Shadow Walker (19 page)

He sighed and waived his hand in a so-so pattern. “It’s tolerable right now, but I know it’s going to hurt like hell once we get going.”

Amber set her jaw before going to her bag and pulling out a package of the medicine Aaron and Casey were fond of. She tore the end of it open and handed it to him. “Take that, it lasts for about eight to ten hours. Doesn’t mess with your head, just takes away the pain and gives you a slight boost in energy.”

Dean turned the packet up and took a few swallows of water to get it down. Amber lowered the rail on the side of the bed while he swung his legs over the side. Sitting there a moment, he steadied himself and reached for her. He looked in her eyes. “Do you know if he…?”

The fear punctuating his expression tore at her heart. Amber put a hand on his cheek and sighed. “We don’t know Dean…you were so shredded, the doctor couldn’t say for certain.”

He laid his head against her shoulder. “What if…?”

Amber put her fingers to his lips. “We’ll deal with that when the time comes.”

“I have until the next full moon, don’t I?”

She closed her eyes and laid a kiss on his forehead. “Don’t worry about it right now. Let’s just get you dressed so we can get you out of here.”

Tugging his socks on was a bit of a chore and trying not to jar him was difficult. Amber held up his boxers and saw the grin curve his mouth. Quirking a brow, she pulled them up his legs. Dean shifted the blanket to the side and stood with her assistance. Her hands lingered on his waist a moment after lifting the shorts into place.

With her attention on his bandages, her anger surged again.

He placed his hands on her shoulders. “It will be okay, and he will be caught. Elan
will
pay for what he’s done.”

“I know, I just want to be the one to take him down,” Amber said, her eyes shifting from chocolate brown to golden and back again.

Dean couldn’t help but feel a small sense of pride that she was willing to do all it took in order to seek vengeance on Elan, but he also didn’t want her anywhere near the bastard at the same time. He knew she was an experienced assassin and had no doubt her kill count was every bit as high as his own.

He squeezed her shoulders and gave her a small smile. “Trust me. I’d love nothing more than to hunt the bastard down myself.”

Amber nodded and frowned. “I just can’t help but feel somewhat guilty for the other night. We were both distracted. I know what was on my mind, I can only imagine what was on yours, and that was probably why he was able to—”

Dean put a finger to her lips. “Hey…I wasn’t that distracted. When I came to the rear of the garden I checked my tablet to get a location on security. Everything was done right. I had assumed with three or more bodyguards…Elan wouldn’t have been so brave.” He sighed and shook his head. “My intention was to sit tight in the garden and wait for the three of you to return.”

She sighed, her gaze burrowing into his. “I just…I don’t want to be a…a weakness.”

Smiling, Dean shook his head. “I would be proud if you were the
only
weakness, Amber.”

“Please don’t make light of this. We’re both fighters…I don’t want to make anyone else feel vulnerable.” She sniffled, trying to hold back tears.

Dean sighed and held her to him. “You don’t understand love yet. Do you know how you feel right now? The way you want to cut out Elan’s heart for what he’s done? Or thought about what you would have done if you’d been close enough?”

“I’d have jumped in front of you—”

“That is exactly what I am talking about. It’s a fierce protectiveness. The fact you would give up your own life for mine, and trust me, I’d have done the same.
Glad
to be in this position right this moment, if it meant saving you.” He stroked a hand over her hair and planted a kiss on her temple. “I love you, Amber. That’s all there is to it. It’s that simple, and I don’t care what it takes.”

She closed her eyes and laid her head against his shoulder. After a moment, she pulled away. “Okay, let’s finish getting you ready.”

Kneeling before him, she helped him balance and step into his jeans. He had to bite back a groan at the look in her eyes when she slid them up, buttoned, and zipped them.

With a sigh, she raised her brow. “It’s not so much fun dressing you, as it is
undressing
you.”

Dean laughed and stroked her cheek. “I agree it’s much more fun the other way around.”

He grunted while she tugged the long sleeved shirt over his head. He eased his arms into the sleeves. The scorching in his chest flared, causing him to hiss. Her face was a mask of concern.

“Considering what I’ve just been through, if this is all the pain I’ll have, I’m good with it,” he said, managing a grimace. “Go ahead, bring on the flannel. It’s already burning now, it can’t get much worse…the medicine you gave me should kick in here in a minute or so, and I’ll be okay.”

Amber nodded, picked up the flannel, shook it out, and helped him slip it on. She ground her teeth at his groans. “Sit down
now
.”

He sat with a grunt on the edge of the bed and took a deep breath. His chest felt like it was on fire. Taking a few deep breaths, Dean tried to unclench his hands from his thighs. “Could I get some water?”

Walking over to the bed tray, she picked up a Styrofoam cup, brought it over, and held the straw to his lips. He finished the drink and sat there for a few moments, catching his breath. A tingling began in his toes, and slowly moved up his legs. When it reached his torso, it blossomed across his chest, bringing with it, blessed pain relief. A moment later, he lifted his head and looked in her eyes.

“Whew, that stuff works pretty quick.”

She grinned, and folding his hospital gown, laid it on the foot of the bed. “Aquene keeps plenty of it in stock. I always carry a few packets around with me. You never know when you might need it. Just sit tight for another minute or two, let it get in your system good before you try moving around again.”

Dean nodded and took a deep breath, amazed he felt no pain at all. “How much longer do you think until I’m completely healed?”

Amber shrugged again, zipped up his bag, and set it on the foot of the bed on top of the gown. “I’m not sure what it would take for you. It took me two days. You’ve healed beyond comprehension already in just a few short hours.”

“I know. I just don’t want to chance ripping out any stitches moving around and wanted to roughly know a time frame if there is one.” He smiled when she walked over and sat next to him on the bed.

“Just a few more minutes and we’ll be on our way to the Sorenson mansion so you can get some regular rest.” Amber stroked a hand across his brow and smiled. “I need you to be good and strong again so my uncontrollable emotions can get back to
my
norm.”

* * * *

Dean waited in the wheelchair while his father brought the black Town car around. Amber stood next to him with his huge pack slung across her shoulder like it didn’t weigh more than half her body weight. Unlike his two comrades, Dean thought it was quite funny.

“Amber, would you let me take the pack,” Terry urged again.

She turned to him and cocked a brow. The stare speaking volumes.

“It’s all right Terry, the car is almost here,” Allen said with a strained smile.

Peyton pulled around and stepped out. He laughed and shook his head at her. “What are we going to do with you?”

“Not pester me when I’m tired would be a good start,” she mumbled, cutting her eyes at Terry and Allen.

Dean laughed and slid into the backseat of the car. When Amber crawled in after and curled against his side, he couldn’t resist smiling. Terry slipped in after her, and Allen took up residency in the front passenger seat.

“Bulletproof glass?” Dean asked, looking at the double pained windows.

“Sorenson felt they required it,” his father said with a shrug.

Huffing, he settled back against the seat. With each passing moment, Dean felt better. No one would have guessed he had just survived a death sentence. Amber laced her fingers in his and sighed, snuggling closer. Glancing over, he saw the grin on Allen’s face.

“What’s that smirk for?”

Allen raised his brows and shrugged. “We all knew you’d find someone eventually. There’s always a bet on whether our better halves turn out to be preternatural, supernatural, or mortal. You can guess the mortals are uncommon for us because our life spans exceed theirs.”

Raising Amber’s hand to his mouth, Dean kissed her knuckles. “So, who lost the bet?”

Terry cleared his throat. “We all did.”

His father laughed and held out his hand. “Pay up boys. I told you he’d find a tiger.”

Yanking out his wallet, Allen grumbled, “Yeah, well we didn’t think you meant that literally.” He shoved a crumpled fifty-dollar bill into Peyton’s palm.

Dean laughed and shook his head. “How much this time, Dad?”

Looking back through the rearview mirror, he winked at Amber. “Oh…enough to get you two a nice wedding present.”

She blushed and buried her face in Dean’s shoulder.

* * * *

From lack of sleep and the comfort of being tucked up against Dean, Amber dosed off on the short ride back to the Sorenson mansion. When the car stopped, she raised her head to see Dean smiling down at her. He brushed his knuckles against her cheek just before his door was opened.

She recognized the imposing Frenchman from the night before. He extended his hand to help Dean from the car.

Swatting it away, he grunted and slid out. “I’m not an invalid, Frenchie.”

Pierre grinned and stepped back. “Forgive me, friend. Last I saw, you were still at death’s door.”

Amber clambered out and was at his side in a moment to help stabilize him.

“Well thanks to my talented little sister, I’m doing pretty damn fine for a man who died yesterday.”

Casey was standing on the stoop with Braedyn and smiled when they neared. “Come on, let’s get you inside.”

Once Amber helped him settle on the couch, she noticed everyone standing around, staring at him.

“Aw, geez can ya’ll quit staring at me like I’m going to do some tricks. I promise, I’m not going to keel over,” Dean said, raising his hands. “I swear.”

Braedyn cleared his throat and shrugged. “You’ll have to forgive us. Amber and I were in your position a few weeks ago when Casey healed us. The Silver Wolf’s gifts were thought rumored. To actually see it in action…is an amazing thing. You’ve got to understand the curiosity involved.”

Dean sighed and nodded. “The entire story of the Silver Wolf was thought a story. Now we get the chance to separate fact from fiction.”

“Yeah?” Casey laughed. “Try it from this side, okay? I’m still learning how to communicate, and I’ve only
just
tapped it.”

Braedyn turned his attention to Amber and grinned. “She held off the shift this morning.”

Amber’s eyes widened and moved to her friend. “You’re kidding.”

The blonde grinned and shook her head. “No, before
and
after.”

“No pain?”

“Some, but nothing like it was.”

It was unheard of, being able to control the shift after five transitions. “That’s amazing Casey. The Silver Wolf is the most powerful Were there ever was. Supposedly the very
first
Were creature ever. It is said she created us all, and that’s why she is called the Mother of all.”

Casey giggled and shook her head. “I don’t even want to go there right now. It’s way too much to consider.”

Braedyn laughed and put a hand on her shoulder. “Relax, it’s not like we’re trying to get you to do it all at once. We know it’s going to take you some time. You’ve only been doing this a month now, and you’ve got a lifetime to figure it out. It’s amazing what you’ve been able to accomplish in such a small amount of time though.”

She sighed and nodded. “I know, but I still feel like I can be doing a whole lot more than running and hiding.”

“Had we not sent you and Amber off, you would never have come across Mr. Sorenson,” Dean said, motioning toward him. “And he would still be really lost trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with him.”

Aaron gave a grim nod. “That first night was really…horrifying. Now that I know what I am and what to expect, I feel a lot better about being able to control myself and the things I can do. At the very least, I know I’m not the only freak in the world.”

Allen laughed and shook his head. “You’re far from the only freak in the world, trust me. Even our group of Guardian’s are mostly contrived of freaks, and most of us aren’t Weres.”

Dori furrowed her brows at him. “You mean those of you who have extraordinary gifts?”

Pierre, Allen, Terrance, Peyton, and Dean nodded. “Each of us is gifted in some way,” Peyton explained, reciting what the group assembled could do.

“Hmm.” Dori cocked her head to the side. “Any of you know an Odell Xanthis?”

Peyton furrowed his brows and looked around at them all and let out a deep breath. “He was one of us. Recently, he decided to go into retirement. Last I heard, he’d gone back to Greece.”

Dori laughed and shook her head. “So it all makes
perfect
sense now. All the bedtime stories he used to tell…they were all real.”

Peyton’s brows rose, and he eyed her. “You know…we were really sad your father decided to go into retirement. How did you figure it out?”

She gave the crowd a warm smile. “His stories were always about the Guardians. The ones who kept the world safe from harm. Men who were gifted. One’s who could turn into animals, fly, read minds, and were prophets.” Dori shook her head and laughed. “I used to tell him he needed to write a book and publish these stories, and he’d only laugh and shake his head. I guess now, I understand why.”

Peyton smiled. “Little Dori. He used to talk about you all the time. Said he thought he’d made the United States as safe as he could for you, but it was time to go home.”

Dori shook her head. “Mom and Dad got a late start when they had me. Dad’s nearing his seventies now.”