“Just ease her pain, then,” Johnny ordered.
“Holly,” Elise said softly. “You’re going to feel strange for a moment. Magic feels like running water beneath your skin. I need you to stay still and stay calm. Can you do that? Blink once if you understand.”
Holly opened her eyes to blink before letting them fall shut again.
“Good. I’m going to start now.”
Holly felt the urge to flinch when she felt the discomforting sensation exactly how Elise described it. Soon, the pain subsided enough for her to breathe without wanting to scream.
“You’re going to have some rad looking bruises,” Elise said. “Maybe you can turn them into your warpaint.”
Holly opened her eyes, hoping Elise would see the question within them.
“Bear shifters each have a unique warpaint,” she explained. “They earn it once they prove themselves in battle. You just fucking proved yourself.”
Holly didn’t feel like she’d proven herself. She felt betrayed. She felt terrified. She felt the exact opposite of what she imagined a shifter felt when they proved themselves worthy.
Johnny appeared in her line of vision. He wore a smile on his face, but she saw the deep worry in his eyes. “You’re doing great,” he assured her. “Don’t try to talk or move yet. Blink if you hurt less.”
Holly blinked.
“Great.” Johnny’s bottom lip trembled for just a moment before his smile returned.
“Johnny, I need a hand!” Garret grunted.
Fearing that Keller had woken up, Holly’s eyes went wide.
“Don’t move. Don’t move,” Elise urged. “He’s not coming after you. He’s still knocked out. They just can’t get him down the stairs.”
Holly furrowed her brow. They were dragging Keller into Johnny’s room? That didn’t seem like a good idea.
“My friend is on the way,” came Lucien’s voice from somewhere beyond Holly’s limited line of sight. “He’ll be here in an hour.”
“Where is he coming from?”
“Canada. He lives in British Columbia.”
“Is he a vampire like you?”
“He’s a shifter, actually, but he’s spent many years studying the unseen forces of our world. They allow him to move quicker than even I.”
“You’re a lifesaver.” Elise smiled. “Literally.”
“He’s going to take excellent care of you, Holly. I know it doesn’t mean much to you right now, but it truly is an honor to be healed by him.”
“What’s so special about him?” Elise asked. “Is he just extremely talented?”
“I’ll let him explain when he arrives, after he does his work, of course,” Lucien said. “In the meantime, we’re all right here if you need anything, Holly.”
She knew she shouldn’t speak, but she couldn’t stop herself. “Trevor,” she croaked.
“He’s safe. He’s making progress. I’ll fill you in when you’re feeling better,” he said. “Don’t speak. You don’t want to risk damaging your throat more.”
“Hey, vamp,” Elise said. “Care to fill me in on my brother? I’m not patient when it comes to family.”
Holly heard Lucien’s grimace in his voice. “Certainly. Loch, will you sit with Holly?”
“Of course.”
Elise and Lucien moved away.
Loch’s face appeared above her. “Hi, sweetheart.”
Holly managed a small smile.
“I’d kiss you, but I don’t want to make it worse.”
In this rare instance, she agreed with him. A kiss sounded painful to her at the moment.
“How about you sleep for a little while?” he suggested gently. “Or, close your eyes, at least. I won’t leave until the healer gets here. Even then, he’ll probably have to fight me if he wants me out of the room.
Holly laughed before she could stop herself. It hurt like hell even through the magical painkillers.
“I’m sorry.” Loch winced. “I’ll try to turn down my wit and charm, but you know, no promises.”
This time, Holly was able to suppress her urge to laugh. Loch’s idea sounded better by the second. She closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of activity around her. Loch stayed by her side, stroking her hair, and watching over her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE—HOLLY
“Holly,” Loch whispered. “Can you open your eyes, love? The healer is here.”
She opened her eyes to find herself staring up at Loch’s sweet smile. Her upper body rested on his lap. His arm supported her neck, and her head was snuggled against his chest. He must’ve moved her when she’d fallen asleep.
Holly tried to speak, but her throat constricted the moment she tried.
“Don’t push yourself,” Loch urged her. “You’ll be able to speak once the healer is done with you. Can you sit up?”
Everything below Holly’s shoulders felt fine. She sat up, wincing as her head shifted. Loch kept his hand at the base of her skull to help her.
Lucien stood by the fireplace, speaking to a man dressed in a suit of pale hide adorned with feathers of every shape and color.
“Ah, there she is,” Lucien brightened.
The man turned. His skin looked like bark, dark and wrinkled, but his eyes shone brightly with intelligence and curiosity. He decorated his long, silver hair with beads and feathers.
“How is she?” he asked Loch. His voice reminded Holly of distant thunder. Soft, but powerful.
“She can’t speak, and she’s very sore,” Loch recited.
“That’s to be expected. Being strangled isn’t a walk in the park, especially when a bear is doing the strangling.” He approached the couch and knelt down on the floor. “Holly, my name is Cah. I’m going to help you.”
“Cah?” Loch questioned.
“Yes.” Humor twinkled in the healer’s eyes. “With every passing century, I take a syllable off my name. When you’re older, you have the desire to make things as simple as possible. Soon, I will be nameless. I’m looking forward to that. Telemarketers can’t harass you when you’re nameless.”
Holly bit back a laugh.
“Apologies,” Cah said. “I should wait to dazzle you with my wit after we’ve taken care of your injuries.”
Holly decided that
