44. Brody

brODY

Idrop to my knees as I stare at the horror that is my fucking Dagger. She's covered in blood and barely conscious. Looking her over from head to toe, I quickly realize the issue. "She's been bitten by a fucking vampire," I snarl, and Raiden is at my side instantly.

"Who did this?" Cassian snarls from above me, and my gut knows the answer before it's even said out loud.

"Vallie," she rasps, eyes glazed over as she tries and fails to focus. She reaches for my hand, but it falls limp before she can grasp my fingers in hers.

"Someone fucking help me," I growl, bundling her in my arms, but Cassian takes her from my hold the second I stand.

"Where do you need to go?" he asks, not batting an eye.

"The only chance I've got of healing her is if I go to my father's coven."

"But that's on Council property," Raiden murmurs.

"It's there or nowhere," I admit, not liking the idea of it either, and he sighs.

"Fuck."

"We don't have time," Kryll snarls, hovering over my girl in Cassian's arms, and I nod in agreement. "Let's go."

Cassian takes off with her in his arms, and before I can get a warning, Kryll grabs me and follows them at high speed. There's no point reminding him I can use my own magic to get there quickly; he's already at the front fucking door of the place.

Hurrying inside, I leave the doors open as I find the healing room.

"Is it safe here?" Cassian asks, lowering her to the bed that stands in the middle of the room.

"It's the best place and chance I have of healing her before she fucking frenzies," I bite, adrenaline coursing through me.

I knew we should have fucked the rules and stayed with her. I should have known something like this would happen. That's what I get for thinking she was untouchable.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

"Is she awake?" I ask, rushing to the far wall where all my father's tinctures are.

"No."

Dammit.

In a hurry, I ignore the mess I leave in my wake as potions, ingredients, and vials clatter to the floor.

"I can hear people," Raiden murmurs, making me still, and my gaze whips to his.

"Go watch. I need a good five minutes uninterrupted if I have any hope of saving her," I rasp, my throat clogging with emotion. To my surprise, Raiden doesn't question my order, slipping from the room with one longing glance at our girl before he goes.

"Do what you need to do, Brody. We're here," Kryll murmurs, eyes fixated on Addi's limp body, and I nod.

Reaching for the herbs first, I grind them down in my father's pot, searching for the vial of vampire blood he keeps before retrieving the essence of sage and lavender from their little containers.

The concoction looks gross, but I stick my thumb in and smear it over the bite marks on her throat.

"Ablata causa tollitur effectus. Ablata causa tollitur effectus. Ablata causa tollitur effectus. Ablata causa tollitur effectus. Ablata causa tollitur effectus. Ablata causa tollitur effectus." Panic starts to tighten my chest, worry getting the better of me, until I repeat the chant again and I note the bottom right puncture begins to heal ever so slightly. "Ablata causa tollitur effectus. Ablata causa tollitur effectus. Ablata causa tollitur effectus." I chant faster, hoping it will quicken the process, but it doesn't. Again and again and again, I repeat the precious words until each puncture wound is healed over.

"Thank fuck," I rasp, staggering back as I swipe the back of my hand over my forehead.

"Princess," Kryll murmurs, taking my place and dragging his knuckles over her cheek.

Relief floods my bones as she blinks her eyes open. She's disoriented for a moment, but when her eyes peer at mine, she's a lot more present than she was earlier.

The door swings open behind me, and I turn to give Raiden the good news but fall short when it's my father I see instead.

"Excellent, you're all here. Follow me."