16. Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

The morbid thoughts about her impending death never left her. Despite how far she'd run, and how quickly her life circumstances had changed, the shadow of the grave continued to haunt her steps.

Now that she'd been marked by a werewolf, Eden's life expectancy had gone from less than a year to less than a week.

Eden had made peace with her cancer. The daily regimen of pills had become routine, almost comforting. She'd chosen not to subject herself to radiation or chemotherapy, not wanting her last days to be filled with nausea and pain.

Becoming a werewolf would change everything. In a handful of days, she'd most likely met her end as a creature of myth and legend. Unfathomable.

It was fitting, in a way. Eden would attempt a shifting process she'd studied her entire life. What a horribly marvelous way to die.

Anxiety pooled in her gut from the moment Nero had teleported away a half hour ago. Luna and Key were joined by Zia, and the trio hovered around her as she stood at Nero's kitchen island.

"Nero is involved in the group of immortals who combat the Citizens' attacks," Zia explained. "Right now, he's working with my husband, Jeremiah, and several others to clear the scene and make sure no one is injured."

"And ensure no humans discover us," Key added.

"Who is he with?"

"Other sovereigns, a couple of werewolves, and a vampire or two."

Eden's head hurt. It had all been too much too soon. She didn't blame Nero the way he blamed himself for not waiting until the perfect moment. Learning fiction and conspiracies had been reality all along was overwhelming, no matter the context.

Massaging her temples, she asked, "Is Nero going to be okay?"

"He's done this plenty of times," Zia said.

"The Citizens , the people behind this, who are they really? I've come across their materials during my research, but I thought they were an indoctrination cult that had lost contact with reality completely."

Luna shifted uneasily in her chair. "They are a terrorist organization who think immortals are unnatural. Because of that, they believe we should be exterminated."

"They tried to convince me to join them," Eden admitted. "That's what started this. Why I've been bitten. I guess if I wasn't willing to be with them, they decided I was against them. Extremists indeed."

"None of this was your fault, Eden." Zia reached across the counter to squeeze her forearm. "They're notoriously unpredictable, and these kinds of attacks have become more commonplace."

At some point, Key had put a piece of blueberry pie in front of her. What she'd coveted earlier no longer appealed. Despite the sweetness of the flavors, it tasted like ash in her mouth.

"You're important to Nero, Eden. I know it doesn't make a lot of sense now, but it will."

Key's cryptic comment had her chuffing a laugh. He was important to Eden, too; she felt as though an invisible string tied them together. Leaving him—now or in the near future—would rip out a part of her soul.

She looked at the woman across from her. "Before Nero left, he was explaining the structure of his clan, and how you operated. All of you are Raeths?"

"We are."

"He said that some of his clansmen could shift into animals, like the werewolves do. From what I've gathered, you're also able to teleport and speak mind to mind via a form of telepathy. Is all of that correct?"

"It is," Luna confirmed. "Each of us has different inborn gifts. Some of us, like me, are able to heal wounds. In Zia's case, she can fly. And Key, well, she's in a whole other ball game."

The possibilities were endless. Having a healer capable of mending wounds and minds seemed like science fiction. While her mind whirled with questions about the possible implications and benefits of such a gift, she knew she had to play her cards right.

"Healing wounds," Eden repeated. "How does that work?"

"I encourage the body to heal through a unique type of heat and pressure. It's not as scientific as you think; it's far more magical in nature."

A spark of hope lit within her. "What are you able to heal?"

"Anything from broken bones to burns," Luna replied. "Certain things take less time, like a broken bone, while others take longer—like fixing heart tissue or repairing something within the brain."

Though Eden could scarcely breathe through her hope, she asked the next logical question. "You can heal anything?"

"Most things, given enough time. While it's rare among immortals, sometimes it takes weeks or months to cure an illness or injury that affected someone deeply."

"Like cancer?"

Luna nodded solemnly. And just like that, Eden's hopes were dashed. Battling against the bitter disappointment that swelled within her, she turned to the woman beside her. "And you, Zia, you can fly?"

"I have wings."

Eyes narrowing, Eden shifted to peer around Zia's back. "Invisible wings?"

"They can appear and disappear on command. It's—"

"Magic," Eden filled in the blank. "I'm beginning to see that."

"As time goes on, you'll see and hear about more abilities of our kind. The vampires are swift healers and can survive nearly any wound," Luna explained. "Werewolves are strong, and able to use the wolf's senses. And Elemental abilities influence nature: earth, wind, water, and fire."

"It's absolutely fascinating. I can't wait to learn more and document what I can." Eden's attention shifted to Key. "Dare I ask what your abilities are?"

"That may be a conversation for another time," Zia interjected. "Perhaps a conversation to be had with Nero when he returns."

"Have you heard from him? Did he send you telepathic messages about when he will be back?"

"Soon, probably." Offering her a warm smile, Luna patted the stool beside her. "I'm sure they're just taking care of cleanup now."

"Can you check on him? I just—I have a bad feeling."

"I'll ask."

That now familiar thread of electricity stiffened Eden's spine intensified when Luna's eyes widened in shock. "Nero is unconscious."

And then hell landed in the living room.

Four men suddenly teleported into the open space. All of them were worse for wear, but none of that mattered when Eden saw the person covered in blood on the floor.

"Nero!"

Not caring about anything else, Eden elbowed her way through them to kneel beside the Raeth who'd stolen her heart. His torso, now bare to the waist, was a mess of blood and gore. One shoulder was ravaged, and the flesh below it looked like it'd been scored by more than one set of claws. Or fangs . The other arm was arguably worse.

One bone was clearly broken, and the muscle was shredded to within an inch of the limb being severed.

"Luna, he's had significant blood loss," a deep voice explained. "I had to take Kane back to his House first—he was bleeding out from an open femoral artery and nearly exsanguinated."

"Move."

Luna's command had the men scattering at her approach, then teleporting out with a clipped apology. Within seconds, her hands were hovering above the garish wounds on Nero's shoulder, the ones that continued to pulse crimson on the carpeting from gaping holes.

The scene before her grew blurry, and Eden absently wiped at the tears streaking down her cheeks.

A force dragged over her skin, pressing against her. Pressure built, almost crushing her backwards, while Luna was assessing Nero's catastrophic wounds.

"Did you contain the incident?"

"We killed the twenty-five that were released, but it was a near thing." An apologetic grimace accompanied the redhead's words, while Zia wrapped her arms around his midsection. "Our sovereign took on two of them at once to defend me. That's why he looks like he's been through a woodchipper."

Zia glowered at Jeremiah. "Neither of you should've been in the line of fire, but I'm not about to reprimand Nero for saving my mate."

Luna was all business. "When did he go under, Jeremiah?"

"About ten minutes ago."

Nero's immobile features made her miss his easy casual grin, and the dimple that begged for a kiss every time she saw it.

Glancing up, Eden found that Luna's hands were flush with Nero's skin now instead of hovering above. As she watched, Nero's flesh knit back together as if by magic.

Because it is magic , Eden had to remind herself. Even though she'd accepted the truth of what Nero and the other Raeths had revealed, seeing it still required mental adjustments.

The long gashes and broken bones began to heal at the same time, with Luna's eyes shifted back and forth between them, a study in concentration.

"He's lost a lot of blood." Almost a whisper, Luna's voice was tight. "He's going to need to take it easy for a while and eat something of substance."

"I'll take care of him," Eden said. "I'm not going anywhere."

Zia gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "We appreciate that. Besides, he could use a little rest and relaxation in general. Fate knows he's doing too much lately."

It seemed to Eden that the man had consistently overburdened himself. Today was just one example. If he'd lived his life jumping from one responsibility to another, it was no wonder he had insomnia and described the mental equivalent of suffocation.

Across from her, Luna's focus was entirely on Nero's severely damaged right arm. It was a cold realization for Eden that even magical doctors had limits. The injuries made it clear that he'd used the arm to block an attack, and that the wolf who had clamped down on it had had every intention of taking it as a trophy.

Luna's hand had cupped the bloodied limb, and transferred pulse after pulse into it, clearly struggling to maintain a level of progress that would allow Nero's body to take over. As if sensing Eden's distress, Nero's warm brown eyes flashed open. They shifted to emerald an instant later, and Eden knew the exact moment the pain awoke in him. He sucked in a breath and winced, moving his head as if in a panic until he found her.

"Are you okay?"

A halfway hysterical laugh bubbled out of her. "That's a strange question coming from a man who just got used as a chew toy for the second time this week."

"It looks worse than it is." The man had all the audacity.

"No, sovereign, it's worse than it looks," was Luna's dry remark. "Your shoulder barely had any healthy flesh remaining, and your ulna shattered into a million shards. If your rabid friend had gotten the other bone, I would have said we just sheer it off and start over."

"Good thing I still have one working bone, then." He winked at Eden, far too happy with himself.