Chapter 6

“Darien, move out of the way so Vienna can check her.”

Darien looked away from the woman curled into his chest to snarl at Caitlyn.

“Please,” she added softly.

“Vienna has medical training?” Kyran inquired from where he stood at the end of the bed.

Emery got up from the other side of Remi and sent Darien a knowing look. “Vie has all training.” He looked back at Remi’s swollen face. “And she can see inside heads so she can check how Remi really is.”

Dairen exhaled slowly and then held his breath as he lifted her head and gently pulled his arm from beneath it. His wolf was riding him hard. Anxious and angry feelings were swarming inside him. She had to be all right. Any other outcome was not acceptable.

Lowering her head to the pillow, he slowly brushed the hair back from her face. Her cheek was red, and down into her jaw, a deep purple. Her mouth was swollen. “Her jaw could be fractured,” he said more to himself than anyone in the room.

“Let me take a look, Darien. Nadine will be here shortly.”

He looked over his shoulder at Vienna. “You called Nadine?”

Vie flipped her hair behind her shoulder and nodded. “She might be able to do something. I can only look inside. Healing is not my thing.”

Clenching his jaw, he sighed. Even his wolf understood that they needed to get near her to help her. “Okay.” He moved back hesitantly, afraid he might jar her. Emery still stood on the other side of the bed. Hating how he felt, he sent the young vampire a quick look. “Just,” he sighed again, “just please… no males... I’m…” He closed his eyes and clamped down on his emotions. “I’m struggling.”

“It’s okay, Dare,” Cait spoke from behind him. “We get it. Just move back so we can look after her.”

Afraid to say anything else, he sat up. Before he could change his mind, Darien got up off the bed and stepped three feet away from it.

Pascal pushed off from the wall where he’d been leaning and stood in front of him. Darien recognized the stance of a warrior coiled and ready. It made him feel more at ease, knowing that the large vampire would stop him from doing anything stupid.

“We’ll find out who did this to her,” Pascal told him in a quiet, his tone lethal.

Darien clenched his jaw and nodded.

Emery and Kyran were both standing as far from the bed as they possibly could without leaving the room. Flexing his hands to relax his fists, he focused hard. It took every ounce of willpower he could find to stay where he was as Vienna ran her hands over Remi’s body and face.

Cait sat on the bed watching. He could see she was shaking and close to tears, but if he moved to comfort her, he’d just end up pulling Remi back into his arms.

Attis came into the room unannounced, and Darien turned and growled a low warning.

He stopped and raised his hands. “I won’t go near her.”

Taking a deep breath, Darien forced his wolf to calm again. “Anything?” His voice was deep, the tone hinting at the wolf near the surface. He knew he had a mouthful of fangs, but there was no one present that hadn’t seen them before. He glanced at Kyran, who stood where he was, hands in his pockets, a serious expression on his face. He didn’t seem to care if his fangs were showing.

“I couldn’t find a thing,” Attis finally said, his voice filled with doubt. “I followed the scent of the normals that were making out along the bank but couldn’t find a trace of anyone near the tree but Remi.” He looked at Pascal for a moment. “I don’t understand why I can’t pick up the scent. Any scent at all.”

Darien swore softly under his breath. He’d never known a trail Attis couldn’t pick up. Judging by the look passing between the two old vampires, they hadn’t either. Rubbing the back of his neck, he closed his eyes and hung his head. His wolf was not happy to not see Remi. Opened them to look at her lying on the bed. She looked so pale and fragile. He looked back over Kyran. “You need to find out who did this.”

Kyran studied him for a moment. “I know.” He looked to Attis. “If Attis can’t find a trail though, I’m not sure what I can do.” Motioning toward Remi, he held Darien’s stare again. “Hopefully, Remi can tell us more when she comes to.”

“I got here as fast as I could.” Nadine came rushing into the bedroom. “What happened?”

Cait jumped up. “Someone attacked Remi by the river. They were smacking her head off the tree when Darien got to them.”

With wide eyes, Nadine looked at him. “Are they alive?”

A low growl came from deep in his chest. “They got away.”

“And I can’t find a trace of them,” Attis added, stepping in front of her. “It’s got to be some kind of magic.”

Nadine nodded. “If they’re cloaked from you, then yes, it is.” She turned and looked at Remi on the bed. “Oh my god.” Moving over to stand behind Vienna, she looked down at Remi. “Look at her face. Is anything broken?”

Vie dropped her hands into her lap. “Not that I can sense. Her head’s fairly clear, so I don’t think it’s too serious.”

“I don’t want to give her any blood without her being awake. I honestly don’t know how it’s going to work in her system.” Pascal’s voice was quiet and strained.

Nadine bit her bottom lip and nodded. “I agree. She needs to be awake the first time she tries that.” Finally, looking up from Remi, she gave Darien a soft look. “I can’t do much. Maybe try a little spell to make her more comfortable.”

“Can’t you just make her face better?” Kyran crossed his arms and looked from her to Remi.

Darien raised both eyebrows and looked over at him.

Nadine snorted. “You’ve been watching too many cartoon movies, Detective. Real magic doesn’t work like that.”

Lifting a hand in Kyran’s direction so he wouldn’t reply, Darien moved closer to Remi. He didn’t know how much longer he could be this far from her. “Do what you can, Naddy.”

Nadine nodded. “Who is working if you’re all up here?”

Pascal blew out a breath. “I suppose Attis, Vie and I had better go back down. Who knows what mayhem is possible with two wolfs, a nymph and Finn running the show.”

Emery straightened like he was going to go with them.

“You stay.” Darien said giving him a narrow-eyed look. “I want you where I can keep an eye on you.”

“I was just…”

“Going to slip out the back the first chance you got,” Pascal said, sounding bored.

Darien glanced at Pascal out of the corner of his eye, thankful he’d confirmed his suspicions. Looking back at Emery, he titled his head. “Remi would skin me alive if anything happens to you.” He pointed to the other side of the bed. “So, you stay until she’s awake again.”

Emery watched the other three leave the room and then shrugged. “Fine by me.” He moved over and sat on the edge of the bed looking down at the woman he considered his mother.

Rubbing a hand over his face, Darien exhaled loudly and watched Nadine holding her hands over Remi’s face and talking softly. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep my distance.” He said it quietly, hoping all in the room would take it as a warning.

Cait came up to him and rested her head on his shoulder, her warm hand on his arm. “You can hold her again in a few minutes, Dare. No one is going to stop you.”

Nodding, he wrapped his arm around her and squeezed her into his side.

“I sometimes forget that she’s not a para or invincible,” she whispered, sounding small. The truth of her words made his heart ache.

Emery snorted and looked over at his sister. “Well, she’s not a regular normal. How do we know she’s not immortal or unstoppable?”

Darien looked at him for a moment. It was true. They all knew it was. Deep down, he knew that Remi knew she wasn’t just a plain, garden-variety human. She liked to believe Doyle was the reason she could read people and know if they were paras or normals. He suspected that wasn’t the case at all. There was a part of Remi that was awakened after Doyle passed away. For whatever reason he didn’t know, he’d never looked beyond who Remi was. He liked everything about her, even when they were butting heads.

“Should we try to wake her every few minutes?”

Emery’s voice brought him back to the present.

“Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?”

Darien glanced at him and then looked to Vienna. She nodded.

“As long as you can get some sort of response from her, I think she’ll be okay.” She shrugged. “Right now, her body is in what-the-fuck stage and just doing some regrouping.”

Nadine sighed loudly and stood up. “I’ve tried to boost her own natural healing mechanisms.”

“But nothing else can be done until she’s awake?” Cait asked quietly.

“I’m afraid not.” Nadine sighed and looked down at Remi. “Why would someone attack her?”

Darien’s heart started pounding again as he looked at her. Her face was so swollen. Her neck had red welts on it in the shape of a hand. He clenched his jaw and fought his wolf’s desire to kill at the thought of someone touching her.

“Shouldn’t you take her to the hospital?” Kyran moved over to stand beside him.

A warning growl emitted from Darien’s throat was the only warning anyone had. Before he could clamp down on the beast, he had Kyran by the throat and pressed against the wall. “Why don’t you find out who did this?” His voice was deep and rasping as he spoke around a mouth full of sharp teeth.

“Whoa.” Emery grabbed his wrist and tried to pull the hand on Kyran’s throat off.

Darien could feel the strength he was using, trying to get his arm to move.

“What the…” Finn appeared on the other side of him and got in his face. “Dare, let go of the human cop.” He said it slowly as he pushed his body between them, forcing Darien to back up.

He knew his clawed hand was around the man’s throat and fought to get his beast under control.

“Come on, big guy,” Finn’s voice was soft and steady. In the back of his mind, Darien knew he was trying to use his thrall on him, but his wolf was immune. “Remi will be seriously pissed with you if you crush a human’s throat in her bedroom.”

Blinking, Darien looked at him. The only sound that could be heard was the rapid breathing of his wolf side.

“Dare…”

The rasp of Remi’s voice had him opening his hand. Kyran slid down the wall as he spun to Remi. She’d said his name. He moved over to the bed and sat, leaning over her. “I’m here, sweetheart.” Sliding onto the bed, he pulled her into his arms and looked down at her swollen face. Her eyes were still closed, but he could tell by the tension in her face that she was in pain. “We need another ice pack,” he said, his voice cracking. He didn’t look away to see if anyone heard him.

“I’ll go,” Cait said and rushed out.

Darien gently brushed the hair back from Remi’s face and then looked up. Kyran was standing against the wall, and Nadine was checking his throat. “Sorry.” Darien sighed. “I’m walking a thin line right now.”

Kyran nodded abruptly but didn’t reply.

Emery looked from Remi to Darien and then turned to Kyran. “Rem’s his mate.” He said it slowly, enunciating mate with flare. “Only she doesn’t know.”

Kyran’s eyes changed, an understanding entering them. “Sorry,” he croaked and then swallowed with a wince.

Exhaling slowly, Darien forced his body to relax and then really noticed Finn. The lanky vampire was staring at Remi, a look of pain almost on his face. “Why are you up here, Finn?”

Finn’s eyes snapped to him, “We’re shutting things down early.” He glanced at everyone in the room. “Attis and Pascal want to go see if they can track the guy.”

Remi moved into Darien’s hold with a moan of discomfort. He looked down at her and nodded without looking up again. “Make sure Nadine and everyone gets home safely.”

Cait came back in with the ice pack and handed it to him. Her eyes were filled with worry.

Placing the pack lightly against the swelling on his love’s face, Darien cleared his throat and glanced up at her. “Can you make Kyran some herbal tea?”

Hugging her waist, she nodded. “Yeah.” Turning, she motioned to Kyran. “Come out to the kitchen.

With an apologetic look on his face, Kyran straightened from the wall and started for the door. He paused and looked back at Remi. “I’m going to stay until she comes to.” Not waiting for a reply, he walked out.

Vienna cleared her throat. “I’m going back down to help with clean up.”

“Thanks,” Darien mumbled but didn’t look away from the woman in his arms.

“I’ll see you in the morning.” Nadine’s voice was soft and fading as she walked out of the room.

He moved the ice pack down to her jaw, his eyes roaming over every inch of her face. “Come on, Álainn, open those pretty eyes and look at me,” he whispered, lowering his head to kiss her gently on the temple.