Zander’s touch was tender as he traced Rae’s cheek. He leaned on the rail after a time and gazed out at the western horizon, which was deepening to dark blue. “All right,” he said, voice neutral. “We’ll give it a shot.”
* * *
Vivian McCade was in a private nursing home in Seattle. Eoin drove them there after Miles put in the boat at Port Angeles. Eoin insisted on coming with them, not wanting to let Rae far from his sight. Her injury had hit him hard.
Rae and Eoin hid their Collars under light jackets—the rain that began to fall as they drove into the city was the perfect excuse. There was no disguising the Sword of the Guardian, however, which Rae wouldn’t leave behind. Carson, who was recognized as soon as he walked into the nursing home, said it was an antique they didn’t want to leave in the truck while they visited, which was technically true.
The receptionist only nodded behind her high desk and went back to her computer.
Vivian’s room was large, decorated in pleasant shades of yellow and blue, with a wide window to let in plenty of sunshine, though right now, thin rain was pattering on it. The furniture—soft chairs around a coffee table, a bookcase, and a plant stand—attempted to disguise the fact that this was, in fact, a hospital room. The head of the bed was slightly tilted up so the dark-haired woman resting on it looked comfortable. Machines beeped quietly on the wall behind her and tubes snaked into her body, keeping her alive.
Carson’s expression took on one of love, anguish, and resigned despair as he approached her. On the nightstand was a photo of Vivian and Carson, a duplicate of one Rae had seen on his photo device. The couple smiled at the camera, wrapped around each other, happy.
Zander remained skeptical that he could heal Viv but the fact that he’d volunteered to come and try encouraged Rae. She’d seen how terrible Zander’s pain was after he healed someone, but he did it again and again instead of running away. He’d told her his healing gift had made him a recluse and yet whenever someone needed him, there he was.
Carson closed work-hardened fingers around Vivian’s limp hand as he sat down in a chair beside the bed. “I’ve brought some friends, sweetheart,” he said as though she could hear him—and maybe she could. “This is Rae and Zander, and Rae’s father, Eoin. They’re good people.”
A week or so ago, this man had done his best to capture Rae and Zander and send them to Shifter Bureau. Today he was calling them friends. Funny how things turned out.
Eoin seated himself at the far end of the room. Rae unstrapped the sword and laid it on the table near the bed, out of the way. The thing still was broken and Rae would have to confess that problem very soon.
One thing at a time. Rae stood back as Zander pulled a chair next to the bed, sitting down and taking Vivian’s other hand.
“This might seem weird,” Zander said to Vivian—like Carson, he behaved as though she heard and understood every word. “But I promised Rae I’d try. I have to tell you, when Rae gets under your skin, she stays there. I’ve claimed her as mate and she said yes. I’m still reeling about that.”
“Get on with it,” Rae said softly. Zander had made the claim again, in front of Eoin and the others, before they’d disembarked the boat. None of the Shifters had been very surprised, including Eoin. Shifters always knew when a mating was meant to be.
Zander kept Vivian’s hand in his and spread his other arm across the mattress next to her. He bowed his head, drew a breath, and began his chant.
The prayer to the Goddess, in the old Celtic language, droned in Zander’s deep baritone, filled the room. Rae drew closer to him, listening, the sound releasing all that was tight inside her.
She glanced at the monitors above Vivian’s bed, not knowing what the numbers and lines meant. They beeped softly, unchanging.
Carson watched the monitors too as Zander’s chant went on, Zander’s voice flowing in its strange, low tone. A droplet of sweat beaded on Zander’s face and rolled down the side of his neck.
Carson’s frown deepened as the machines kept on with their monotonous blips. Nothing was happening. No change, good or ill.
Zander continued chanting as the clock on the wall moved to the quarter hour, then the half. Eoin moved restlessly, but he didn’t get up, only watched.
“It’s not working,” Carson snapped.
Zander’s chant cut off. He lifted his head and let out a breath. “I know,” he said, his voice scratchy from use. “I healed a non-Shifter before, but he was full of magic, even more than Shifters. I don’t know if I can help a human. I’m sorry.”
The pain in his voice was heartbreaking. Zander had so much compassion inside him, it must tear him up when he couldn’t heal someone. No wonder he hid out in the middle of nowhere, alone.
“Keep trying,” Rae said softly. “Maybe human metabolisms are slower to respond. Shifters heal pretty fast, you know.”
Zander caught her gaze, the bleakness in his eyes reminding her she’d been pretty far gone herself. Zander’s plea, Don’t leave me, Little Wolf. I love you too fucking much, had reached Rae through her pain and brought her back.
Love you too, Zander, Rae had said, and she’d meant it with all her heart.
She gave him a smile of encouragement. Zander’s mouth turned down, but he bowed his head and began the chant again.
Rae let herself relax under his voice, laying her hand on Zander’s shoulder before she realized she did it. The vibration of his chant came up through her palm, suffusing her with warmth.
Carson continued to hold his wife’s hand, gazing down at her with love and anguish. Under the thrall of Zander’s voice, though, the tightness eased from his face.
Vivian was far gone, Rae sensed. Somehow she knew when Zander touched her hurts, felt it in his body. Under her hand, Zander went rigid and he shivered.
“Dark,” he whispered. “So dark. Alone.”
Rae leaned closer, rubbing his back. “It’s all right, love. I’m here.”
“Stay. Don’t leave me.”
“No.” Rae rested her cheek between his strong shoulders. “I’ll always be here for you. No matter what.”
Zander began whispering again, the words guttural and strange. Rae slid her arms around him, resting her hands on his chest, right over his heart.
Rae felt the magic rushing out of Zander into Vivian’s body and realized after a moment that it was also rushing out of herself. She and Zander were both Goddess-touched, which meant the same magic flowed through each of them, though in different ways.