The witches, wolves, and my sisters gathered around me. Instinctively, I pulled my hand back as if any one of them could snatch him from me, including Aric.

Genevieve met Aric’s stare. “It would seem Shah remains bonded to Celia. How is that possible?”

Aric lifted his chin. “Good question, especially since Makawee was the last to touch him.”

“Are you certain?” Delilah asked.

Aric squared his jaw, but it was Gemini who spoke. “Yes, both Aric and I were present when Makawee held him and placed him in a special stronghold.” He tilted his head slightly. “Or are you questioning my and my Leader’s integrity?”

There was an underlying growl to Gemini’s tone, but considering Delilah was a non-were, she seemed to bare her teeth despite her smile. “We would never question Aric’s loyalty, shug.”

“Good,” Gemini answered, meeting her stare and forcing her to drop her gaze.

Genevieve cleared her throat. “Perhaps given the circumstances, Shah should reside with me.”

Taran scoffed. “Oh yeah. Brilliant idea. I’m sure you can’t wait to get your hands on him, too.”

Emme groaned as Taran’s magic sizzled around her. Genevieve surprised me by smiling gently, yet her surging power told me she wasn’t far from acting.

“Shah’s not going with you or anyone else,” I told her. I glanced at Shah and stroked my thumb over his smooth surface. “Go back to Makawee’s stronghold.” I could feel everyone watching me when Shah just lay in my palm. I sighed. “Please, Shah,” I told him.

From one blink to the next he was gone. And damn, didn’t that piss the witches off? Betty Sue stormed out. Delilah tossed me a wary glance before following. Much to Taran’s obvious displeasure, Genevieve stayed put.

Genevieve considered me carefully. Her expression wasn’t harsh, but her magic surged nonetheless, prodding me as it strengthened.

“Genevieve,” Aric warned. “If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, take care in how you question my mate’s allegiance.”

The magic poking me withdrew. Genevieve bowed her head. “Forgive me, Celia, I meant no disrespect.”

“Ah, sure,” I said slowly. Perhaps I should have taken offense to Genevieve’s supernatural probe, but I understood her paranoia. Something was off.

Don’t trust them, a soft voice urged. I didn’t react until the second half of the warning. Or the wolf.

Aric caught me when I practically fell off the bed. “What’s wrong?”

I scanned the room, certain someone was there. Everyone gathered glanced around before all attention returned to me. “S-sorry,” I stumbled over my words. “Emme, stop the transfusion, Taran’s blood is done running in.”

She clamped off the tubing and switched out the bag of blood. “Sorry,” I said again. “It’s been a long night.”

No one could argue against that. Genevieve nodded slowly before addressing Aric. “You were saying you needed this mess cleaned up?” she asked.

“Yeah, did you bring your broom?” Taran snapped.

Aric pinched the bridge of his nose. Genevieve surprised me by smiling. “How much is it going to cost?” he asked her.

Genevieve kept her smile on Taran when she answered. “Ten thousand, plus unlimited use of the property you acquired from the Tribe for the next two years.”

“Which property?”

That was when she looked at Aric. “The one in France, of course.”

Aric scoffed. “What the hell are you going to do with a castle, Genevieve?”

“Even witches need a vacation home, Aric.”

Aric stroked the small of my back as he thought matters through. “You can have fifteen thousand and unlimited use of the castle for the next six months. After that it will be sold to help the weres who lost their families during the war.”

“Done,” Genevieve said. “Although, I would have done it for twelve, even without the castle,” she said on the way out. She paused and looked to Gemini. “When you’re done, I’d like a word with you.”

Gemini rose at Taran’s glare, watching her with a weary expression and more sadness than I could bear. “I’m done,” he said.

Chapter 18

Shayna hurried in about an hour later. I hadn’t realized I’d fallen asleep until I noticed the time. “Koda’s all fixed up—holy Moses, Ceel, you’re the color of Emme’s butt!”

Once again, Emme didn’t appreciate the reference and crinkled her brow. That said, I didn’t doubt Shayna’s brutal comparison.

Taran stood and opened up the clamp wide so the last of Emme’s blood could finish flowing into my vein. Between them, they’d given me the equivalent of a unit of blood, but as Aric helped me to sit and the room tilted, I was certain it hadn’t been enough.

Shayna rolled up her sleeve. “Should we try some of mine next?”

Emme shook her head. “Shayna, I don’t think that’s a good idea. With Koda’s werewolf essence streaming through your system, it might be dangerous for Celia.”

Shayna shook out her sleeve. “Okay, but I’m wondering if it might give her the boost she needs. We all have the same blood type, minus the totally hairy howler within me, I mean.”

Shayna meant well. That didn’t mean I was desperate enough to give her blood a try.

Aric smiled and rubbed the center of his chest. “Why don’t we take some supplies home with us?” he suggested. “We can always try it tomorrow if you remain weak, honey.”

It was strange to hear Aric call me “honey”—while sweet, it wasn’t something I remembered him ever calling me. What was even stranger was how eager he seemed for me to receive Shayna’s blood. “You want me to do this?” I asked slowly.

He rubbed at his chest again. “I only want you to be well, my love.”

I stared at him for a beat before leaning against him, once more needing to feel close to him. God, what was wrong with me? I couldn’t shake the fear that he was drifting away. “Can we go home? I want to get out of here.”

Aric swept me up in his arms. “Of course, sweetness,” he whispered. I was embarrassed that he had to carry me, but it was either that or stagger through the halls like a drunken fool.

The gleaming brightness of the ED gave me pause when we stepped out of the treatment room. So did its condition. All the destruction had not only been repaired, but everything appeared brand spanking new. The floors shone as if freshly waxed and the glass partitions gleamed.