The seven of them surrounded her, all of them touching her, holding her, stroking her as Melody sobbed her heart out. She had lost the closest thing to a mother that she’d had since she was a little girl, and all those dead shifters were like her family, aunts, uncles and cousins. They were all dead because of her.
“Sssh, Melody, no. It isn’t your fault, it’s your aunt, not you. She’s the twisted bitch who did this,” soothed Nick.
“I should have died,” she sobbed. “When I refused Dean, I should have gone through with it and died. I should have denounced her. The three big geasen together would have killed me.”
“No!” growled Dean. “You’re mine. You will not die. This is not your fault, nothing you did caused this. Stop, Melody. Let it go. Let all the pain out, and let us in.”
She could feel them, Dean and Asher by her side, still feeding energy to her, her body claiming it even if her mind no longer wanted to. Their hearts beat in time with hers, and their hands caressed her, soothing her in a way that nothing else would. Not even the other shifters.
“I don’t deserve any of you,” she sobbed.
“Gentlemen, let me through please,” said a stern voice, and a moment later, Mrs Hardinger came into view, a blanket in her hand. “Here, help me wrap her up, you lot can only give her so much warmth.”
She passed the blanket to the men, who carefully wrapped her in it, Dean pulling her onto his lap, and Asher cradling her legs.
“There, my lovely girl, I think you’ve dealt with quite enough tonight, close your eyes now and get some rest.” There was a snort from behind the witch, but Melody couldn’t see who it was, she couldn’t see anything because her body had listened and her eyes had closed. Even as she fought it, as she struggled with her overwhelming grief, she felt her mind drift away. It was magic, it had to be. They were sending her to sleep.
Guilty but grateful, she sank into darkness.
19. Melody
Sounds came first, shouting and arguing. Then the light on her eyelids, turning everything red.
“Well, she needs to get out of bed, the lazy bitch! There are questions to be answered and we will not wait!” shouted a strident voice. It was the same voice that had woken her.
Melody lay on her side, and a warmth behind her drew closer, arms wrapping around her, while another in front of her drew her into his chest, his warm spicy cologne comforting her.
Dean. So Asher must be behind her.
The door to her room flew open and an enraged man stood there, Mrs Hardinger following him in and scowling.
“You will get up, stop faking injury, and come out here now to answer questions!” he shouted at her.
“Who the hell are you?” she scowled.
On either side of her, her familiars growled, the two different animal noises sounding more alike than at any other time she’d heard them.
“I’m Councillor Argrum, from the American Council of Witches, and I will not be put off any longer. You have ten seconds to get out of that bed before I arrest you for high treason!” he yelled.
“But I’m …”
“I said now, you fucking bitch, sit up, get up, right now.”
Furious, Melody threw the blankets down revealing her naked body. Dean and Asher thankfully had pants on, but Melody wasn’t wearing a single stitch.
“What is the fucking meaning of this?” yelled the man.
“I was trying to tell you, ‘but I’m naked’. At least have the decency to let me get dressed before you start hurling abuse at me again.”
“Decency? DECENCY?” he screamed, spittle gathering at the corners of his mouth.
“Councillor Argrum, that is quite enough. Regardless of your feelings, there are protocols to observe, and you are breaching several of them.”
Melody had never heard Mrs Hardinger sound so cold.
“Let the child get clothed, and then you may calmly present your questions.”
“I’ve waited for two days to speak to this murderer. She has exactly three minutes before I transport her to the citadel and give her over to our questioners.” He spun on his heel and left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Melody looked at Mrs Hardinger in shock. “Two days?”
“Breaking the geasen took a toll on you, Melody. Add it to everything else that you’ve been through and the fact that you had no sleep; yes, two days is a remarkably short time. Given what I saw in that ring, I would have expected you to be out another two more. As soon as he’s done, you’re to come straight back to bed.” Her attention shifted to the two men
“Now, you two, out. You’ve been with her more than long enough to satisfy your beasts, she's fine and recovering. Let me help the poor child get dressed and then we’ll join you. I suggest you both find a shirt.”
Her tart command did much to restore Melody’s sense of normalcy, and she almost giggled as the two larger men were chased out of the room.
“Now dear, tell me where things are and I’ll bring them, I suggest you don’t try to stand until you have to. You’ve recovered remarkably, but you are by no means well.”
Melody quickly told the woman where to find underwear and clothing, and allowed her to help her get dressed. Mrs Hardinger was right, her legs were wobbly and her balance was off. When it came to leaving the room, Mrs Hardinger called one of the dragons in. Dean and Asher were there immediately, but she would hear nothing of it.
“Enough fussing,” she snapped. “You’re not the only ones pining for her, let the others have a moment to reconnect.”
Justin walked into the room, his
