Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

DECLAN

I was running on pure adrenaline, getting Aziel out of that house. I didn't look back, I didn't stop, and no one came after us. I wasn't sure how awake Aziel was, or if he even realized what was happening. He bore only a fraction of his own weight, moving on autopilot as I hauled him along. I was pouring sweat by the time we got out the front door and over to the truck. We had to duck once as another demon swooped down on us, but they were blasted with fire from someone inside and fell before they could swing around and try again.

Getting Aziel outside was one thing. Getting him into that goddamn truck looked like it was impossible and I whimpered as I leaned him against the seat. The damn thing was lifted, and it was hard enough to get Aziel to his feet, leaning on me. I didn't think it was possible for me to pull him inside.

"Come on, baby. Work with me here. We need to get out of here."

Aziel groaned again, leaning heavily against me. He couldn't fucking hear me. Cursing under my breath, I looked around for another option. There was nothing.

"Do demons not fucking drive?" I muttered to myself. Shaking myself, I twisted, using my bodyweight to keep Aziel upright against the truck. Squatting, I put his legs around my waist as best I could, keeping my knees bent as I forced him and myself up those stupid steps and into the truck. It was exhausting, and I nearly slipped and dropped him at least twice.

"Where do you think you're going?" a gravelly voice snarled from the other side of the truck. I hadn't been watching around us, too busy trying to get Aziel into the truck. He stood on the driver's side and when he started dragging Aziel towards him, I shouted, grabbing the first thing I could reach on the floor of the truck and chucking it at him. The hammer hit him in the head and he stumbled back long enough for me to race around and pick it up again. I gave him no time to recover before I swung again, hard enough to knock his ass out.

I hovered over the demon for a moment to make sure he wasn't going to get back up before turning back to the truck. The only good thing from that interaction was the demon did half the work of getting Aziel in the truck for me when he tried to drag him out the other side. I readjusted him enough to close both doors, his head in my lap, and fired up the engine, swerving as I headed through the gate and away.

"Aziel? Az? Baby, wake up."

He didn't move, once again completely unconscious. A lump swelled in my throat, choking me as I barreled toward the transport tunnel.

"Hold on, hold on, hold on," I pleaded.

I swerved through traffic, ignoring speed limit signs and red lights. If it wasn't so late at night, I might've gotten both of us killed trying to get him some help. I would wonder later why I never got spotted by any cops. I made it all the way to the transport tunnel before slowing down. I didn't want Aziel to fall by slamming on the brakes.

A massive demon who looked a lot like Callum was waiting for me with several other paranormals. They swarmed on the truck, pulling Aziel out and moving him to what looked like a stretcher. I protested at first, I didn't know who the hell they were, but Callum's dad pulled me out of the truck and hurried me after them.

"It's alright. They're going to help him. Let's get moving."

I raced after the stretcher, bypassing the short line of paranormals waiting to cross over. They were already gone when the transport tunnel spit us out on the other side, but Callum's dad teleported us without a word and we popped up just in time to watch them wheel Aziel into a tall bright building that looked like a hospital.

"He's in good hands. My wife is one of the best, and she has a good team waiting for him. He'll be alright."

There was no way he could know that yet, but I chose to believe him. The relief was dizzying and my knees gave out. If Callum's dad hadn't been paying attention, I would've hit the ground. He caught me against him, shouting for help as the exhaustion and adrenaline crash slammed into me. I was only half aware of being picked up and moved, the scenery changing without me really taking it all in. I was deposited in a bed and warmth sank into my chest and I just let it happen.

For what felt like hours, I laid there, staring at nothing, the image of Aziel being hurt playing repeatedly in my head. It wasn't until a familiar little voice called my name that I finally blinked.

"Ollie?"

My voice came out like a croak, my throat parched. I coughed to clear it, pushing myself up onto my elbows to figure out where his voice had come from.

"Ollie?"

He appeared in the doorway to the room I was in, relief flashing across his face as he darted over to me. He slammed into my chest, clinging to me with his hands fisted into my shirt. I hugged him back just as hard with one arm, the other holding me up on my elbow.

"What– How did you get here?"

He sniffled, scrubbing at his eyes as he pulled away. "Some people showed up at the place we were hiding. They said they were from the council and they asked a lot of questions. When they were done, there were a bunch of cars waiting to bring us here. Athena said we could trust them and that they'd bring me to see you."

While he relayed his side of the story, a woman with a cloak and a long brown braid over one shoulder stepped into the room. She had a serious face, without a hint of smile lines, but her eyes softened when she looked at Ollie.

"You found him, I take it?"

Ollie twisted to see her, bobbing his head. He pointed at me. "This is my brother. "

She dipped her head in greeting. "My name is Melvina Shadowspear. A member of the Paranormal Council. I've gotten a few witness accounts on what happened at the Shadowwalker residence, but I'll need to speak with you about your account of the events. I am happy to inform you that Camus Shadowwalker, the leader of the Shadowwalker clan, was captured. He, as well as nearly a dozen others, are in our custody."

My relief was short-lived, and my gaze darted towards the door. "Aziel?"

She hummed, not taking any offense to the fact that I was more interested in Aziel than anything she had to say.

"As far as I'm aware, he's still with the healers. I believe Healer Malatesta will inform you when they have more information." Her gaze moved to Ollie, and she pursed her lips slightly. "Oliver, dear. I believe the healers have extra beds for family members that can be brought in here. My assistant will need help to make sure everyone has a bed to sleep tonight. Would you assist him? I promise, your brother isn't in any trouble. I just want to speak with him for a moment."

I appreciated her waiting until he was out of the room to ask me about what happened. I didn't want to give Ollie nightmares. I was going to have nightmares after all of that. Ollie looked uncertain, but I promised him I'd be here when he was done and he reluctantly followed a young man in the same robe as Melvina out of the room.

"I'm sure you understand why I don't want him in here," she murmured as she watched them leave.

"I do. I don't want him to hear this."

It took a while to get all the details. She wanted me to start at the beginning, from the day I met Aziel to tonight. I told her more than once that Aziel never did anything to us, but I was worried I was condemning him by admitting he was using me at first. Aziel's uncle had been forcing him to work for them for years. Aziel said he never took part in hurting people, but they could see him as an accomplice and I didn't want him punished. He suffered enough at the hands of his uncle.

A healer joined us as I was finishing up. She didn't say anything at first, though she did touch my hand. Where she touched me glowed and a familiar warmth spread through my body. It was the same thing I felt when I was first brought in here. When I looked down at the scratches on my chest, they were fully healed and the rest of my injuries and even strained muscles were gone. I hoped more than anything that they could do the same for Aziel.

"Did Aziel ever say anything to you about tonight? Or who might be involved? There were two humans at the apartment with your little brother who were injured. Did he say anything about them?"

I shook my head slowly. "No. I didn't ask, either. The guys showed up with them and Dante, and I was more focused on him and the fact that Aziel was missing. Who were they?"

"A prominent businessman and a politician in the run for senator. Both were unconscious at the time and can't tell me how they got to the apartment."

"Aziel took them when he rescued me," a small voice murmured. Ollie stood by the door with Dante at his side, both of them frowning. I didn't notice them arriving, so I was worried about how much they heard, but the councilwoman didn't ask. She tipped her head, ushering Dante closer.

"I was going to wait to talk to you until later. Do you think you can tell me what happened?"

He looked uncertain, and he held Ollie's hand like a lifeline. I beckoned them both, and they joined me on the bed, one on each side of me. With Dante tucked into my side, he felt safe enough to speak to Melvina. He told her about how his father wanted to hurt them both for protecting humans, how Aziel was going to fight, but he used all his magic to rescue the humans and Dante from his uncle. He told her about Athena protecting them with weird magic and using some communication thing that looked like a marble to call for help. Then Aziel's friends showed up, fought off the few soldiers who were trying to get to him and the humans, and took them back to the apartment.

"He wasn't part of it. Aziel doesn't hurt humans. He was protecting me." He was getting loud, defensive, and worried about his cousin. Melvina put up her hand to stop him.

"I believe you. This isn't the first crime family we've had to deal with, unfortunately. Some family members aren't there by choice. As long as he didn't participate, he won't be tried with the rest of them."

"He didn't! That's why my dad hated him so much! He said Aziel was soft because he wouldn't hurt humans! "

Melvina nodded, soothing him with soft words. "It will be okay, Dante. I promise, we're only here to help. Now, can you tell me if there's someone I can call for you? Your mother, perhaps? You won't be going home with your father, I'm afraid."

He shook his head quickly. "I don't live with him. I live with Aziel. He takes care of me. He's my guardian."

She pursed her lips, glancing at her assistant, who stood just inside the door. "Find out if there is paperwork regarding that. It would make this easier."

The assistant nodded and hurried off without a word. Another healer replaced him, this one a little older, with long black hair. She had a kind smile and when Melvina saw her, she looked relieved.

"Healer Malatesta. I hope you have good news for us."

The healer sighed. "As good as we could've hoped for, I suppose." She turned to me. "You're Aziel Shadowwalker's mate, correct?"

When I dipped my chin, she stepped up to the end of my bed. "First and foremost, I'm going to start with the good news. Aziel is alive. His injuries were severe, but he got here in time."

Dante looked elated, but I held back from celebrating.

"What's the bad news?"

Her smile turned sad. "Unfortunately, there were some things we couldn't heal. Members of the Shadowwalker clan have been known to use poisons on their enemies that hinder our ability to heal them. He won't be in any pain, but I'm afraid the horn he lost could not be reattached. And one eye was damaged quite severely. He's not awake yet, but we don't believe he'll be able to see out of it. We did our best, but–"

"But you aren't miracle workers. I understand. When can we see him?"

"When you're through answering the council's questions, I'd be happy to escort you to him," she reassured me. "We moved him to a bigger room so that you all could stay with him if you wish."

"We're done here," Melvina interjected. "I've gotten all I need. I'll let Aziel get his rest for now and come back in the morning to get his full statement. I believe this family has dealt with enough for tonight."