Preston snorted. “Didn’t really need me, did you.”
“Sure, we did. I didn’t know about the portals. And you can help track where he actually is, right?”
He nodded. “Let’s do this.”
* * * *
Emily couldn’t think about the fact Christian was her son, the boy she didn’t do enough for. For now, he was a patient, all he could be, if she was going to concentrate long enough to fix him. Guilt couldn’t play a part. That emotion would only lead her to make mistakes. She ran her hands over his body, searching for any magic.
Other than Fallon’s protective wards, and his own natural shields, she found nothing. The shields were problematic… a mystic’s shields that made her question everything. She drew a deep breath and applied pressure to the right chakra points to stop his magic from flowing. It was very temporary, but she only needed a few moments to heal puncture wounds.
Wasting no time, she pulled the dagger out of his shoulder and pressed a finger into the wound. Deep, but clean. She felt around, looking with her diagnosing sight and healed the tissue as she removed her finger from the wound, sealing the cut.
A tear escaped as she pulled the second blade from low in his abdomen. Her extra vision allowed her to find damage to his intestines. She cut the hole wider and pushed her fingers into the soft tissue to poke around. The damage healed as her skin came into contact, and she pulled her fingers from the now gaping wound.
Emily sealed the incision, making him whole once again. As soon as the task was complete, she stripped his bloodied clothes off to make sure she hadn’t missed anything. The lump on Christian’s head was easy to fix.
Cleaning him up took moments. Finally, she dressed him in scrubs and unblocked the chakra points.
His eyes flipped open as he sat up, his hands rising, gold light glowing from his palms and dancing off his fingertips.
“It’s okay. You’re fine now.”
Turning his head, he blinked slowly. “Mom?”
She smiled softly. “Yeah. I’m here.”
“How’d I get here? There was an explosion, then falling, and pain. Don’t remember why, but it hurt—bad.”
“Explosion?”
He frowned. “Yeah. Called Robert seconds before.”
She nodded. “He’s good like that. He must have found you and brought you here, knowing I could fix you. Robert didn’t stay long because he had to go get Tremaine. Not sure what happened, but I’m hoping they come back soon. I have questions.”
“Figured he was the better person to call. Sorry.” Christian held his mother’s hand.
A laugh escaped. “He was the right person.”
Christian gripped her hand. “How bad was it? I feel your worry.”
“Bad. You showed up with two knives still embedded in flesh, some internal damage, and a concussion.”
One corner of his mouth tipped up. “Well, you do a damned fine job healing. I feel great.”
Chapter 25
Fear paralyzed Robert. He stared at the woman who’d held his heart and kept it captive his whole life. The other half of his soul was out there dying, and he couldn’t get the courage to delve into Liz’s head to find Tremaine.
It wasn’t often he entered her mind. She naturally shielded in such a way he never made much progress. That’s why he had practiced on Preston for years. Then again, with her start in life, he was glad he never had reason to dig too deep. She’d been through so much, he didn’t want to make her relive any of it.
“What are you waiting for?” she demanded.
Robert closed his eyes. “You have to open your mind so Preston and I can follow the trail.”
“I’m ready. Let’s do it.” She grabbed his hand, placing it on her forehead.
Preston sighed and touched them both.
Bracing himself, Robert dove in but only saw the turquoise stone she rubbed with her thumb. “Come on, baby, where are you?” Liz whispered.
Tears burned his eyes.
“Got it.” Preston tugged their astral forms through dimensions, tracking Tremaine’s essence with Robert’s help. Colors warped, the scenery morphing from one thing to another as everything blurred from the speed of the process.
In the vision, they came to a stop beside Tremaine, who lay on the ground, writhing in pain. His shirt was torn open, revealing the burned and blistered wound on his chest. Ragged and incoherent sounds filled the air.
Liz turned in a complete circle. Robert tore his eyes away to slowly take in the scenery. Jagged trees surrounded the forest beyond. An unearthly howl rent the air.
“How do we reach him?” she whispered.
Robert shook his head. “I don’t know how to get there.”
She jerked away, and they were all back in the cavern. Spinning, she pinned Robert with a glare. “You were in his head. You saw how to get there.”
“Doesn’t work like that,” Robert insisted.
Her eyes narrowed. “Fine. We’ll do it my way and hope to hell I know what the fuck I’m doing.”
She took a breath and chanted. Blues and purples swirled from nothing directly before her, opening up and spreading out in front of them, then arcing around to create a ring showing Tremaine in the field they’d seen.
Once again, Robert could see Tremaine beyond the spell.
As soon as the ring fused together, Liz grabbed Robert. “Take us. Old Lady Murdock said you had to take us.”
Robert touched Preston’s arm, and they were there, standing over Tremaine, in obvious agony, making noises that tore at Robert’s heart.
Liz fell to her knees and ripped Tremaine’s Henley shirt down the front. The burn was bad, sealing a new scar that must have been the dagger she’d seen in the vision.
Light shone off the blade. Liz picked it up by the handle, turning it around, studying details. “Fae. Fire, shit!”
She tossed the blade aside and covered the wound.
Robert took her hand. “Don’t take it on yourself. This isn’t something you can purge like the last time.”
“Don’t have to. We learned about this curse. I can pull it out and get rid of it.”
“How?”
“Send it somewhere else. Trust me, Robert.”
“I’m sorry, Liz. I’m so damned sorry.”
“Stop it.”
“I told you not to come. I should have—”
She slapped him, knocking his head to the side. “Shut the fuck up and don’t try to stop me.” She eyed Preston. “Hold him back. Knock his ass out if he tries to interfere.”
Preston pulled his friend to his feet and dragged him away. Robert tried to yank free, but Preston clamped his hand around his throat. “Let her do her thing.”
“What if I lose them all?”
“Chill out, dude.”
Robert shook his head, watching Liz as she knelt beside Tremaine. “I can’t lose all of them.”
Preston shook his head. “Remember when she healed you and took the curse?”
He nodded, but couldn’t tear his eyes away from Tremaine. Losing him would be bad enough, but if Liz couldn’t contain the curse, she’d be dead too.
“Robert, she needed Tremaine’s help to heal you. She used his energy. The three of you are tied together. She may need you, and she’s too damned stubborn to ask. So calm the fuck down so you can help save him when it’s time.”
Robert nodded. Hope sparked as Liz cupped her hands over the wound and began chanting. Sweat beaded on her brow, and her eyes glowed. Tremaine curled toward her, screaming out in agony as he gripped her leg.
Tears trailed down Robert’s face. “Can’t lose them.”
“Then help her. All Tremaine did was touch her, and she channeled his energy.”
“But he’s the same as her.”
“Doesn’t matter. Those books say they can channel from anyone. So help her.”
Robert crossed the distance and knelt beside Liz. He put an arm around her and placed a hand on Tremaine’s thigh. “Whatever you n
eed, take from me,” he whispered around the lump in his throat.
* * * *
Seventy-three years ago, two weeks later…
A scream pulled Tremaine from sleep. He rolled to his knees, finding Elizandra huddled in his jacket in the sleeping bag he’d procured after leaving Sinclair’s estate.
The pained sound of her voice tore at his soul. He wanted to take away the fear but didn’t know how, and the thought of how he found her threatened to bring on a rage he couldn’t squelch. So young, innocent. He doubted she’d ever smiled.
From the moment he heard her terrified scream, he knew he’d do anything to protect her. So much strength in the slight frame. She clutched her emotions tight inside, much like he had throughout his life.
Hell, Tremaine didn’t even know how to comfort his own pain and fears. It was why he decided his closest friend would be better suited to take her in. Wilhelm would protect her while allowing Tremaine to watch over her from outside the family unit.
Another ragged scream filled the air.
Tremaine scooted closer, within reach, but didn’t move to touch her. After the way he had found her, he swore he wouldn’t touch Elizandra in such a way. He forced his hand to the ground instead, pain racing through his body again. He’d rescued her from Sinclair’s flaming house. His own burns were healing, but his skin was still tender.
Sitting against a boulder, he settled in to watch over Elizandra. He sang a soft song, one he’d heard as a child. Not from his mother, but someone else. He couldn’t remember her face, but the song always brought him peace.
Liz, as she preferred to be called, settled, pulling the jacket he gave her tighter. He smiled as she stilled and fell into a peaceful sleep. It warmed his heart to know he brought her some comfort.
Given the same choice, he’d endure the fire again to ensure she lived. Tremaine vowed to take her to a better life.
* * * *
The liquid lava churning through his veins cooled, the pain dulled. Air finally filled his lungs as cold droplets splattered on his face. Light flashed so brightly, he could see it through his closed lids. Thunder rolled and hurt his ears.
Liz’s melodic voice eased his nerves when her chanting turned to a song that had brought him comfort as a child, and later, eased her nightmares. A smile curled his lips as strong arms pulled him up against a chest. “Trem, talk to us,” Robert pleaded.
“I’m here.” He pried his eyes open, and Liz locked gazes with Robert.
She reached out to brush Tremaine’s hair off his face. “Had us worried. You promised you’d be back.” He didn’t miss the spark of rage in her hazel eyes.
Tremaine wrapped her in his arms and leaned back against Robert. Stroking her back, he whispered, “You came. You were supposed to stay safe.”
She growled, leaning up to glare at him. “Stay? You let Jules take you. I had to show him what happens to assholes who mess with my men.”
“Did he hurt you?”
Robert shook his head slowly. “He told her you didn’t have much time. She lost it, giving him no chance to counter anything she did. Though what she did was unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
Tremaine turned his head. “I should have known that bastard was ready for me.”
“Doesn’t matter, we got you back,” Robert told him, reaching over to squeeze Liz’s arm. “We needed all of us.”
Preston cleared his throat. “Before you all get lovey-dovey over there, how about getting us out of here? It’s really coming down right about now, and I don’t know about you, but the environment is starting to freak me out. Are those trees moving? Looks like some fucked up anime in there.”
Liz sat up, then stood, scanning the tree line that wasn’t far enough away to make Tremaine comfortable.
Tremaine got to his feet too fast, grabbing onto Liz’s shoulder as the world swayed. “Okay, still dizzy.”
“Soon as we get back, Emily can take care of the stuff I don’t know how to fix. Which is probably most of it.”
He shook his head. “The curse sapped my energy. Not much you can do about that. Just need rest, which isn’t happening here.” He caught a glimpse of something in the forest and watched vines winding toward the meadow. “Fuck yeah, can’t go to the trees for shelter.”
“Think we can translocate out?” Liz asked.
Robert jumped back into the conversation. “I can take us straight to Emily so she can check you out before we go back to see Old Lady Murdock and Draecyn.”
“Do it.”
Robert put his arm around them, and Preston placed a hand on his back. They appeared outside Emily’s room in the clinic.
He winced. “Um, give me a moment. Christian was in bad shape. If there was a curse involved—I really should have checked him more carefully.”
Robert knocked gently.
A few seconds later, Emily opened the door with her lips pursed. “What happened?”
“Christian okay?” Tremaine asked.
Her eyes widened. “What happened? I see no wound, but there’s blood and you smell like charred skin.”
Tremaine glanced down at his bare chest and blood-streaked skin. “Yeah, uh… stabbed with a cursed blade.”
Her brow arched. “You’re healed.”
Liz snorted. “Yeah, but we both know I’m not much of a healer. Apparently, I do a better job for these two.” She tipped her head toward Robert and Tremaine. “He’s dizzy, though. I don’t know what I’m doing on the inside. Might be extra damage. He’s lightheaded.”
Emily grabbed Tremaine’s arm and led him into an exam room. “Sit,” she demanded.
He plopped into the chair, relieved the spinning started to slow down.
“You did good work, Liz. You are better at this than you think.”
Preston snorted. “Trust me, she’s better with these two. She’s managed to close my wounds a few times, but nothing like that. Tremaine had cauterized the wound before we got there, but Liz pulled a curse from him, then sealed the wound and healed the obvious damage.”
Emily focused, looking at all the tissue. Nothing seemed to be wrong. “Blood loss is the only issue. I can’t do a lot for that but give you a potion that will regenerate it faster than I could with magic. Rest will help. Other than that, you should be fine in a day or two. Wait a minute. I’ll get that potion.”
* * * *
Emily slipped through the door, pulling Liz with her. “You okay? The baby? Do they know?”
Liz laughed. “I’m fine. Baby’s fine. They know. Tremaine figured it out, but he always figures it out early. Hell, I think I do too, but I never gave it much thought, maybe because I didn’t realize it was so easy for me.”
“And Robert? He was obviously crying.”
“Tremaine was in bad shape. The curse must have hurt like a bitch.” Her eyes slid closed as she shook her head. “Scared the hell out of me. Look, there’s a lot of stuff we need to talk to you about, but not here. Maybe tonight. Soon.”
Emily agreed with a nod.
“Bring Clint and Christian. Delilah, too, if she wants.”
“Of course.”
“And Christian’s fine? No curse?” Liz asked.
“No curse. He was easy to heal. Go back to your men. I’ll get the potion, and you three can go home, or to the cabin. Whatever makes you most comfortable.”
“Thank you,” she hugged Emily before slipping back through the door.
Robert pulled her into his arms. “I should have been the one to stop Jules. If he had hurt you, or the baby—”
She slammed her mouth over his, thrusting her tongue into his mouth, not wanting to hear the what-ifs. When she pulled back, she stared into his dusky blue eyes. “Don’t you dare tell me that shit. We did what we needed to do. Though at some point we need to talk to Ms. Murdock and Draecyn and find out what they know. I have a feeling this isn’t over.”
“You really killed Jules?” Tremaine asked. “For good?”
“When she realized he was part f
ire fae, she channeled water into his mouth, pushing electricity,” Robert answered.
“Don’t forget the part where she froze him into a giant Popsicle,” Preston added.
“Robert shattered him. He stomped on him. Then Preston made sure the rest was ash. So really, we all had a hand in ending him.”
Tremaine shook his head. “That’s how he survived. He came back. Bastard’s a damned phoenix. Though you destroyed him?”
“We did.”
“Only way to truly kill a phoenix is to really and truly destroy the body.
Emily rejoined them with a potion she handed to Tremaine. “Drink it all.”
“Thanks, Emily.”
“Don’t mention it. If it weren’t for you all, my son wouldn’t be here.”
Robert pulled his sister into a hug. “I’m glad he’s all right.”
“Can you tell me what happened?”
Robert shrugged.
Liz shook her head, grabbing his arm. “Tonight, we’ll tell you everything, but not here.”
Her brow wrinkled, but she nodded.
“Christian should come with us,” Liz told her.
Emily frowned. “Is that really necessary? I don’t want to leave his side for more than a few minutes.”
Robert asked, “Do you have any other patients to attend to today? If not, you could come with us.”
“Great idea. I had finished with my last appointment shortly before you arrived.”
“Be right back.” Robert took Tremaine and Liz away in a blink and returned for Emily, Preston, and Christian.
When he landed back in the cabin, he focused on Liz. “Do you have anything against Ms. Murdock and Draecyn coming here?”
She surprised him by shaking her head. “Nope. If it’s safe, that’s easier than us all going to them.”
* * * *
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