Healing Their Mate (The Love of a Shifter) (27 page)

River continued to pace back and forth watching the video feed as her mates and the others left the area.  She knew Reece was hurt the worst but she prayed that he would get here in time for them to heal him.  Jonas was holding his side as he walked toward the vehicles.  She could see that he was hurt too, but he didn’t look as bad as Reece.

She couldn
’t stop moving until Sky came and stood in front of her.  “I hear it is real hard and almost impossible to kill a vampire and Reece looked hurt not dead.” 

River turned her head at her little brother then placed her hands on her hips. 
“You are so not helping me right now, little brother.”  For the first time, Sky smiled at River.  She couldn’t help but to smile back at him.  He had a beautiful smile too. 

“
I’m just worried that he is in a lot of pain.  You saw what Paddock did to him,” River said sullenly, not wanting to yell at her brother, but she was worried sick about Reece and Jonas.  She could tell that Jonas looked beat up some but Reece had lost a lot of blood and his stomach looked like shredded paper flowing in the wind.  How he survived she didn’t know.  Ash had to physically hold her down so River wouldn’t take a vehicle and go after Reece and Jonas.  As she watched them fighting for her life, her anger became apparent when she flung the food off the table.  She cussed Ash and everyone else as they subdued her so she couldn’t leave the lodge.  She kept screaming that she was going to kill Paddock and Rick.  She continued to watch the battle but holding her down became almost impossible to Ash without hurting her until Banks came in the room and held her down.  Banks was left behind in case they didn’t make it.  He would have to protect River and the others if Paddock won.  He wasn’t worried about Paddock living after watching Reece and Jonas in action.  Plus Jansen and his magic was there too and he knew Jansen would help them.  Only until after the fight was over did River calm down some.  They thought they were going to have to strap her down to the bed.  Ash was going to talk to the guys because River’s strength increased dramatically while she was in a rage as she watched her mates getting hurt.  She didn’t know if getting mated earlier today changed her someway, but she gained a lot of strength today.  Something different was happening to her because she only felt strength like that from very powerful shifters not a human who could heal. 

“
He will be okay, sis.”  Looking back at her brother she tried to smile then continued to pace the room as they waited for her mates to return.  She wouldn’t be able to relax until her mates were safely back at the lodge.

Ash had already planned for beds to be brought in the room so they could rest and let them heal without anyone seeing.  Food was also brought in and kept warm in covering racks.  Ash was worried about her own mates too, but she could tell they didn
’t have a problem killing the other vampires.  She knew her mates hated to kill another paranormal but this couldn’t be helped.  If anyone found out about them then they would all be hunted and killed.  Killing the rogue vampires was a necessary punishment for what they had been doing. 

River ran into the open arms of Jonas as he walked in the door.  She hugged Jonas hard as she whispered in his ear that she loved him.  Jonas gasped as River hugged him tightly around the waist.  His ribs had been broken during the battle, but his wolf was already healing his body.  Then she opened her eyes and watched as Jansen carried Reece into the room.  Running over to Jansen, she could see the pain etched on Reece
’s face as he smiled at her.  His face had already turned an ashy color.  He could barely keep his eyes open as she started to cry.  “Don’t cry, baby.”  Reece held his hand out to her.  Clutching his hand, she brought it to her face needing to feel him.  She walked beside Jansen as he carried Reece to a bed and gently laid him down. 

Concentrating, she laid her hands on Reece
’s stomach.  He jerked as the pressure from her hand pained him.  “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry.  I’m sorry.”  Smiling, he grabbed her hand before she could get up. 

“
It’s okay, baby.  You’re still hurt from before.  I can wait,” Reece whispered out in pain.  Jonas was standing behind River and bent down to see if she was okay.  Star and Sky watched from the corner as Reece refused to allow River to heal him.  Knowing their sister’s mate needed to be healed, Star pushed off from the wall and walked over to where Reece was arguing with River. 

“
Excuse me.”  River and her mates looked over at Star.

“
If you would allow me, sister, I will heal your mate so you can finally be a family.”  River nodded, seeing that arguing with Reece was causing more pain to him.  His wounds started to bleed again from all the moving he was doing. 

River reached out and held Reece
’s hand.  He looked over at her and smiled.  “I love you, angel,” Reece whispered. 

She could see the pain as he tried to speak more.  She held her hand over his mouth so he wouldn
’t talk anymore.  “And I love you too,” River whispered as the tears fell down her cheek.  Jonas stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders. 

Sky put his hand on Star
’s shoulder as she lightly placed her hands on Reece.  Concentrating on healing the wound, Star started the healing process.  She knew it would take many sessions because of all the damage that had been done to his stomach.  Jonas watched as Star’s hands glowed brighter than anything he had ever seen.  Ash and Larken moved closer, watching, as the glowing got brighter and brighter. 

“
Has it always been this bright?” Larken asked Ash.  He knew she was with River when she healed Mary.

“
No.  I’ve never seen it like this,” Ash said as the light in the room became so bright she had to shield her eyes from the brightness coming from Star’s hands. 

Jansen who was sitting in the corner watching stood up and walked closer to Reece. 
“Have you ever seen anything like this?” Larken asked Jansen.

Shaking his head, Jansen couldn
’t believe what he was seeing.  Then he noticed that all the siblings were connected in some way to Reece.  River was holding Reece’s hand and Sky had his hands on Star’s shoulders.  They watched as Reece’s stomach muscles knitted together faster than anything they had ever seen.  Wounds that were dripping blood a few minutes ago were healed.  Cuts were gone from his body as he laid healed from the three healers being connected in some way to the victim. 

“
They are connected to each other,” Jansen muttered as he pointed toward River, Star, and Sky. 

Larken looked and they were connected.  All of the siblings were touching each other.  He didn
’t understand why but somehow their power was greater. 

Reece inhaled deeply then reached down and touched his stomach.  He couldn
’t believe there was nothing wrong with his stomach now.  They had healed him faster than anything he had ever seen.  He couldn’t believe he didn’t even feel a scratch on him. 
There’s no more pain either
, Reece thought. 

River gasped as Reece
’s stomach healed so fast.  “That…how…how…did you do that?” River asked.

Star opened her eyes then pulled her hands away.  She couldn
’t believe it either.  That had never happened before.  There was too much damage.  She knew it would take days for Reece to heal completely not a few minutes.  She looked closer at Reece’s stomach not believing what she was seeing.  Not even a scratch was on him.  “This can’t be,” Star whispered as she looked back at Sky.

Sky leaned over Star
’s head looking at Reece’s stomach.  He couldn’t believe it either.  Not even a scratch. 

    No one said anything at first.  They couldn
’t believe what they were seeing.  “And they said that it was the power of the three that would come together and heal the community and bring about the times of change when good versus evil would run rampant through the world.”  Everyone looked at Jansen who had spoke the scary words.  His eyes looked up to find everyone in the room watching him.

“
Did you make that up?” Larken asked.

“
No my Ne-ma told me that when I was little.”  Jansen blew out his breath knowing that change was coming and it was going to get real busy around the lodge.  “My Ne-ma taught me all the spells I’m using, she was also an Elder for my people.  Ever since I was little she told me about the power of the three.  The three were human but not.  They had the power to heal and had other powers that were powerful but together they were more powerful than anyone else.  Ne-ma said that nobody knew what their powers would be because they haven’t been born yet but when they were and they finally came together then they would bring communities together and heal them but with this power came a struggle between good versus evil and this evil would try to control the world.  I thought she was crazy, but now I know that Ne-ma was right.  Paddock and his clan were evil and they wanted River to control and use her to make them more powerful.  If he would have known about the three of you…if any of them knew about you.  Then we would have problems but I see now that we have to protect you.  Because…” Jansen stopped talking as he watched the fear come into Star’s and Sky’s eyes.

River reached across Reece and touched Star
’s arm.  “We will protect you.  Nobody knows about us.  It stays in this room.  We stay together,” River muttered, trying to make it clear to her siblings that she would keep them safe.  She was the oldest and she knew without a doubt that nobody would touch them.  She just found them and nothing would ever take them away from her. 

“
We will all protect you,” Jonas commanded.  “Nothing will ever take you away from River,” Jonas added as Reece reached over and put his hand on River’s hand showing that he too would protect them.  Jansen came closer and put his hands on Sky’s shoulders.  He could see the fear in his eyes knowing now what they were going to be up against.  Ash, Larken, and Larsen also put their hands on Star and Sky letting them know that they would all protect them. 

Tears came to River
’s eyes.  These were her friends, her family.  No more running from them.  She had a family who needed her just as much as she needed them.  River felt her heart growing bigger in her chest or at least that was how it felt.  She was so happy that she hated to release from everyone, not wanting the feeling to go away. 

Reece reached up and cupped River
’s face.  “I can kiss you now.”  Smiling back at him, River closed her eyes as Reece slowly kissed her lips. 

“
Okay, I have to move now.  Ewe.  My sister kissing someone is just gross to me.”  Everyone laughed as Sky pulled away from everyone.  He had only spoken a few words since he got here so it was funny to hear him joke like a little brother. 

“
We need to discuss this and figure out what to do?” Larken suggested.

“
Well as leader of the unit, we can implement them into the unit so they can be protected at all times,” Jonas added.

“
They will move in with us.  We have lots of bedrooms in the house,” Reece leaned up and commanded.

Star looked at everyone talking about Star and her life like they didn
’t have a say in this. She had the same blue eyes as her sister and brother, but her hair was a beautiful red color.  She wasn’t too tall, maybe five foot five, but she was beautiful. “Hey don’t talk about us like we don’t have a say in this,” Star muttered loudly.  Jumping up and walking away from the group, Star huffed and puffed all the way across the room.  Talking under her breath about macho men thinking they could control the little old woman.  Jansen watched as the fiery red head beauty stomped off like a little child. 

“
You will do what we say,” Jansen said sullenly. 

Fire could be seen across the room when Star heard Jansen try to command her. 
“Who do you think you are?  You big, big asshole.  You’re not my husband or mate and you won’t tell me what to do.  Do you hear me?” Star yelled as she put her hands on her hips daring Jansen to say something back. 

River and her mates watched the exchange going on between Jansen and Star.  They all could feel the sexual charge between the two but neither one was going to give in.  River knew she needed to stop this before anything got out of control.  Why did Jansen want to protect her so much by telling her what she was going to do? 
“Star?”  Jansen stopped what he was going to say and looked over at River.

“
Do you and Sky want to live with us?  It’s a big house and I would feel better knowing you were with me or at least near me.  We have a lot of catching up to do.”  Star could feel Sky beside her.  When she looked over at him she knew she couldn’t say no.  He wanted a family and truth be known, she did too.

“
I do, but, Sky, I can’t speak for you.  What do you want, brother?” Star asked.

Sky nodded yes.  He didn
’t speak but he didn’t have to.  They could tell by the big smile on his face.

“
Let’s go home, mates,” Reece said grinning.  Jonas came over and helped Reece off the table.  He was a little sore but other than that he felt great and wanted to go home for some quiet time with his mates.