Blood Bonds (46 page)

“Don’t move, my man. It’s only going to get worse. The double board is on the way.”

Yeah, a double board sounded great, whatever the hell that was. Farley put his hand over Haley’s and laid his forehead down on her shoulder.

Close to his ear the lady EMS said, “I’m going to move you in a second. Just relax. You’ll be able to lay right next to her. Don’t worry. You’re both safe. She’ll be okay, you’ll both be okay.”

And Farley believed every word she said.

Haley had the strangest feeling she was being stared at. She laid there a moment trying to remember what happened. When the feeling got stronger, she opened her eyes.

Lines of sunlight cut through the blinds on the nearby window and painted the room. She moved a hand, felt the softness of a bed underneath and Farley at her back.

The feeling of being stared at did not go away. She turned her head and saw a man dressed in a gray suit standing against the wall. Short brown hair framed a pleasant face. Nothing about him was remarkable-- average height, average build.

A small smile pulled at his lips and his blue eyes softened. And while Haley had never seen him before in her life, every fiber in her body told her she should know him. He blinked once, slow, and tilted his head.

“Gregory? I mean ... Justice?” He came forward, moving like a Human, but with a strange elegance.

“It is.” When he smiled, faint laugh lines outlined his Human eyes.

Haley looked around the room. It had all the hallmark details of a hospital room--a TV in the corner, a bed-table on wheels, and an uncomfortable chair sitting in the corner. She looked at Farley. They had matching gowns and ports in their arm. Her first instinct was to rip the damn things out.

“They were running his blood into you. Medan almost burned you up.”

Yeah, that sounds like something that bitch would do.

Farley moved, pressing himself closer. Haley sat up on her elbow and tried listening to her body. To see if anything was out of place. She felt normal. She felt like herself. “What happened?”

Gregory’s shoulders rose and fell with Draconian grace. He put a hand on the bedrail. “You are okay, Haley Night.”

“I am?” After everything that happened, she had a hard time believing that.

“You are Medan’s Enforcer, but you are still you.”

“I almost wasn’t. She had me, Justice. She had me and she was eating up everything that made me ... me.”

“And yet you stopped her.”

Haley wasn’t so sure. Before she could put her concern into words, someone opened the door.

It was Garrett and he had ... flowers? Haley couldn’t help but crack a smile. The sight of the man, football big and linebacker wide, carrying a little vase of daisies and baby’s breath was just too much. “I didn’t know what you liked.” He set the vase down on the rolling table.

“Aww--Garrett, you shouldn’t have.” Haley laughed when he blushed.

“Yeah, well, it’s not every day you have a building fall on you.” His face was poker serious, which made Haley laugh again. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Farley yawned wide enough to crack his jaw. His fangs extended and retracted. His eyes came open, swimming gold before bleeding back to brown. He glanced around like he was doing a head count. “What?”

Haley rolled and put a hand on his head. “Hey, you okay?”

“Me? You’re the one who almost died.” He nuzzled into her side.

Garrett made a face. Haley reminded herself he was only Human.

“What happened, Garrett?”

Her boss shoved his hands in his coat.“Everything and then some. Someone sent a gift wrapped package to the head of the Bureau. It contained a detailed report on the mechanics of the virus.”

Oh shit, she forgotten about that. “He dosed me with it--” Garrett stopped her with a hand on her arm.

“You’re fine. I had them test you, you’re clean.”

“But he injected it...” God, the pain. Just thinking about it made her bones ache. Farley thrummed at her back. The sound sucked the panic right out of her lungs.

“Haley, trust me. You’re fine. The administrator is reviewing everything that happened. Dobson’s labs have all been located. They’re doing a full scale I.N.I. investigation on several board members, and the military sector has been completely shut down until further notice.”

Haley stared at Garrett, afraid to believe any of it.

Against her back Farley said, “Worry about it later. Sleep.” He kicked the sheet off his legs and flashed a butt cheek.

Garrett cleared his throat. “Doctor said you should be out of here in a day or so. They just want to monitor your temperature a while longer. You’ll be at work on time Tuesday, right?”

What day was it? Never mind. She’d take Farley’s advice and worry about it later.

“Yeah, I’ll be there.”

“Good, and if you happen to know of a good Kin informant, I’m looking to hire one. I need someone I can trust. The hours are erratic and the pay sucks, but it’s a job.” His gray eyes were laughing even though his face wasn’t. “Oh, one more thing before I go.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys.

“My Mustang! Oh man, I’ve missed my car.”

“No excuses. Don’t be late.” Garrett left.

Haley petted Farley down his side. He smiled, his purr rising and falling in a deep rumble. She lifted her gaze to Justice. “Thanks.”

“I did very little. I was more ... moral support.”

Farley was alive. That meant the Kin had done a lot.

She said, “So what now?”

“I go home. As will you. And we live life.”

“That’s it?”

He gave a slow nod. “It is. It is all any of us can do, Haley Night.” Justice gathered up the coat lying at the foot of her bed and slipped it on.

“But something’s changed, hasn’t it? I don’t feel different, but I just can’t believe it ends like this. Just like that.”

Justice fell still, almost vanishing right in front of her eyes. The expression in his eyes held a deep kind of sadness that seemed impossible for any one person to contain. “Nothing stays the same, Haley. Change is inevitable.” Life poured back into him. “Be well, Haley Night.” The door shut with a click.

Haley stared at the vacant space for a long time, feeling empty. It was like some great space in her chest had been filled up and then emptied again. Maybe it was Niles? But that would be silly, wouldn’t it?

Farley moved and pushed himself against her, making it real clear just how happy he was to be there. “I thought they were never going to leave.” Haley laughed and let him pull her over so they could face each other. Gold flecked the brown in his eyes, but it was the look in them that made her hearts soar.

Haley ran a hand through his red curls. “I love you, Farley.” His smile went a little flat.

“You always say Kin can’t love.”

She kissed his brow. “And I’m not most Kin.”

Georgia bred and born, Adrienne Wilder spent most of her childhood exploring fantastical worlds hidden in her own back yard among tall grass, and shadowed kudzu tunnels. When she was not dragon hunting, she spent most of her time, reading, writing, drawing, and digging holes.

Currently Adrienne lives in Dahlonega, GA where she shares her home with a variety of dogs and one cat. She still spends most of her time, reading, writing, drawing, and digging holes. Although now she calls the reading “research,” the drawing “artwork”, the writing “books,” and the holes “ponds” and “gardens”.

You can visit Adrienne on the web at

www.theatlantadens.com
or email her at
[email protected]
.

Lesser-Bred Stained

To Adam With Love

Worth

Darwin’s Theory

(a novella series)

Book 1: Pain

Book 2: Secrets

Book 3: Promises

Book 4: Lost

Book 5: Found

Coming soon:

Darwin’s Theory 2.0

City of Dragons: Of Flesh And Blood