Author: J.D. Tyler

Zan figured the mutual friend was Jarrod Grant.

“Thank you. He speaks highly of you as well. Shall we get going? I know you all must be tired and hungry. We’ll eat and then let your men rest tonight. There’s time enough for the meeting tomorrow.”

“That sounds just fine, thank you.”

Thank God!

The team split up, and both limos were more than enough to accommodate them all. Nick and the prince rode in the first limo, along with the newly turned young vampire, Aric, Rowan, and Hammer. Zan rode in the second car with Ryon, Jax, Nix, and Micah. Each car also carried several of the prince’s soldiers, who were not dressed in a military style at all, but in black jeans and long-sleeved shirts and wearing cool shades. Zan thought they looked like bouncers at a club, but refrained from saying so.

The interior of the limo was plush, the ride smooth, even on these roads. Soft music played through the speakers, making Zan sleepy all over again. He was about worn-out for the day, and he was getting a slight headache to match the pain in his thigh.

He was sitting with his head resting against the glass, eyes half-closed, when he saw something that had him sitting upright, suddenly wide-awake. He squinted, trying to see better—

And spotted the fading sunlight reflect off a long, green barrel that was poking through the underbrush. Shit!

“Stop the cars!” he shouted, scaring everyone awake. “Ambush ahead! Stop—”

A stream of smoke erupted from the brush, and there was a loud boom that shook the car they were riding in. Rocket launcher! From the side window, Zan watched in horror as the lead car skidded, flipped sideways, and rolled over into a gulley. His own limo skidded to a halt, and the team poured out the doors.

Straight into an assault by at least thirty rogues. Maybe more.

The fight was on, and there was no time to check on his Pack brothers in the first car. He could only hope they were all right as he engaged the first rogue, sliced its throat and stabbed it in the heart, and then fought the next one. And the next.

Exhaustion crept in, but he couldn’t stop. Finally, he spotted Nick and the others from the first car joining the fray. That was a relief, though he couldn’t spot the boy. Then Nick went down and didn’t get up. That moment of distraction almost cost Zan his head. But at the last moment, he whirled and deflected the killing blow and dispatched the attacker.

His arms were tiring, his head throbbing. But he couldn’t quit. At one point he was amazed to see that the young man had acquired a long blade from somewhere and was cutting a swath through the rogues like he’d been doing it all his life. Zan figured the kid owed the bastards for killing his family. Maybe he had found a new calling.

Slash, stab, yank out the heart. He shut out fatigue and emotion. Kept going until he and his teammates, and the boy, along with the prince’s soldiers, were standing alone on the blood-soaked battlefield, amid their defeated enemy.

Defeated for now.

Jesus, he hurt all over. He was tired and ravenous. Whatever the prince was serving, he was going to eat until he exploded.

Suddenly, a shout chased away thoughts of dinner. He looked around and spotted Rowan crouched over a prone body—Nick! Running, leaping over bodies, Zan made his way to his boss’s side and dropped to his knees.

“He and the prince are hurt,” Rowan told him. She met Zan’s gaze, the knowledge there painful. “I know Melina and Mac told you not to use your healing again, but Tarron’s wound is bad.”

“I’m not letting either one of them die,” Zan said grimly, “so don’t try to stop me.”

Nobody could argue with that, no matter how badly they didn’t want Zan hurt by using his gift. And nobody tried to talk him out of it, though he knew they wanted to. As Zan assessed the two men, he noted that the boy was watching intently. Taking it all in. He supposed the period of shock had given way to a survival instinct. That would hold the boy in good stead for a long time.

“What’s your name?” he asked as he placed his hands on Tarron’s chest.

“Daegan.”

“Watch and learn, Daegan. They’re our leaders, and that’s exactly why that limo was targeted. Even if the battle is won, if the leader falls, the war can be lost. It’s the soldier’s job to protect him, no matter the personal price.”

“Yes, sir.”

Centering himself, he tried not to think about what might happen to his brain. About the doctors’ warnings coming true. This was his calling, what he was born to do.

“Stab wound to the gut,” he told the group. “Got a bunch of the intestines. Fatal without intervention because he’s losing blood faster than his vampire healing can handle. Here I go.”

The wound was a raging bitch to repair. Slowly, he knitted together the ripped tissue, reconnected thousands of tiny veins. Pumped up the blood supply to the prince’s organs. Halfway through, his head began to ache. Throb. Three quarters of the way, he was struggling not to pass out from the pain as the tiny eruptions began to take place deep in his brain.

“Almost there,” he whispered. “Just a little more.”

Then he was done. He was almost blind from the pain as he pushed from Tarron’s healing body to Nick’s nearby. The commander was sitting up, protesting any help.

“No,” he told Zan. “I can see you’re in a lot of pain. I’ll be fine.”

Ignoring him, Zan laid a hand on his chest. Assessed. “Femoral artery tear. If you weren’t a shifter, you’d be dead by now. Let me work.”

He started again, struggling with every second, with every cell he coaxed back together, even though the job wasn’t as tedious as Tarron’s healing. When he was finished, he swayed on his knees, then collapsed.

Something warm gushed from his nose. He tried to wipe it, but couldn’t move his arm. Jax’s face appeared over his, worried. Zan couldn’t make out what he was saying.

Then the world gradually vanished and the pain with it.

Selene was playing a game on the Wii with Blue when the call came in.

She wasn’t the one who answered. Suddenly Melina was striding into the room, and when Selene glanced at her, she immediately knew something was wrong.

“What’s happened?” She pushed to her feet, leaving the game. Blue joined her.

“We have to leave right away for Prince Tarron’s stronghold.”

“Why?” she asked in growing alarm. “What’s going on?”

“The team was ambushed tonight by a large group of rogue vampires. They were traveling to the stronghold with the prince and his men in two cars when the attack happened. Zan had to heal your father or he was going to die. The prince as well.”

Selene felt the blood drain from her face. “Is Zan okay? Of course he’s not, or you wouldn’t be here.”

“I’m going to be honest. His brain is rupturing from the stress of healing again too soon, and the prince’s doctor can’t get him stabilized. They think your being there will help him, considering your bond.”

“What are we waiting for?” she cried. “Let’s go!”

“Good. We can send for some things later.”

“How are we getting there? Will we take a helicopter, too?”

“No time, and there’s an easier way.” Just then, Noah joined her, followed by Kalen, Mac, and the new baby. “We’re all going, including Kalen. And Mac and the baby aren’t going to be left here virtually all alone in this big place.”

She was about to repeat her question about how they were getting there when three males in black jeans and black long-sleeved shirts suddenly appeared in the game room out of thin air. Selene jumped with fright and scrambled back.

“It’s all right,” Melina reassured her. “These vampires are some of the prince’s soldiers. Vampires can teleport, so they’re going to take us directly to the stronghold.”

“Okay.” She hoped she didn’t get sick. Teleporting sounded scary as hell, though she’d never done it.

There wasn’t much time to worry. The three vampires spread out, instructing them to link arms. Told them to close their eyes.

And in a flash, she felt as though she were hurtling through space. Rushing along like she was seated in a fighter jet—with the top down.

As quickly as she made that comparison, the trip was over. They were on stable ground again. Or rather, a floor. Opening her eyes, she gaped at her surroundings. They were standing in a huge foyer fashioned out of the mouth of a cave. The space was every bit as richly appointed as a palace, and that’s in fact what it was. A massive stone fortress carved right into the side of a mountain. She couldn’t imagine any enemy strong enough to penetrate it.

“The prince will see you momentarily,” one of the soldiers informed her. “Wait here.”

Then they were gone. But in the next instant, she spotted her father and a tall, stunning man hurrying toward them. Her father’s face was drawn, worried, and the other man’s was too.

“I’m Tarron Romanoff,” the prince said, confirming his identity. “Your mate saved our lives, your father’s and my own. He’s a very brave and honorable man.”

She resisted the urge to demand he take her to see Zan right the hell now. “Thank you. I think the same of him.” She hung on to her composure. “Please, how is he?”

“Not well, I’m afraid. His brain has been pushed to the limits of his endurance, and the bleeding continues. He’s unconscious.”

“How can I help? I’ll do anything.” She meant that.

“Our doctor and our team of nurses believe strongly in the power of the mate bond. Especially in cases where one mate is straddling the line between life and death. The mate bond can sway the other partner toward life and healing.”

Tears filled her eyes. “I’ll do whatever it takes to get him well. May I see him now?”

“Of course. Come along and we’ll get you settled with him.” To the others, he said, “I’ll have rooms prepared for all of you. I’d like to extend an invitation to your medical staff to work in our infirmary while the Alpha Pack remains our guests and we battle this rogue problem. We know so little about shifter medicine; your presence would be a great help.”

“Nurse Brooks and I accept, thank you,” Melina said. “Dr. Grant is on maternity leave.”

The prince graced the baby with a warm smile. “I see that. I’ll make sure the baby and his parents have the best accommodations available.”

He spun and walked away. The group followed, entering a whole new world.

But all Selene could focus on was making sure her brave Healer was healed himself.

Ten

Selene followed the prince through the maze of tunnels, thinking that if an enemy did somehow manage to enter this place, he’d need a map and a tour guide to find his way out.

When they finally reached the infirmary, she was gratified to see Zan’s friends all gathered, waiting on word. She knew they were scared, but not as scared as she was. This was her mate in danger.

Spotting a doctor coming through some double doors toward her, she hurried to him.

“Please, I’m here to see Zander Cole. How is he?” she asked in a tremulous voice. The handsome doctor swung his steady gaze around and scrutinized her, his face softening in sympathy. Selene felt her heart lurch as he came to stand before her.

“Are you Selene Westfall?”

“Zan’s mate, yes,” she said. A shuffle of feet came from behind her, and she knew his team was listening. They wanted news just as badly. When the doctor spoke, he addressed her kindly, unruffled by the horde of shifters pressing close to listen.

“I’m Dr. Archer. Let’s take a seat, and we’ll start with the good news. Please,” he instructed gently, and waited for her to comply.