Chapter Nineteen

Division Eight Headquarters

Wednesday, 7:00 AM

Quinn couldn't catch his breath. Which in itself was a ridiculous problem for a vampire that didn't need to breathe.

"What's wrong, Quinn?"

He wanted to answer her, but the slight pinch to his chest tightened like a vise. He couldn't pull any air in, and the pain kept him fighting to do it anyway. One hand clenched at his chest. The other flailed until Maddie caught it.

She clung to him, while her free hand rushed over his naked body looking for an injury. "I don't know what's wrong, but it's not external."

He knew that much. "My heart…"

She leaned close, pressing her ear to his chest. She had sharp hearing. She'd be able to confirm his guess.

"Shit. You're having a heart attack."

His vision was closing in on him. He'd gone so long without needing to rely on a circulatory system. Was he really going to die from a problem that shouldn't even be a danger for him? Wait… die? Could he actually die from lack of air in his blood?

"Maddie, hit me with your magic. Hard."

"My magic? Are you sure?"

"Yes. Now."He wasn't sure about anything. But if his guess about how his vampire magic and her wolf magic were tangling together. Wyllo had called it unique. But if his body was being brought back to life then what he needed was her magic not his. If he was wrong…

Maddie rested her palm over his heart. And she leaned close, until she could kiss him. Then… her everything was open and pouring into him. Her love and acceptance. Her wolf's spirit and magic. Her strength and power. Her will to live. All of it consumed him.

At first all he could do was grit his teeth against the pain. But as her soul filled him up, he knew everything was changing. This moment was the precipice that would decide if he'd still be around to see the next morning.

But his body was a cup covered by a lid. All her power tried to soak into him but most of it ran off.

His heart stopped.

That was when she pulled away from his lips and bit him deep in the neck. In that moment, when he was completely broken, it was her magic that drowned him like a tsunami. Her love that dragged him back to the surface.

His heart gave a heavy thump. And then another. And another.

Maddie released her bite on his neck and leaned back. Her face was damp from tears, each drop like a diamond glistening on a shadow. Had her eyes always been so warm? Had her lips always been so lush?

And blood covered?

His blood on her lips… something about that image calmed him. He'd taken her into him several times now, but this was the first time she'd taken him. He felt… accepted. Welcomed.

"Quinn?"

He wanted to answer her, but the thud of his heart was so loud. The way it pushed blood through his body, so fascinating. And he was pretty sure he was on the verge of passing out.

Maddie watched for any sign of him relapsing. But with every minute, Quinn seemed to be more stable. As if… he were a normal living person. His heartbeat was steady and strong. And his breathing slow and deep. Even his magic had stabilized. It was calm, like an echo of her wolf spirit.

Had her wolf spirit been shared with Quinn? Had the bond been formed that bound them together? She'd never experienced it but had heard that the bond with a Valàfrn easily bridged races, sharing and echoing the strength between them.

She heard the door slam downstairs.

Had the others returned home? How much should she tell them? How much would he want them to know? She couldn't be sure, but maybe when he woke up… If he woke up.

No, when.

Once he woke up, they'd be able to have a serious talk about what it all meant. In the meantime. It probably wouldn't be good to have his kids catch him in another compromising situation. She remade enough of his clothes to be decent and then neatened the bed sheets and comforter around him.

And checked his condition over and over throughout the process. He seemed to just be sleeping. Even had a smile flicker across his lips once.

She climbed back into the bed and snuggled against his side. There was no telling if or when they might be interrupted. For now, she just wanted to be as close to him as possible.