Emergence (The Primogenitor Chronicles Book 1) (26 page)

He felt the weight of her wings slowly come to rest against his rope; he put a little more power into the binding until he was sure all was secure. Brushing his lips against Kelley’s temple, he said, “Let’s go.”

The small group set out, slowly crossing the practice grounds. The tide of Valkyries on the edge of the field parted, forming an avenue for the five of them to walk down. The corridor stretched all the way to the bridge as more and more of the populace came up to help line the way. All remained silent.

*Well, Marcus, I think you were right. I believe her status has risen,*
Robin broadcast, his mind voice weary and pain filled.

*This isn’t just for her, Robin,*
Beth chimed in.

*She’s correct, Robin. You handled yourself well and they acknowledge that.*

They crossed the bridge following the path that led to the longhouse. Gravel crunched underfoot until they reached the cobbled courtyard enclosed by the community buildings. The longhouse formed the eastern side of the courtyard. The infirmary occupied a section of the squat square structure that bordered the south.

Leslie and Beth rushed ahead and held the doors open so he could get Kelley inside. He paused in the small foyer so they could get the second set of double doors, then he crossed the short distance to carefully place her on one of the triage tables. He had to hold her upright when she swayed.

“How’s she doing?” Beth called from the supply room as she gathered up her medical equipment.

“She’s a bit wobbly.” He waved his fingers in front of her face, trying to catch her focus. “How many fingers? Kel?”

Kelley’s face scrunched up as she attempted to focus; she started to shake her head, but the move caused her to lose her balance. Marcus held her steady then stared into her eyes for a moment. He looked to the right, down the long narrow room; Beth almost had the gear ready. “It looks like she’s got a concussion, Beth; her pupils are dilated. And I’m pretty certain her wings are dislocated. I don’t know what else.”

Beth pushed the triage cart across the room, looking pointedly at Robin as she passed him. “Sit down, Robin. You’re dripping blood everywhere. Put pressure on that, this may take a bit. Ok, Kelley, how are you feeling? Any nausea?” She flashed a penlight in Kelley’s eyes.

“A little, yes. And it hurts to breathe.”

“Humm. Keep holding her up, Marcus.” Beth gently palpated Kelley’s neck and forehead. “Definitely a concussion. We can have Jillian double check to make sure there aren’t any fractures or bleeding.”

Bethany turned and took a moist towel waiting on the cart and gently wiped the blood and dirt from her face before she checked her nose. “Looks like you were lucky. It doesn’t appear to be broken. But you’ll be black and blue for a while. You ingested some of Robin’s blood. Are you two blood bound? I need to know if I’m looking at any complications from a sudden bond.”

“No. We did that a long time ago,” Robin answered for her.

“Ok, good. A one-sided bond can be a hassle. Lift your arms up, please.”

Kelley struggled to lift her arms, and Marcus helped her hold them aloft so his wife could probe her sides. Beth paused when the Hunter hissed.

“Cracked or broken ribs as well. Leslie, will you call Jillian? I need her to do a reading on these. Until she gets here, Marcus, let’s take a look at those wings.”

He helped her lower her arms, then shifting his hold on her, he drew her head to his chest and pulled her tangled hair over her shoulder so Beth could probe the base of each wing. Gently, she lifted one, then nodded when Kelley tensed, stifling a scream.

“Marcus, you’re going to need to set these,” she said and lowered the wing.

“I’ll need you to get her to relax.” He pushed Kelley upright, and Beth took her shoulders so she wouldn’t fall. He shook his hands out, letting his power build up in his reservoir.

Beth placed her hands on the injured Hunter’s face and stared intently into her eyes.

“Have you got her yet?”

“Almost. Kelley, look into my eyes. That’s it. Let your barriers down. We need to set your wings. I can help you relax if you’ll let me in. This is going to hurt, but it’ll hurt worse if you don’t relax. Ok, Marcus, I’m in.”

He reached out and lightly rested his hands on her back muscles. The tense bands started to relax as Beth manipulated Kelley’s mind. He couldn’t wait long or the anticipation would cause the Hunter to tense up again. Sliding one hand up under the first wing, he placed the other on the joint above it. Heat gathered in the palms of his hands, and he took a breath.

“Now.”

He pulled up from below, while pushing down and in with the other hand, and snapped it back into place. A scream ripped from her throat, which faded into shivering. Rubbing the joint, he waited for her to relax again before placing his hands in position on the second wing. Kelley whimpered, tensing slightly even through Beth’s manipulation.

“Hush, Kel, don’t push me out. Soon would be good, Marcus,” Beth said. Marcus could hear the strain in her voice.

“Now.” Forcing the second joint back into place was harder, and Marcus felt her swoon, nearly passing out from the pain. He focused his mind, drawing on his power, and sent heat down into the joints to relax the spasming muscles. Then he immobilized them with a thought. “There. They’re back in place. And I have them stabilized for a short time. It won’t last long though.”

“Long enough for us to get the rest of her worked on,” Beth said quietly.

He pulled Kelley’s shivering weight out of Beth’s hold so her head fell back on his shoulder. Beth picked up a bottle of saline and some gauze squares from the tray next to her and started to clean the blood from Kelley’s neck.

“Well, these scratches don’t look too bad. Some antibiotic and bandages should take care of them.”

As Beth secured the tape on her neck, Marcus glanced up when the door opened. “Ah, here’s our X-ray machine.”

Jillian padded her way over to them. “So, what have we got?” she asked softly.

“We should do a quick check of her skull, but I’m mostly worried about her ribs,” Beth replied, smoothing the tape on Kelley’s neck a last time before she looked at Jillian.

Jill wasn’t one to talk much, Marcus thought. The Seer cupped Kelley’s face in her hands, and both of their faces went blank as she took them into a trance. “Link with me, Beth.”

Beth reached out and rested her hand on the back of Jillian’s neck, closing her eyes. After a moment, she said, “Good, nothing. I wasn’t too worried about the head, Jill. It’s Kelley’s ribs that I think are the problem.”

Marcus quickly opened Kelley’s filthy shirt when he saw Jillian’s hands seeking bare skin. Her hands stilled on Kelley’s ribcage.

After a moment, both Seers hissed in unison. “That’s what I thought,” Beth said in a faraway voice. “Three cracked ribs and a broken one. Marcus, are you up to any bone knitting?”

“I’ll see what I can do. I won’t be able to heal it completely,” he said. He laid his own hand over Jillian’s and took a deep breath; relaxing his mind, he reached out to where he could feel both Beth’s and Jillian’s presence. Seeing them both in his mind as two bright sparks, he joined them.
*Ok, Jillie, let me see what you see.*
The image of Kelley’s ribs started to appear in his mind’s eye. As he watched the picture sharpen in focus, he noticed the network of fine lines indicating the cracks, and one with a jagged crevasse.

*Focus mainly on the broken one, Marcus. Anything you have left can go to the others,*
Beth’s voice whispered in his head.
*I’ll keep her mind steadied while you work.*

Sending a wordless affirmation, he directed his thoughts to the ground under his feet. He centered himself within then cast an anchor into the ground to hold himself steady and act as a conduit for power spikes should they arise. Ready, he returned his attention to the damaged bones and started pulling power from himself, like a spider spinning out a web, channeling it through his hands into the broken rib. Molding it, he used the power to pull the two pieces of bone together again.

His focus was so absolute that he barely registered Kelley’s groan as the rib moved back into place. Once he had it set, he created a splint out of energy and wrapped it around the rib like clay, completely supporting the weakness. Then using the last of his reserves, he poured liquid light into the fine cracks of the other bones to fill them. Completely drained, Marcus disengaged himself, swaying unexpectedly into Robin.

His vision greyed out, and Robin whispered in his ear, “I thought you might do something stupid, like use too much of your power.”

His eyes shut, Marcus nodded.

“We’ve got her, Robin. Please get Marcus into a chair,” Beth ordered.

A tug on his arm had Marcus opening his eyes, and leaning heavily on Robin, he moved slowly over to a chair against the wall. He needed Robin’s help lowering himself into it, and his Second commented, “Your blood sugar’s diving; you know better than to drain yourself so fast. Sit tight. I’ll get you a glass of milk.”

Marcus didn’t bother to answer; he just leaned his head against the wall and listened to Beth and Jillian finish up with Kelley. He accepted the glass when Robin returned, downing it quickly as they got Kelley moved into a room. A few moments later, he felt someone crouch in front of him. Opening his eyes, he noted the concern on Beth’s face, and he smiled tiredly. “Don’t worry so, Beth. I’ll be fine. Just used a little too much power too fast, I guess.”

Her lips curved up and she replied, “That’s a big surprise. Let me get Robin stitched up, then we’ll get you fed. Leslie is going to stay with Kelley for now. She shouldn’t be alone yet.” She patted his knee then stood up.

He watched her walk away, directing Robin to a table. The Hunter looked resigned to the administrations, and Marcus hid a smile, asking, “How bad is the bite, Beth?”

“It needs a few stitches, and I expect it’s going to bruise gloriously. Quit fidgeting, Robin, or I won’t use the anesthesia.” She took a small syringe and drew a little liquid into it from a small bottle. Delicately, she poked it around the wound. “Give that a moment to numb up.”

Marcus watched Beth’s lithe hands work at threading needles and commented, “Kelley and Leslie brought in news. I was able to check the disk before the fight. There’s a lot of new research data for you, Beth, though some of it’s come from Gabriel. I was hoping you could get your teams on it soon?”

“Get it sent over to us and we’ll start today. I have a new packet to send out to him as well.” Bethany picked up a bottle of saline and started flushing out the wound. Once it was clean, she proceeded to make neat stitches in Robin’s neck.

“He also has two assignments for you, Robin. The first involves Jillian.” He smiled at Jillian’s surprised and slightly hopeful look. “Yes, he’s finally managed to finish freeing the last of your assets, Jillie. The paper work’s at Dustin’s. Robin can escort you there. While you two are up in Lynden, I’m sure Beth has a list of things she wants picked up in town. You can arrange with Dustin and his family for the shopping trip. Next, a shipment has been arranged in four days at the warehouse. Robin, bring me your team assignments tomorrow for preparation. We’ll brief the day after.”

“There, Robin, that should do it.” Beth finished tying off her last suture, then cleansed the area, patting it dry. “Try not to get it wet for a bit. Come back and let me look at it in a couple of days.”

“Thank you, Beth.” He hopped off the table and turned back to Marcus. “Do you know what is in the shipment? What size team should I assemble?”

“He said there’ll be perishables, but other than that, I have no idea what he’s managed to acquire for us. But I would say take the normal number of people. It should be a routine drop, and the mule will be there, so I’ll send you with the next report.”

“Should Jill and I go to Dustin’s before or after the shipment?”

“Before is fine with me, unless Beth needs more time to write up her list,” Marcus answered, chuckling at the annoyed look his wife cast him.

Robin shared a look with him, smiling at Beth’s disgruntlement. “Well if you’re through with me here, I have a pot roast to prepare. Come find me when you’re free, Jill.”

Closing his eyes, Marcus leaned back into the chair. “That’s all for now. See you at dinner.”

Kieran walked his fingers through the tabs in the open file cabinet drawer until he got to the correct space, then slipped the sheet into the jacket. He took the next sheet to be filed from the stack on top of the cabinets and found its spot.
And repeat ad nauseam, or at least until someone comes and relieves me of Nick duty.

The muttering behind the desk on Kieran’s right rose again, and he glanced over at Nickolas.

His Alpha stared hard at the papers lying on the desktop, one hand clenched in his hair at his temple. Then he growled.

“You ok, Nick?” ’
Cause you certainly don’t look it. You look like crap.
Dark smudges ringed his eyes, and the constant fidgeting…
Well, what should I expect from how much sugar he’s been eating?

Nick’s eyes rose to stare across the room at him. “You know what? I’m getting really sick of everyone asking me that. You know the answer already.”

“Sorry. Just wanted to check in with you, encourage you to talk if you want.”
See if I can’t worm my way into that obstinate skull of yours.

“Talk? Do you really want to know?”

“What’s happening to you? Of course. We want to help you.”

Nick shifted in his seat and leaned back, looking up at the ceiling. “I really miss my privacy. What help do you think you can give me, Kieran?”

He closed the file drawer and leaned against the cabinet. Nick’s chest rose in a shallow breath, and Kieran watched him swallow. If he stopped and let his imagination go, he could almost feel his Alpha’s desperation. “I don’t know that I can help. But I’ll sure try everything to do so.”

Nickolas looked back down at him, and he waited for the Alpha to make his decision. After a moment, Nick sighed then rubbed the bridge of his nose. “There are moments, Kieran, where I want nothing more than to go and pop those pills again. But I can’t pretend that something didn’t happen to me when I missed them. And I’m not that much of a coward…. No matter how hard it is…”

He trailed off for a moment then continued, “The mental noise pollution becomes greater every hour it seems. It’s like I’m surrounded by TVs. Hundreds. More than can be counted, all blaring at full volume and on different channels. Shoving their pictures in my eyes, their voices in my ears…”

Nick put his elbows on his desk and leaned his head into his hands. “Makes it almost impossible to concentrate. But then one TV will pick a moment to outshine all the others. And thrust me into the picture. Everything is gone…here, there…for a moment or more at least.

“The only time the TVs have been muted were…”

Nick shook his head then shot a look into Kieran’s eyes for a split second before he picked up his pen and studied his paper work again.

“When, Nick?” he whispered.

Nickolas shook his head.

“It’s Jessica, isn’t it? Then why in God’s name are you refusing to enter the Hub? If she’s helped you…”

Nick slammed his pen down. “No, Kieran. Don’t push me on that again. I’ve told all of you repeatedly for the last two days, I’ve got a lot of work to do and you know it. I recover them, but I don’t sit in the Hub holding their hands, do I? Why should I this time?”

“Well, for starters, none of the other fledges have had an impact on you before.” He probably could have shaved with the sharp glare Nick cast him.
Sorry, Ian, I don’t think I’m going to have any better luck this time getting him in there.
“But more to the point, you helped
her
so much, Nick. Doesn’t that matter?”

He picked up his pen and acted like he was working.

“She’s like a feral beast most of the time.”

Nick’s pen paused, so Kieran picked his words with the care of honing a weapon. “Her memory still fades in and out, but somewhere inside her, she knows. She sobs in her sleep.”

Nickolas’s fist clenched and he didn’t even pretend to move the pen anymore. Kieran had his attention, even if he wouldn’t look up. Pushing away from the file cabinet, Kieran took the steps to the desk. He placed his hands on the edge and leaned forward. “I’ve tried to help her, Nick, really I have. But she fights so hard. Getting her to eat…”

Nick’s head snapped up and light flashed in his eyes, making Kieran uneasy.

“Did they hit her with Xanthar?”

The whispered words made him shiver. He shook his head. Nick closed his eyes and swallowed.

“But I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to hold that off,” he said softly.

“Damn it, Kieran, back off. Just…back off.”

How far should I push you, Nick? Ian’s right, you need to get back to the Hub.
But his leader’s body language told the story well enough, and Kieran let the subject drop. He returned to his paper filing. After a few moments, Nick’s pen started moving again.

They worked in silence for a time.

Then Nickolas growled, followed by a scathing string of epithets. Kieran stopped in midfile to watch Nick shove a stack of paper over and pick up a new sheet.

“Christoff…you are so dead.”

Kieran pressed his lips together to hide the smile that tried to form as he watched Nick shuffle more paper.
Guess he just found out about the game the other day.

Nick scattered another stack and picked up the bottom sheet. “How much more…”

He fisted that sheet and then Kieran noticed the ends of Nickolas’s hair rising in a breeze that couldn’t be possible in the sealed room. A split second later, every sheet of loose paper in the room, including everything in the open drawer in front of Kieran, launched into the air like a tornado had caught them up, though Kieran never felt the driving breeze.

The paper exploded up and hit the ceiling, then started to flutter down around them like snow to cover every surface in the room.

In the midst of the gently falling paper, the door opened and Chris stopped in the opening.

Kieran heard Nick’s growl and burst into laughter.

Chris stood in the doorway and met his eyes through the falling sheets before he turned his look on Nick. “Problem?”

Standing behind his desk, Nick pointed his finger. “Don’t even start…”

Still snickering, Kieran mimicked, “Lucy, you’ve got some ’splainin’ to do.”

Chris shot him a look then shuffled through the paper to sit down at the other desk across from the filing cabinets. He started scraping the paper together to clear the desk top. “Nick, Ian wants you in the Hub.”

“No.”

“Come on, Nick. It’s been forty-eight hours. You didn’t do anything wrong, ok. Ian says you’ve had the most impact on her, and he wants your help.”

Nick turned away and started to pick up the paper on his chair and the floor around it. “I said no, now drop it.”

Chris sighed, and Kieran shrugged at him then started to pick up the floor.

“Ok, Kieran. Ian said if he wouldn’t go then you would be needed.”

“Right. Well, have fun sorting.” He dropped the paper back to the floor. Christoff’s snort followed him into the hall. He didn’t pass anyone on the short walk to the Hub. He pushed open the doors and slipped inside. The room sounded unusually quiet. Everyone felt subdued after losing Denis. So no one sat visiting with the remaining fledges.
We all know it’s a chance. Not that we have a choice in falling into the coma or anything.
But it still came as a shock when one of the fledges didn’t make it.
There’s usually more warning. I didn’t realize that I’d started to feel safe about them when they dropped in, since if they’re not going to make it, they usually go way before the coma.

He joined Ian and Jays in the work alcove.

“Still no Nick, huh?” Jays asked. The doctor bent his head back to his microscope.

“Still refusing.”

“I’m not really surprised,” Ian said. He clipped his papers to the folder next to him then dropped it all into the wall holder above the counter.

“I think he’s scared. But he’s never let his claustrophobia inhibit him like this before. He jumps all over any scrap of news I pass on about Jessica.”

Ian swiveled then leaned back in his chair to look at him. “Nick only
thinks
his worst fear is claustrophobia. He has no understanding that it’s really loss of control. Like what happened to him in Jess’s room when you and Chris restrained her. His instincts took control, and he responded to the perceived threat. It’ll take time, or a large enough prod, to get him over the hump and back in here.”

Kieran watched the doctor’s eyes grow unfocused for a moment before they snapped back to him. “Anyway, moving on, I’ve waited as long as I can; I have to have some of the more complex tests done on Jessica now. I had hoped to have Nick’s assistance with her, their rapport is phenomenal, but now it’s up to you.”

“Up to me?” He stiffened. “What do you mean?”

“I need a full MRI, an EEG, and whatever else we can manage.” Ian raised an eyebrow and Kieran realized he had his medallion clasped between his fingers again. He dropped it and felt the weight tug on his neck. Ian continued. “You know she won’t cooperate, Kieran. I don’t want to traumatize her by darting her. And she’s been taking food from you.”

His wings rustled and he clamped them to his back. “Damn it, Ian. She barely trusts me. What then? After I betray her?”

“She won’t even know, Kieran. You’ll take in her lunch like normal, but hold off on giving her any milk until after she’s eaten her food. Then give her the glass. She’ll fall asleep after a few minutes. Then we can perform the tests and tuck her back into bed before she wakes up.”

“I don’t like this, Ian. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“It needs to be done, Kieran.”

He sighed and traced the lines on his medallion again. “Fine.”

He carried the tray Jays handed him into her room. Like normal, she ignored him at first. Her limping gait paced restlessly at the end of the small room. He set her lunch down on the table and walked closer to her. She cocked her head as she passed and glared at him out of the corner of her eye.

“How’s your leg today?”

She pushed her tangled hair out of her face. “It hurts.”

“Then why are you on it?”

She passed him again.

“You don’t have to cause yourself this pain.” He absently rubbed his right thigh. “Come and sit down. Have lunch.”

“Lunch? Is that what time it is? And what day is it, Kieran? I’ve already lost track of time, and I know it’s only been a few days. Get me out of here. Please?”

She squeezed her thigh and turned at the corner to stare at him. Dark shadows ringed her eyes and her long hair hung in a snarled curtain.
And go where, Jessica? You’ll understand, one day. I hope.
When he didn’t answer her, she narrowed her eyes and looked all around the cell, her eyes stopping to rest on the vent in the ceiling, but then she moved into her pacing again, and he dismissed the uneasy thought.

“What is it with all of you? Are you all so into bondage? I figure you must be, since you like being on a leash so much.” She growled, then stumbled slightly when she turned at the end of her circuit. “Don’t you ever want to be free?”

Free? Like I could ever be free with giant wings on my back?
“Free? What is free, Jessica? At least I have a job here and get fed and stuff. Do you really think normal people would just let us be out there? I mean, come on, they don’t leave each other alone.”

She stopped with her back to him. “You won’t help me, will you?”

“I am helping you. You just don’t believe me. We’ve all spent our time in here, Jess. We know what you’re going through. It’s not fun. Trust me, once you’re fledged, you’ll understand.”

She turned back to him and something in her eyes made him look away.

“I’ve heard that a lot, Kieran. But it’s all of you who don’t understand. Except for Ian.” She turned to stare into the camera, and Kieran felt a shiver run down his spine. “He understands completely.”

He glanced at the slowly blinking light and tried to push the doubts finding fertile ground out of his mind. “Please, come and have lunch, Jess.”

She cocked her head at him but then made her way over to the bed. He set the plate of food in front of her, making sure the tall glass of milk rested at the edge of the table. Outside of easy reach, so hopefully she’d eat more before drinking it.

He leaned against the opposite wall and found his fingers on his medallion again. Irritated, he dropped it. Jess ate quickly. Obviously her appetite was normal. Even if her attitude left a lot to be desired. “So why won’t you take the easy route, Jess? Why fight so hard?”

She licked her fingers and stared at him a moment while she finished chewing. “A promise.”

And that’s all she’d say.

He let his hand stray to his medallion, the skin-warmed bronze smooth against his restless fingers. She finished the plate and reached for the milk. He held his breath as she downed the entire glass. She used the back of her hand to wipe her mouth, then rubbed it on the cotton of the bed pad. With a sigh, she leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes.

“You’ve been nice company, Kieran. But what happened to Nick? Ian’s not let…” Her eyes snapped open and she sat up straight. Kieran could just make out the low growl from her chest. “What have you done?”