” She turned her gaze to the window, leaning back in her chair and draping an arm over the back. Her other hand fiddled with the handle of her coffee cup.
She turned back and resumed eating. “Let's get you down to see your girlfriend.”
Chapter 34
Tina reclined in the hospital bed. She'd had some light food and a high-calorie nutrient shake, then Sharon had helped her shower. She had cried as the blood washed away, relieved to be clean of it. Her tears frightened Sharon until she'd managed to explain. Afterward, she'd dressed in a set of scrubs, unwilling to remain in the examining gown.
Like Sharon and Will, she couldn't get over how much she had healed overnight. The cuts on her arms and leg were red lines of closed tissue, as if they'd been sewn up weeks ago. Her blood count was almost back to normal, and the baby's heart was strong and steady. It occurred to Tina that Shandari was a real witch doctor.
As she sat up in bed, she examined her hands, which were still covered in scratches from her flight through the forest. Her face had similar scratches, along with bruises and swelling. Everything was healing, but at a slower pace. Perhaps Shandari had concentrated on healing life-threatening injuries, and left the rest alone. There had to be a limit to Shandari’s energy.
No matter how fast the physical injuries were healing, her terror was still brand new. Tina suspected Shandari couldn't heal that.
She glanced up at approaching footsteps, expecting Sharon. Clive appeared in the doorway, hand raised as if to knock on the frame. He stayed that way, frozen in place. She couldn't move either, overwhelmed by a crazy mix of desire, gratitude, and love.
“Clive. I'm so glad you came.” She held out her hands.
He moved to the bed, taking her hands in both of his, smiling with delight. She squeezed his hands, pulling him down to sit on the bed.
“I've got to tell you,” she began, before he could say anything, “how sorry I am. I don't know if I had a chance to say that when you found me, but it's so important that you know. Please forgive me.”
“Tina.” He shook his head, smile curving into bewilderment. “That's the first thing you said to me. I will forgive you for anything, but I don't understand what you're apologizing for. None of this is your fault.”
“No, for… for refusing to see you. For the things I said, and for trying to keep you from the baby. It was childish of me.” She brought her hands to her mouth, ashamed anew at her behavior. “I couldn't stand the thought that I might die and never be able to tell you.”
Relief rose in her breast when he cupped her head in his hands and kissed her forehead.
“I never blamed you for that,” he whispered before pulling back to look into her eyes. “I've brought so much shock and pain into your life, I deserve to never see you again. I will do whatever you want, but I hope….”
“We'll work it out. I promise.”
“Thank you.” His hands were still on her head and he began to stroke her temples with his thumbs. She trembled, longing to give in to welling desire, but he moved his hands, gesturing over her body.
“You look good,” he said. “Your skin has color, your injuries are healing. The baby's aura is strong again. Are you feeling all right?”
“I’m not sure.” Tina frowned at the healing cut on her arm. “Sometimes the cuts hurt, but that has to be a mental or emotional response. I’m not sure how to handle such quick healing. The memory is still so vivid.”
Clive took her hand in his and she glanced up, seeing her anguish mirrored in his eyes. He squeezed her hand gently. “Even with magic, it takes time to recover from such an experience. The physical healing saved your life, but Shandari won’t neglect your emotional injuries. None of us will. I promise you’ll have all the support you need to heal completely.
“Thank you. That does help.” She stroked her belly. “I don't know what Shandari did, but it's amazing. I was cramping last night, and I was so afraid I’d lose the baby. I wish I could see his aura like you do, but we listened to the heartbeat this morning, so I know he's okay.” She glanced at him. “Would you like to hear it?”
“His heart?” Clive's eyes seemed to light up. “I'd love to.”
“Bring me that fetal Doppler over there. And that tube of gel.” She flipped a hand toward the cabinet, excited at the opportunity to do this for him. He brought them to her and she adjusted her clothing to reveal her stomach. “Have you ever heard a fetal heart beat before?”
He shook his head as she squeezed a dab of gel on her skin and reached for the Doppler. “It'
s faster than ours,” she said. The scratching sounds of Doppler waves filled the air as she moved the scope around. “But there's no mistaking it.”
She stilled as the galloping sound filled the air, glancing up to see Clive's face. His mouth was open a little, the ends curved up in an amazed smile as he stared at her stomach. The sound was clear and loud. “He's showing off for you,” she said.
He laughed and touched her hand as she held the scope. “It's wonderful,” he said. He had tears in his eyes. “Thank you, Tina.”
She turned the Doppler scope off and reached for a tissue to wipe away the gel. He took the equipment back to the cabinet. Tina stared at the tissue in her hand. “Clive, can I ask you... I don't know if this is taboo or not... but will you tell me... how it happened?” she asked.
He glanced back at her, puzzled.
She straightened her clothing and struggled for courage to ask again. “How did you become a werewolf?”
His head shook in a reflexive jerk as he moved to the room's window. She wished she hadn’t asked.
“Stupid.” He muttered it, and she strained to make sense of the word.
“Please. I need to know.”
He swallowed hard, but didn't turn to look at her. “I was fourteen.” His voice was filled with loathing. “You know how boys are. Always having to prove they're tougher or stronger.” He went silent and she waited. “Kids never think the bad thing will happen to them,” he said at last, speaking to the window. “They think they can run fast enough, or jump high enough to beat it. I was with some friends. That's all it was.” His bitterness slapped against her. “I threw my life away for a dare.”
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