Human. That was not what I'd expected. Granted I'd taken no time to try and figure out her race because I simply didn't care. Mischa was my focus.
Gathering her frail form closer to me, I reached out with my senses toward our baby. Fear like I'd never known clenched my chest. What if there was no life there? Generally, the weakest would be affected by the oil first.
When a strong thrumming heartbeat filled my mind, I coughed a few times to hold back my tears. Yep, I was about thirty seconds from breaking down and crying into Mischa's still form. I hadn't shed a single tear for Cardia. Not one. But it felt as if I had a million for Mischa and our child.
Please, don't let her die, I prayed as the step-through took us across the world again. I hoped Louis was right about this Chan, because if he wasn't he'd just signed Mischa's death warrant.
Mischa Lebron
My body was hovering on the thin edge between life and death. I could feel the cold tendrils of the next life tugging at me. But I would not give in. I needed to fight for my daughter because she was not free of my body yet. She needed to live.
I worked hard, holding on to all the anchors I had left in this world. The strongest was this stunning cord in my chest, white and shimmery, shot through with strands of silver and purple. The power in that cord held essence from all of the supernatural races. I sensed the wild shifter energy, the cold power of vamps, the earthy magic users, and the elemental ties of fey. It was everything, and it was keeping me bound to this plane.
Pain was my constant companion, and in some ways I clung to the agony. It was another thing connecting me to the body, which was already starting to feel like it didn't belong to me any longer. My wolf howled, wrapping her strength around us both. She was a fighter; she was helping me fight.
I continued calling to Maximus in my mind, through our bond. A few minutes ago something had happened. A warmth had washed through my tired and cold limbs and that had brought me closer to the land of the living. Closer to him. But then death had tried to steal me again.
It felt like years that I hovered with one foot in either veil, drifting in and out of the pain, not enough free thought to worry but enough to hold on to life. The darkness of the oil was seeping closer to the womb at my center, and it was this I fought to hold back. It would not touch my daughter.
A slicing pain cut through me then and I screamed out. Somehow there was still enough strength in my body to scream and thrash. Strong warmth wrapped around me, holding me close, caressing my skin.
Soft words were whispered but I could no longer hear or understand such things. There was nothing in my world but pain now. I couldn't even hold onto the last tendrils of protection around my child.
Then, as more murmurs surrounded me, some of the pain faded from my limbs. It was very minute, but even this tiny lessening of agony was enough for me to calm. I could feel the fire tingling its last spark of life before dying off completely. As the agony left I was able to sink into the darkness further.
Mischa. Don't leave me. My sister's voice was soft, barely registering in my mind, but my soul felt her. You're safe. We'll keep you and your baby safe. Her warm reassurances were enough for me to let go of my tenuous hold on my child. She spoke truth. I could sense that my daughter was safe now. The darkness would never touch her.
"Mischa!"
The sharp tone of whomever was using my name cut through the nice squishy place I was living in my head.
"I swear to God, Mischa Lebron, if you don't open those gorgeous green eyes I'm going to start cursing. I'll do it. I know how you feel about the f-bomb. I might even pull out the c-bomb."
Even in my semi-conscious state, I now knew exactly who was demanding me awake. No one loved to curse like my twin. I swallowed roughly, my mouth bone dry. "You wou- " My rasp was cut off as I started coughing. A smooth, cool object was placed at my lips and small dribbles of water soothed away some of the dryness.
"I've never heard you use the c-word," I finally said, opening my eyes to find my twin's worried face hovering over me. "I bet Lienda would kick your butt if you did."
Jessa scoffed. "I'd like to see her try, and I was talking about cockswabbler of course. What did you think I meant?"
Even though every muscle in my body, including my face, felt tired, I still managed a smile. Which disappeared with Jessa's next words. "Of course, the other c-word is quite appropriate for Kristoff."
At the mention of the sorcerer's name, memories crashed through me with the force of a freight train. My hands flew down to my stomach, which was covered with blankets. Despite the panic in my body, I was easily able to detect a strong and steady heartbeat within.
I still had to check. "What happened? Is she okay?"
Jessa's eyes dropped to where I was still clutching my stomach and pure joy lit up her face. She placed her hand on mine and our twin bond flared to life. That energy washed through me and into my daughter, who started to wiggle and kick.
"It's a girl? I'm going to be an aunt to a beautiful baby girl?" Jessa said, her voice thick with emotion. "When did you find out? Does Max know?"
At the mention of his name, everything inside of me stilled. I hadn't forgotten anything from my time in Kristoff's messed-up lair, including his little reveal that Maximus Compass might be my mate. My true mate. Was that why I could feel him so strongly in my chest? I would swear we already had a bond in place, it felt so real.
I had to tell someone. My eyes darted around the room, confirming we were alone, and I couldn't scent anyone close by. "Jess, I need to tell you something, but you can't freak out on me, okay?"
She regarded me for a moment before nodding. "Lay it on me."
Without wasting any time, I detailed everything that Kristoff said. About Cardia being his daughter and a fake mate. About the Compasses' mixed heritage and how they could tap into any of the four races that they were born from. Jessa's mouth was hanging open at this point, her hand wrapped tightly around my own.
She shook her head. "That explains a lot. Kristoff's plans were always about power, he wanted it no matter what. The dragon king thing was the perfect ship for him to board. Then when that plan failed and he lost his chance to rule with dragon dickhead, he went bonkers. Not to mention he's demon touched."
Huh. "What's demon touched? Tell me everything that happened? How did I get here?"
Here was a small, very white, very sterile looking room. Nothing in it but my bed, the chair Jessa sat in, and a single set of white shelves in the right corner. I would have guessed it was a hospital, except the bed I was in was large and comfy. Thick quality linen, not the usual hospital starchiness. Although, supe hospitals were probably much better fitted out than human ones.
Jessa sighed then, and a few tears sprinkled her eyes. "We almost lost you, Misch. You and our little girl. Kristoff used Lunarti oil on you. It's this horrible demon-brewed stuff which burns through your skin and pollutes your blood. It was almost through your whole system. We had to bring you to Shanjoin, in China, to Chan, this healer Louis knows. He's been healing you for almost a week."
"Holy. I've been out for a week? I don't … remember."
I ripped the covers off my body and examined my leg. There were red and purplish marks up and down my thigh, ugly and scarred. I ran a hand across them and could feel the tugging of the disfigured skin.
"When Max saw your leg he lost his mind," Jessa murmured. "Let's just say this is not the first room you were in."
"Where are the Compasses?" I asked, casual-like.
Jessa shifted on the chair, running a hand through her dark hair. It was a mess of tangles. "Max is asleep in the room next door. I made him get some rest a few hours ago. Had to pry him away though, and he's going to be pissed that you woke up when he wasn't here. He has not left your side for a week."
Jessa reached out and grabbed my hand. "He's going to want to tell you this, but the mate bond kicked in between you both. You're definitely his true mate. And we all owe you the hugest apology from how we treated you in the sanctuary."
My silly heart started fluttering then, the mate bond pressing in on me. I couldn't believe what she was saying, and yet I felt the truth of it in my heart. In my soul.
I needed to see him, needed him here holding my hand too.
Jessa's blue eyes were shrewdly watching me, probably waiting for me to fall apart or something, but after everything that had happened, almost losing my life and my daughter's, a true mate bond with Maximus was the least of my worries. It was kind of a gift.
"The rest of the boys are back in Stratford. Braxton took Justice to the sanctuary. She's going to stay there until we deal with Kristoff. He clearly wanted her for a reason."
I sat straighter, relief flooding through me. "Thank the gods. She was so kind to me, Jess. I promised I wouldn't leave her there, and then I passed out before I could tell anyone."
She shook her head at me. "Most supes would have died long before anyone arrived. You did good, sister. Very good."
I let my weary body drop back against the pillows. "Braxton must love being separated from you."
Her laughter was brief. "Yeah, he's not too happy about it, but he's dealing. The boys can't all leave for too long. Their power is needed to maintain the securities. It's okay if they arrange something first, but right now, especially with crazy-Kristoff, they're the only ones keeping America and Vanguard safe. They pop back and forth to check on you."