Chapter 24

“I can’t believe you don’t even have a bruise.” Daxx said over her shoulder.

I caught up to Daxx as she went around the corner of the cell. She stopped suddenly as Troy walked by us going the other direction.

“Troy?”

He kept going. She watched him for a moment, then hurried in the direction we'd been going.

When we stepped into the area outside the cell Nathas had been in, the others were all there. Kara stood in the center shaking her head.

“What happened?” Daxx asked. 

I looked at the wall to the cell, but no one was visible.

Chase stared at it. “It’s not him.” He said quietly without looking away from the wall.

“That’s not Willis Hubert?” Daxx demanded loudly.

“Oh, its him.” Rafael answered.

“Then...” she looked at a few others, “what do you mean it’s not him?”

Quinton crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s not him running the show, Daxx.” He looked at her, “Arwan’s plan, Willis was only brought in to recruit.”

I felt anger, almost rage. I knew it wasn't my own and looked at him. His brown eyes were already watching me. He'd intended to share that.

“He,” Daxx’s mouth dropped open, she turned to Kara, “you're sure?” She looked at Arius, “Troy saw it?”

Arius nodded.

“I didn't see it.” Crissy said with disappointment in her voice 

“Even you, my heart could not have seen this coming.” Victor told her as he put his arm around her.

Daxx shook her head and went over to a panel and did something on it. The wall revealed an older rounded man. She hadn't made it so we could hear him, but sound wasn't required as he was in the center of the cell, doubled over laughing hysterically.

“Damn.” Daxx whispered, then changed the wall again. “Two hours.” She said bluntly. “Two hours and we go to the asylum.” She nodded and started walking quickly from the room, “I've had enough fail for today.”

~

Everyone had left to go about whatever they needed to do until it was time to go over to the asylum. I had nothing to do. It took ten minutes to realize I wasn't able to rest in my room. My mind was going at top speed and with the flurry of thoughts came energy I couldn't contain.  I tried the stairs at the palace, running up and down them. Anyone who saw me gave me the kind of look you'd give a lunatic.

I ported to the girl’s office in the chambers, then decided the only thing I could do was run off the thoughts threatening to consume me.

 “Reagan?” Quinton called after me.

I stopped and wiped the sweat off my forehead.

“What’s wrong?” He closed the difference between us.

I swallowed, trying to catch my breath. “Running off some,” I flipped my hand in the air, “energies.”

“Energies?” He gave me an odd look.

“Yes. Anger, frustration, annoyance...”

“Those are feelings.” He put his hands on his hips.

I nodded. “Yes, they are giving me all the wrong kind of energies.”

His look changed to concern. “What’s happened?”

I debated on hitting him. Actually, raising my hand and hitting him as hard as I could. “What’s happened?” I scowled at him. “You're irreparable, I'm in Alterealm trying to help find a madman’s pet mage before they take over the world,” I paused, “worlds. I can't go outside and breathe fresh air without a guard and people are calling me princess and practically bowing to me.”

He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced down the hallway, “they’re calling you that because you're wearing a royal family amulet.” He lowered his voice even though the hall was empty, “you are a princess.”

Putting my hands on my hips, I stared at him, “I am not.” I lifted the pendant and then let it drop again, “we are not married, or mated or anything, Quinton. I may be your intended mate, but I'm fairly certain a single kiss doesn't seal the deal.”

He looked like he wanted to smirk, but then sobered quickly. “We can't.” A haunted expression came over his face, “I can't.” Shaking his head, he stepped closer and leaned down so there was barely air between us. “To bind you to me as my mate would cause you too much pain.” Lifting his head, a look of resolve filled his eyes, “I'm dying, leaving a mate behind is condemning them to madness and grief.” His gaze moved over my face. “I won't do that to you.”

“And that's it. End of discussion? I'm supposed to bow my head and accept it?” I was charged again and would need to run longer I decided.

“I can't change it. I'm sorry.” He started to reach toward my face, then dropped his hand and shoved it in his pocket. “We're going over to the asylum in an hour. You should save some energy.”

I nodded. “I'm aware of the plan. I'll be ready.” I backed up a few steps, watching him, waiting for him to say more. It was obvious he wouldn’t, I turned around and started jogging again. 

“Anyone see anything?" Leone sounded anxious.

“There are no doors or entrances that are for a basement.” Paisley said.

“And you ladies thought we were just slacking.” Rafael chuffed.

“Not slacking,” Kara said, “you should have brought Reagan though.”

“Then we wouldn't have gotten bored enough to port all over Alterealm and find the cave.” Bethany said.

“I see nothing from up here.” Crissy said.

“Where are you?” That was Daxx.

“I climbed a tree.” Crissy stated, “I wanted to see if I could see something from up here.”

“Cristy, come down.” Victor said quietly.

“Oh hi, Vic.” Crissy said, “I'll be right down.”

“Reagan, have you checked the whole exterior?” Arius asked.

I stood back and looked at the back of the building. “Quinton and I have walked all around it, there's no haze that I can see.”

“Let’s expand the search area.” Victor said.

“I agree.” Chase said quickly.

“Maybe it's inside the building.” Bethany motioned to Leone for them to start walking to the left.

Quinton and I watched them walk away. He started going in the other direction, I followed. We were walking into a forested area.

“It would be too complicated for them to come and go.” Troy stated, “We already discussed that possibility with Lucina and Alodia confirmed it.”

“Alodia?” Daxx asked.

“The nurse, other nurse we have on the inside.” Chase answered.

“Maybe there's a marker or something.” Paisley mused, “like the stone arch in the wasteland.”

“Anything could be a marker.” Alona said softly.

Quinton and I looked at each other for a second, then to the trees. “There's a lot of trees here, it could be one in hundreds.” He told them.

“Just shout if you see something you think I should look at.” I told everyone. We were about three feet into the treed area when I glanced down at the ground. I had an idea. It had been several decades since I'd had to track anything, but even in a modern age, the basics would still be the same. I glanced up at Quinton, who frowned down at me for a moment. I motioned to the footprint in the damp soil.

He nodded and we continued walking. “Look for worn paths too.” He said into the mic.

The path we were following was worn enough that the grass was trampled. I glanced around, still not seeing any haze. We kept going. We stepped out of a thick area of growth to a small clearing. There was a faint green haze. I nodded to Quinton.

His expression changed to serious. “We may have found something.” He whispered.

“What's your location?” Troy asked.

“Back of the building, walk into the trees,” I whispered as I paused and looked around to see if the haze was in the whole clearing, “you'll see a path where the grass is trampled.”

“You a tracker too?” Leone asked breathlessly.

I smirked. “There weren’t always fast-food restaurants.”

Quinton chuckled softly.

“You used to hunt?” Bethany asked 

“I did. Kept my mother and I fed for a few decades.” The haze was getting thicker. 

“I couldn't hunt.” Crissy said.

“Only hunting I'll ever do again is in a supermarket.” Alona said, “oh wait, no I won't I'm a queen.”

“Found the path.”  Daxx said sounded pleased.

I turned to ask Quinton if we should wait and he wasn't beside me. I turned in a complete circle. “Quinton?”

“What did he do now?” Rafael asked.

“He's gone.” I turned slowly, trying to see if the haze was thicker in this area. I spotted a stone. There was green haze over it. “The stone.” I said and went over to it. I looked to my left then right, nothing. I pulled the surujin out, not feeling comfortable with the situation 

“Reagan stay where you are.” Emil said, sounding like he was running. 

I nodded, as I lifted my foot to lightly tap the stone, thinking it could open or trigger something.

~

I struggled to sit up. My head was pounding. My phone ringing helped me to snap out of it. I pushed the earpiece and hoped it answered, because I wasn’t sure if I could function to get my phone out. “Hello.”

“Reagan. Where are you?” It was Paisley.

I looked around in the dim light. “I don’t know.”

“Is Quinton there?” That was Rafael.

“Quinton?” I rolled onto my hands and knees and tried to focus.

“Where are you?” Daxx told me.

I heard grunting and sounds of a struggle. Pushing to my feet, I took a deep breath and then regretted it. The taste of mildew filled my mouth. “I think we’re in the basement.” The grunts and sounds of struggle continued, followed by the sound of metal banging together. “Quinton?” I said as loud as I could. “Oh, it better be you.” I mumbled. Finally standing, I focused to walk toward the sound, feeling for the pouch on my side at the same time. Stopping, I opened it and felt inside it, then I remembered I had just pulled it out when I ended up here. My foot connected with something, I leaned down and felt around. It was a pipe. “It’s so dark in here.”

“Use the flashlight on your phone. Access it the same way as when you check your battery.” Paisley told me.

Nodding, to myself in the dark, I got the phone out of my pocket and turned on the light. Parts of the walls and other items were scattered all over and it looked worse than it smelled. “I think I liked it better dark.” With one hand on my forehead, I held the phone up. “What happened?” The sounds I’d heard had stopped.

“Rea, I’m going to call Quinton’s phone, listen for it.” Leone said.

“Okay.” I stopped where I was and closed my eyes, listening. The faint sound of music echoed. “I hear it.” I listened as I started walking. Reaching a door, I looked in. “Keep it ringing. There are halls and doors down here.” The music continued. I went in the direction it was coming from and then it stopped.

“Hang on.” Leone said.

The ringing started again, I moved faster this time navigating through the rubble and other debris lying on the floor. It was louder when I stuck my head in a door. I shone the light ahead of me and saw him on the floor. “I’ve got him.” I announced to all and hurried to him. Dropping down on the floor, I held the flashlight over his face. He opened his eyes.

“Get him on the call.” Troy said in a harsh tone.

The phone rang again, I patted his pocket and found it and pulled it out, then answered the call.

“Brother?” Troy said in a quiet tone.

“Is everyone else okay?” Quinton panted as he spoke.

“We’re fine.” Arius answered.

I was moving the light up and down his body, when I spotted the blood on the floor. Dropping the phone, I struggled to get the jacket undone, when I opened it, I grabbed the phone again and saw blood covering his abdomen. I jerked my glove off, then switched the phone to the other hand and took off that one.

Quinton grabbed my hand and shook his head. “Where the hell are we?” He squeezed his eyes shut. “Someone come and get Reagan.”

“Is he injured?” Victor asked.

“Yes. There’s a lot of blood.” I answered while glaring at Quinton to release my hand.

“Reagan, use your porter.” Michael said in a steady tone.

Quinton shook his head. “I can’t…port.” He grunted a sound of pain.

“Shit.” Michael sounded like he was running. “We’re checking in the damned trees for a way in.”

“Let me stop the bleeding.” I pleaded with him.

He shook his head and held my gaze. We both knew I could end up passed out trying to heal his injury and the damage inside him.

“Just the bleeding.” I leaned down closer, so our faces were inches apart and mouthed, please.

“Brother, let her slow the bleeding until we find a way in.” Chase sounded out of breath.

“Can’t.” Quinton said with too much conviction.

“Can you port to him Troy, through the connection?” That was Daxx.

“Quinton’s mind is on lockdown all the time.” Arius said, “he’s harder to connect with then Victor.”

I stared into the brown eyes locked on mine. He was wordlessly asking me to let it end here. A tear rolled down my cheek. “You stupid, stupid man.” I whispered. “What about feeding?” I said louder.

“That could help enough until we find him.” Michael said.

“We haven’t tried blood since Daxx fixed him.” Rafael added.

I looked back to Quinton, he shook his head. “You have a choice, sir, my essence or let me heal it enough to slow the bleeding.”

“You tell him, sister.” Paisley voice quaked with emotion.

Quinton’s brows drew together.

I held his glare, not giving in. “Pick one.”

“Quinton. You heard the lady, pick one. That’s not a request.” Troy said in a very kingly voice.

“Punk.” Quinton mumbled, then took out the earpiece and flicked it away from us. With a shaking hand, he reached up and put it behind my head and pulled me down closer.

When he stopped with our faces a few inches apart, I blinked the tears out of my eyes. “Just say yes.” I told him and tried to contain the emotional overload that was just under the surface.

“Yes.” He whispered breathlessly.

I nodded and dropped the phone and leaned down closer to him, so my neck was near his mouth. When his lips brushed over my throat, I reached down with my other hand with the intention to slow the bleeding while he was occupied.

Quinton grasped my hand in his and held it just as he bit into my neck.

I closed my eyes and tried not to cry. Being close to someone, to him after so long brought too many emotions to the surface—even though he was bleeding to death beneath me. I wanted to cry at the loss I knew was coming because he was stubborn man.

“There has to be a door somewhere.” Emil growled out. “Look for cellar entries, they could be overgrown by now.”

Quinton licked my neck, then shifted enough that our foreheads were resting against each other.

I felt a tear fall and knew it would bathe his cheek in my sadness. He suddenly squeezed my hand harder and started groaning low. That turned into the male version of a screech of pain. I sat up, “Quinton,” I surveyed his body as he withered in pain and tried to see what was wrong.

“What’s happening?” Arius asked.

“I don’t know. He fed, shouldn’t that have helped?” He was almost crushing my hand now. I tried to pull it free, but he wouldn’t release it. “Quinton,” I leaned down and got right in his face, “what’s happening?”

He gritted his teeth and opened his eyes briefly. “I don’t know. I’m on fire inside.” He hissed out.

“Reagan. Use the damn porter, now.” That was Michael. “Take him to the courtyard, we’ll meet you there with the doctor.”

I nodded. “Yes.” I grabbed his phone and set it on his chest. Leaning down I kissed his forehead, “I’m porting us to the courtyard.” I told him. He moved his head, but he wouldn't release my hand, I took that as acknowledgment and opened the device on my wrist. “Porting now.” I told the others. I leaned on top of him as, I pushed the button.

There were people shouting and coming at us from all directions when I opened my eyes.

“Brother let her go, so the doctor can look.” That was Arius.

I felt hands on my shoulders, pulling me back. Quinton still wouldn’t let go of my hand, so I shuffled to kneel by his head and held his hand between my own. “Let them help you.” I said looking down at his face that was filled with so much pain it hurt me.

“Brother, drink.” That was Troy.

I looked to see him holding his wrist over his brother’s mouth. Quinton’s mouth was squeezed together in pain.

“Hurry doc.” Autumn said.

The doctor knelt down and pulled his shirt apart, with a cloth, he dabbed at the blood covering his skin. “It’s healing.” He said with amazement.

“He fed from me.” I paused until the doctor looked at me. “Then started screaming. Is my essence harming him? The Solrelm part?” I wiped a hand over my eyes to clear the tears so I could see clearly.

“It shouldn’t have any bearing on it.” He turned to Rafael, “hand me that case.”

Rafael hurried over and grabbed a fair-sized black case and brought it over.

“Portable ultrasound.” The doctor said as he opened it up. “The charge is only good for about three minutes, but it was help me see where the issue is.”

Quinton was absolutely still now; his face was more relaxed. I hoped that meant the pain was subsiding.

The doctor put gel on Quinton’s abdomen, then gave Rafael a nod. Rafael switched the machine on. I looked at the small screen, had no idea what I was seeing, so I watched the doctors face instead.

“That can’t be.” He said quietly, then moved the wand over to the other side of Quinton’s stomach. He stopped and looked at the machine, then reached over and smacked his hand on top of it. “This can’t be right.”

“How bad is it?” Daxx asked.

“What do you see?” Autumn was staring at the monitor.

“I don’t see any damage, aside from the laceration that seems to be slowly closing.” The doctor said with a strange look on his face.

“That’s good then.” Leone said, nodding.

The doctor leaned back and switched off the machine, then looked up at Troy. “You don’t understand.” He glanced to Quinton, a hesitant look on his face. Despite the glare Quinton was giving him, he continued. “Your brothers internal—state has slowly been decaying over the past,” he gave Quinton an apologetic look, “hundred years. Nothing I’ve tried has been successful.” He motioned to Quinton’s exposed upper body. “I don’t see any decay now.”

Quinton’s head snapped to look at him. “What?”

“My prince, I don’t see the damage that was there on last week’s scans.” The doctor shook his head, his face filled with awe.

“How?” Quinton whispered.

“Damn, Reagan, what kind of essence do you have?” Rafael asked loudly.

I opened my mouth, then closed it. “I don’t know.”

“It could have the healing properties as her touch does.” The doctor said quietly.

Quinton finally released my hand but rested his hand on my knee instead.

I started to brush back his sweat-soaked hair, then froze. There were markings on my hand, I turned it over and looked at it, then shoved up my sleeve. “I don’t want to be dramatic, but I’ve grown a tattoo.” I said in shock.

Quinton lifted his hand in the air and looked at it.

“You marked her.” Leone sounded amused.

“I did not.” Quinton turned his head and looked up at me. “You marked me.” He said with a blank look on his face.

“I—” I looked around at the others than back to him, “have no idea how to go about that.” I finished quickly.

“I’ve heard of accidental markings, but there’s usually less clothes and no blood involved.” Chase said with a smirk.

Quinton pushed up onto his elbows and looked at the doctor. “Marking healed Bethany and Autumn, is that what happened here?”

The doctor stared at him for a moment. “I can’t be sure, but,” he pointed to Quinton’s stomach, “that is not like what we saw last week. I’d like to run some tests…”

Quinton lifted his hand so the doctor would stop talking. “I’m not dying now?”

The doctor nodded slowly, “from the glimpse we just saw, I would have to say no. I want tests to confirm it’s permanent.”

Quinton sat up completely.

Daxx came over and smacked him in the back of the head. “You were dying and you didn’t tell us?”

Quinton rubbed the back of his head. “Ow! It wasn’t anything new.” He said in a gruff tone.

“I don’t care if it was new or not, you should have told us.” She put her hands on her hips, then turned and glared at Troy. “Talk to your brother.”

Troy raised one eyebrow and looked at her, then turned his head slowly and looked down at Quinton.

Quinton nodded. “Yeah I get it.” He shifted and got to his knees, then stood up. Reaching down he held out his hand to me and pulled me to my feet.

I paused and looked at our hands together with the intricate designs wrapping around our wrists. I looked up at him. “What now?” I was completely shaken, I couldn’t process. “I understand mates, but,” I looked at my arm again.

“It’s not complete.” Crissy blurted out, “there has to be the blood bond.” She nodded at me, then turned and gave Quinton a hard look. “I can’t be mad at you when you’re covered in blood, but after you wash it off,” she poked in him the chest, “we’re having a talk.” She bobbed her head once, then stomped away.

“We still have an active blood bond.” He said quietly, “from when we went to the warehouse.” He gave Crissy a sad look and took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I get it.” He looked around at the others slowly, “and you can yell all you want later.” He looked down at his torn shirt and blood-stained skin. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to go wash off.” He lifted our still joined hands, “and explain to Reagan what this means in the long run.”

“I hope she doesn’t talk to you for weeks.” Leone said in a serious tone.

Bethany shook her head. “He didn’t deceive her, Leone.” She motioned to our hands, “for all we know she did it.” She shrugged, “we may never know.”

Leone looked at our hands, then scowled at Quinton. “We’ll see you for breakfast.” He held out his hand to Bethany, “I need some sleep before we go back to that basement.” 

I didn’t see everyone else as they wandered away or ported, I was too busy looking up at the man as he looked down at me.

He leaned down and kissed my mouth softly. “Thank you. For saving me.”

I gave him a small smile. “I don’t know that I did.” I lifted our hands and looked at them, “but someone saved someone in that dingy place.”

He blew out a breath. “We still have to figure out how the hell we got there.” He cringed. “I don’t know who attacked me, but there’s a dead body down there waiting for us when we go back.

“There’s a rock, stepping on it activates the portal.” I released his hand. “I am not going back there.” I gave him a stern look. “Ever.”

He smirked. “Go shower. I’ll get Mitz the bring some food to my room and we’ll talk.”

“Are we sitting on the floor to eat it? You only have one chair.”

He frowned. “We’ll sit on the roof and look out over the countryside as we eat.”

I looked up at the sky. “Dinner on the roof at sunset.” I shrugged, “that could work.”