There might be internal injuries.
Theo scaled the boulder next to the tree, but it only brought him five feet closer to her. He shuffled toward the base of the tree and jumped. Justin and Halena scaled the rock, but stayed put.
“Can you drop her?” Justin asked. “I’ll catch her.”
“No,” Theo said. “I’m coming.”
The tree, despite its massive size, shook as Theo navigated the limbs, jumping up and swinging with the grace of an acrobat. Even through the distance she saw his determination. Nothing would stop him from getting to her.
Nothing in this world ever would.
Soft feathers brushed along her bare back, igniting another wave of fear. She glanced down and realized her shirt—er—Theo’s shirt—had been shredded. Maybe when the wings had shot out of her back.
Oh, God. She had wings. Bile stung as worry worked to boost her fear. Wings. She truly was a freak of nature.
Be calm, love. I’m almost to you.
Theo’s voice soothed her fear, and she rested her cheek on Dasha’s forehead. He would be there soon and would heal her best friend, then they’d figure things out. Theo would know what was happening to her.
He wouldn’t reject her for her wings. She was his Mate. He loved her. Was fated to her.
Snapping branches renewed her focus. Theo was only ten feet away. She could see the whites of his eyes and the length of his fangs. He must be so tired. Fighting so hard today, injured, now climbing a tree because she was stuck. Winged and stuck.
She shuddered, and her wings coiled around her, almost like a blanket, as if they knew she was chilled. That Dasha was possibly cold.
“Hold on, Dash. He’s almost here. Hold on.”
She’d already lost Nicole, Richard, and Ramos; she couldn’t lose Dasha, too. Even with all the strength that roared through her when the car finally crashed into that boulder, she couldn’t dislodge Ramos from the front seat. She had to try for Dasha. She’d been thrown, the car landing on her legs, crushing her.
Dasha’s cry ripped through Sadie’s memory and tears welled. Fresh, fat, hot tears.
Please let Dasha be okay.
“I’m here, love,” Theo said, reaching for her. “Let’s have a look.”
He perched next to Sadie, not even looking at her new wings. His focus was solely on her eyes. His gaze engulfed her in warmth.
“Help her.” She shifted, exposing Dasha to Theo more.
He rested his hand on her friend’s forehead and grimaced. His free arm hugged the trunk, steadying him.
“Theo.”
“I’m okay, love. Just hold steady. She’s gravely injured.”
Sadie shifted her weight a little more, resting Dasha’s back against her knee, freeing up a hand. She placed it atop Theo’s, and her wings snapped straight. The force nudged her forward, but she tightened her stomach, keeping her balance.
Theo’s hand brightened, like his skin often did when she touched him. Energized him. He drew in a deep breath and clenched his jaw. She traced her hand up his arm, watching the trail of light follow in its wake.
Her wing, as if knowing her thoughts, curled around his bare shoulders. Where the feathers touched, his skin glowed. His smile widened, and he pinned his gaze on her.
Feels magical,
he said, for her ears only.
“I’m so scared.”
“I know, love.” He dipped his head slightly, but kept his hand on Dasha’s forehead. “It’ll be fine. You’re strong.”
“I pushed the SUV.”
“I saw that.” His body tensed, and he grunted. She cuffed his wrist, willing him her energy to help. “Thanks,” he whispered.
“Ramos is dead.” Her voice crackled through the lump lodged in her throat. “I couldn’t save him.”
“He’ll be well rewarded in Heaven for his devotion. He no longer feels any pain.”
Theo sounded so old when he talked like that. It was a bright reminder he’d seen many deaths. Fought many battles. Yet it hadn’t hardened him. He’d accepted it as part of being the Gatekeeper. A Shomrei.
Dasha’s body tensed. Her eyes fluttered, and she drew in a deep breath.
“How’ll we get her down?” Sadie whispered.
“Do you trust Justin to catch her?”
She glanced below. Not really much choice, was there?
“Or do you want to test your wings?”
“No.” She shook her head. She didn’t even remember getting up here. At first, she figured it was the force of the blast that had sent her flying. But the trajectory didn’t match. She wouldn’t have gone so high. Maybe as far, just not so far up.
Her wings must have shot out and taken her out of harm’s way.
“Love?”
“Oh. Sorry. Yes. Let’s try Justin. Is she healed enough to survive the drop?”
He nodded. “I got most of it—she’s resting. It will be just a quick finish once we’re down there.” He glanced out over the area. “I’ll have Halena zoom down the road and procure a car so we can get back to the plane straightaway.”
As if she’d heard the words, Halena darted off, leaving a trail of dust around her.
“What’d you say?” Justin yelled up. “I hate when you vibe her like that.”
“Vibe.” Sadie huffed. Even in dire circumstances, Justin joked. Then again, this was just another day for him, right?
Warm fingers found her cheek. “You’re not injured any longer.”
She shook her head, shifting Dasha slightly.
“How?”
“Not really sure.” Tears burned, but she blinked them back. No time to be weak. She had to think of Dasha. Only when her friend was safe could she break down and feel the full force of her fear and confusion. “Help me get her positioned. How do we do this?”
“Justin, we’re sending Dasha your way.” Theo looked down. “Ready?”
Sadie leaned forward. It had to be at least twenty-five feet down. The force itself would injure her friend. “I can’t do this.”
“No worries, love. Justin will catch her. Then I’ll finish her healing. I can’t climb down with her. We’re too high.” He reached for Dasha. “I’ll hold her down as far as possible. Justin will be there.”
Sadie dipped her head. “Okay.”
Theo guided Dasha from Sadie’s lap and, lying flat on the limb to get her as far as he could to Justin, eased her down, holding her by the forearms. “Ready,” Justin said, arms out. “Soft catch. I got her.”
“On three,” Theo said.
Sadie’s heart hammered. Her wings stiffened behind her. Hairs prickled along her neck. Dasha would be fine. Justin and Theo knew what they were doing.
“One. Two. Three.” Theo released his hold on Dasha, and she fell.
A grunt later, she was in Justin’s arms. “Got her.” He turned, holding her in his arms, and moved toward a small fire that had started near them. Now that she looked around, little fires burned in several places.
“It’s okay. Halena will get the fire squad. Come here.” He reached for her. “Come to me, love.”
She stood, holding the branches above her for balance, and made her way to him. He sat, straddling the large branch, back against the trunk, watching her. She felt his gaze slide over her body like a stream of warm water, then pause beside her, and she looked.
Light feathers ruffled in the slight breeze. Her face heated, and she stopped.
“No. Come here.” He beckoned her to him. The look in his eyes was so tender, she could no longer hold back the tears.
They streamed down her cheeks, and her shoulders sagged forward as she stepped, focusing on the surface through the distorting tears. All would be calm once she rested in his arms. She knew that. Felt it. Needed it.
“That’s it. Come to me, love,” he whispered.
She bent her knees and squatted before him. He sat up straighter, worked his arms around her, just beneath her wings, and edged her closer.
“It’s going to be fine.”
She wove her arms around his neck, and her wings followed suit, covering them with warmth.
“I’m not so sure, anymore. I have wings, Theo.
Wings
.”
His hand traced up her spine as much as it could until the wings got in the way. “We’ll figure this out.”
“Did you get the envelope?”
“I did. You ready to climb down and see what’s in it?”
She nodded into his neck, then leaned back. “What am I going to do with these?” They had to be at least fifteen feet wide fully extended.
“Stand up. Come on. We’ll climb down.”
He hugged the tree as he stepped to the next branch, then another, descending like a pro. Sadie felt nothing like that. Sure, she had the strength and coordination of a supernatural creature, and her martial arts helped, but going down was always harder than up.
She reached for the branch in front of her and took her first step.
“Good. Keep going,” Theo said. “Just like that.”
She peeked around and found another limb she might reach. Squatting down, she used the branch to steady her. Her wing brushed some leaves. The extra weight tilted her, but she grabbed a nearby branch and regained her balance.
She froze, breathing deeply.
“Sadie?” Theo asked.
“I’m good. Just figuring my next step.”
While trying not to barf all over the place.
She started again, descending to the next limb. At this rate, it’d take her an hour. Theo was nearly to the bottom already, slowing only to check on her.
Damn wings were cumbersome. They sent her balance off-kilter.
One more step, and she made it down another foot.
Only this branch gave.
And down she went.
Chapter Forty-five
“Sadie!” Theo yelled as she plummeted toward the ground.
He darted forward, ready to catch her, but ten feet from impact, her new wings flapped out, slowing her.
Her eyes were pinched shut and her jaw tight, but when her wings caught air, her eyes flew open, then she grimaced and grabbed her stomach.
The wings slowed her, but she still landed hard, judging by the grunt she let out when her feet made contact. She tilted to the side, but he dashed to her and caught her head just before contact with a rock the size of a shoebox.
Bones cracked, and she yelped and rolled onto her stomach.
Her left wing was bent upward, in the opposite direction it should. Justin, still holding Dasha in his arms, approached, watching with wide eyes.
Theo returned his focus to her and reached down.
She batted his arm away. “Get back.” She pushed herself up.
“Let me heal you.”
“Stay away.” She clutched her stomach and stepped back. Her eyes were closed, and tears streamed down her dirty cheeks.
Her shirt had nearly shredded completely off, which left her in only a torn tank top and sports bra. Her wing fluttered, and she grimaced. A trickle of blood oozed onto the light feathers. They matched her hair, from what he could tell in this limited light.
“Sadie,” he whispered.
She stiffened, finally opening her eyes. “I’m fine. Where’s Dasha?”
“Justin has her,” Theo said as he reached for Sadie’s best friend to finish healing her. “She’s fine.”
Theo held on as he watched Sadie bend over and prop her hands on her knees. She was taking deep breaths and letting them out slowly.
“Sadie.” Dasha’s voice was tiny, almost a whisper.
Sadie looked up, tears flowing down her face.
“Oh my God, Sadie.” Justin let Dasha down, and she stumbled forward. “What happened?”
“Thought that’d be obvious.”
“Sweet Jesus. You’re hurt.” Sadie allowed Dasha to approach her.
Why wouldn’t she let Theo? He closed his eyes and probed into her mind, but her thoughts were jumbled, flaring in all different directions. Guarded. He wasn’t able to clearly pick up anything but sensed fear, disgust, and anger.
Why couldn’t he read her anymore?
A jolt of fear shot through him, and he took inventory. Still had the neck pulsing. Still sensed her feelings, though he couldn’t read thoughts. Still had the intense desire to mate with her. Even now his body wanted to be close to hers. To feel her energy. To be one with her.
But he couldn’t read her anymore.
“What’s wrong, brother?” Justin gripped his shoulder.
“Not sure yet.” Theo stared at his Mate. “She sees Heavenly Hosts, can handle the Mavet, and she’s superstrong. All before mating.”
“Not to mention she can sense splices. Not really mind reading, but you know what I mean.”
“Now the wings, and she’s healed herself from her wounds.” He regarded the snapped wing. “Why won’t she let me touch her?”
“Dude. Can you imagine how much she must be freaking out?” Justin looked at him. “I can’t believe she hasn’t cracked yet, to be honest with you. This is more than any other mated Shomrei goes through.”
“She’s been more than human her entire life. Aggie said her angelic roots only protected her for so long.” Theo cupped his neck. “So, she’s part angel. She has to be.”
“That’s my guess. Angels don’t show up on this plane very often. Let alone go around having sex with humans and making babies.”
“It doesn’t make sense.”
Sadie rested her forehead on Dasha’s shoulder. They murmured something between them he couldn’t hear. Instead of entering Dasha’s mind to retrieve it, he let it go. Justin was right. Sadie had to be so scared, and she needed her best friend.
If only she’d allow him to comfort her. That was all he ached to do.
“Ahhh,” Sadie yelped and fell to her knees. “Oh, God.”
Theo’s fangs dropped instantly, and he bent his knees and whipped out his dagger. What was the threat? He’d sensed nothing.
“Oh, God it hurts,” Sadie yelled. She was on all fours, heaving as if needing to vomit. Dasha stepped aside, and that’s when Theo heard cracking. Like dry, brittle twigs were snapping beneath weight.
He held out his hand for Justin to still and focused on the sound. It was near Sadie. Behind her.
Her wing twitched. No, the sound was coming
from
her.
The broken wing tightened. He could hear crackling and grinding. Then Sadie gasped and let out a breath. Another tight breath in and out. White plumed from her mouth.
After several seconds of this, the wing straightened. No sign of breakage or blood.
Sadie sat on her heels and covered her face with her hands. Her shoulders trembled. “God help me,” she whispered. “What’s happening?”