Up close, the task of healing him appeared impossible. No one could live through those terrible lacerations. He was practically gutted. His belly was open, his chest, his neck. She’d started the repairs to his veins and arteries, but the vampire had done even more damage in those moments while Andre extracted the undead’s heart. For one, horrible, time-stopping moment, she feared she couldn’t heal him. It was too much.
She took a breath. He had stopped his heart from beating to keep from losing all of his blood. He lay lifeless, his large frame there on the ground, so completely ravaged she almost didn’t know where to start. She even looked around her, as if she could find another healer, one far better than she was, but there was no one else.
She had asked for this task. She had wanted it. And Andre believed in her. He had put his life in her hands because he believed in her. She closed her eyes and let go of doubts. Of ego. Of fear. Fear was the most difficult, but she couldn’t help him as long as that damaging emotion clung to her. So no fear. She could do this. She would do this. There was no other choice.
For one bizarre second she hung there, teetering between physical and spirit because the fear, entrenched for a lifetime in her very skin, held tight, but she had no other option. This was Andre. Her other half, and he wasn’t afraid. He had gone into battle with a plan. That plan included her saving his life. He had known what the vampire would do to him and he had quietly accepted the pain and damage because he believed in her.
Teagan let go of the last of her fear and allowed her spirit to enter Andre’s body. She had a plan and, although she had to slightly alter it, she stuck with it, applying the healing energy from the inside out. She was meticulous and took her time, knowing if she missed something vital, she wouldn’t have the energy to go back and fix it.
She had no idea how long she worked on Andre, but his belly, chest and neck wounds were horrendous. She had to stop when she felt her spirit faltering. She found herself in her own body, swaying with weariness, terrified at the loss of strength, mostly because the moment she came to her unprotected body, she knew she wasn’t alone.
Teagan spun around, facing what could only be an enemy. She had been in Andre’s mind during the entire fight with the master vampire, and she knew what it took to kill one, but she had no strength left. Even standing there, keeping her body between Andre’s and the stranger, she was swaying, her legs like rubber, knees weak.
“We heard the battle,” the stranger said softly.
He kept his distance from her. His hair was very long and flowed down his back, as black as a raven’s wing. He was tall, not as tall as Andre, but almost. He also looked extremely dangerous. His eyes were midnight black, no hint of any other color and his mouth suggested he had no knowledge of what a smile was.
She swallowed hard. Notes of music wept into the harmony of nature’s song, giving her his identity. “Are you from the monastery?”
He nodded slowly. “Andre is your lifemate?”
Teagan stepped closer to her man. She should have picked up a weapon. A rock at least. Andre had told her it was far too dangerous for these men to be in battle—or around anyone at all. There was blood all over the ground. All over Andre.
“Yes.” What was she supposed to do?
“He needs blood.”
“I was going to give him that next. I have a plan,” she blurted out, and then bit her lip, annoyed with herself. Andre found her strange idiosyncrasy funny and cute, this man didn’t so much as get a light in his eyes. He was all predator.
“You are too weak to give him what he needs. I will provide for him.”
“No, you won’t. I don’t know you. I don’t know anything about you. I can take care of my man.” She lifted her chin, giving him her sternest, scariest look.
He, like Andre, didn’t seem impressed.
She knew the worst of Andre’s wounds had begun the healing process. It would take time, blood and soil, but she was certain the gaping holes in his neck, chest and belly would eventually heal. She had a long way to go though.
“You are too weak to give him what he needs.”
They stared at each another. She refused to back down or look away.
He sighed. “I am called Fane. You called, and we decided to answer.”
She frowned. “I didn’t. I wouldn’t know how to call you.”
“But you know I am from the monastery. You must know I mean you no harm. We all felt your reach, that you could feel what we could not. That has never happened before, not ever, in all the centuries we have lived.”
Teagan felt a stirring in her mind. It took great effort not to shift her gaze to Andre. She knew he was awake. That gave her confidence.
“I’m sorry if I disturbed you.” She knew she was stalling for time. Still swaying from weariness, she was uncertain if she could protect Andre.
“I do not understand the connection between us, but there is one. I will give blood to Andre and then to you.”
She bit down hard on her lip. Tell me what to do. I don’t want him to give me blood. The idea of taking or receiving blood from anyone but Andre was repulsive. She had just begun to accept her new life. She wasn’t ready for that.
Let him come to me. Step to my other side. There are words he must say to me. If he does not say them, I will know he is our enemy. If he says them, he will keep his word.
Reluctantly Teagan moved back, her gaze on Fane’s face. She worked around to Andre’s other side, giving Fane access to her man. “Won’t it make you weak, giving both of us blood?”