She shook her head over and over again. It would never be okay again. How had such abominations crept into this world with no one the wiser? She curled into a ball and wept.
"Take her upstairs, Darian; whatever she has to say can wait," she heard Aiden say.
"No! It can't wait." She turned her head and looked up at the Unit Commander. "They were souls, actual souls. They were trapped in the terrifying moment of their murder. Each bead in that necklace was a person!" she cried.
The sound of soft weeping filled the room. The men did everything they could to comfort their mates. Keelan, the only one without a crying mate, by default was the one to call Byron and explain what they had learned.
Amelia lay passively on the floor in Darian's arms. She wanted to cry. She wanted to rail against Fate for allowing such a thing to happen, but she was out of tears. She looked up. "My head hurts," she whispered.
"Rheia?" Darian called.
Rheia looked down and gave Amelia a weak smile. Rheia's eyes and nose were red from crying. "On a scale of one to ten, how bad is it?"
"Thirty. It's a migraine starting." Amelia kept her eyes closed against the light.
"Shit. I don't have anything for migraines at the clinic; paranormals don't get them. I can write a prescription if someone can pick it up," Rheia offered.
Darian kissed Amelia's forehead. "I'll go. If I remember correctly, the Duck In has a large medical counter."
Amelia smiled slightly. "Pharmacies. They're called pharmacies."
"If you're going to the store, can you pick up some chocolate?" Beth asked in a small voice.
"And jalapeño Cheetos?" Meryn asked sniffling.
"Let's put the women to bed and head out," Aiden said, standing with Meryn in his arms.
Keelan joined them. "I'd actually rather go to that wretched human store than answer any more council questions. René Evreux is a world class dick."
"Then it's settled. We meet in the foyer in ten minutes." Aiden left the room with Meryn.
Darian stood, scooping Amelia up, and followed his commander up the stairs. He opened the door to his room, and the smell of the night flowers immediately began to ease some of the pain. He gently tucked her into bed.
"Is there anything else that you need?" he asked, smoothing her hair away from her face.
"Chocolate, please. For when I feel better" She peeled her eyes open and smiled at him.
"Of course. I have heard about the magic of human chocolate. I will return with a selection for you," he promised.
"Hurry back."
"Always."
When the door shut behind him, Amelia closed her eyes and stopped fighting to stay awake. She was too tired to face their new reality with Darian gone.
CHAPTER TEN
Darian and the men sat in the SUV for a few minutes letting the new information sink in. After a few minutes, Aiden started the car and pulled out of their driveway.
"What's a migraine?" Colton asked, turning to him.
"It has to be bad, Amelia rated it a thirty on a pain scale of one to ten," Darian replied. He hated leaving her when she was in so much pain, but the only place that had her medicine was the human store.
"Keelan," Aiden barked.
Keelan sighed and pulled out his phone. He tapped his screen several times. "It says here that exact causes are unknown, but migraine headaches can cause severe pain, sensitivity to light and sound, eye pain, nausea, and vomiting." Keelan swallowed. "They sound awful. Amelia may be half witch, but she's also half human and susceptible to these things. It says here stress is a contributing factor."
Darian felt ill. His poor mate! How could she survive such a thing?
"Aiden..."
Aiden nodded and looked at him in the rear view mirror. "We'll be there soon. I know you're anxious to get back. I felt the same way when I knew Meryn was having her cycle. It killed me knowing she was lying at home alone with her womb turning inside out, but like before, we have to get what Amelia needs to overcome this."
Colton shook his head. "I can't believe your mate is a psychologist. I thought she was a bubbly, air-headed version of Meryn. I don't think I could do what she did. She's kinda amazing."
Pride for his mate welled up in him. "She is, isn't she?" Darian found himself once again realizing that his mate deserved so much more than what he had to offer. Nevertheless, he would keep his promise to her and try to stay in the light for as long as he could. It was the least he could do for such a selfless creature.
None too soon they were pulling into the parking lot of the Duck In.
"Weapons?" Keelan asked.
Aiden nodded. "But keep them small. Bart told me that we make the other humans nervous when we're visibly armed."
Gavriel smiled. "It makes sense, we are already much larger than the average human. Even without weapons, I believe we are intimidating."
They got out of the car and checked their sidearms before heading into the store.
"Aiden m'boy! What has you gentlemen out today?" Bart called from behind he counter.
They walked up to the older man. Darian stepped forward. "I have need of your medical counter. My mate is having migraines and our doctor gave me this to get her medicine." He held up the prescription that Rheia had given him.
Bart lowered his glasses onto his nose and took the piece of paper. "Real sorry to hear about your woman. Come with me boys. I'll show you where the pharmacy is." Bart stepped out from behind his counter and slowly made his way to the back of the store.