Electric Storm(34)

She wasn’t a doctor; she didn’t know what the hell to do to help. But she could scan the body to find the source of injury. Logically, she knew calling more power tonight would be foolish. The storms wreaked havoc with her system, not to mention her body ached from the abuse she’d just put it through.

Each time she overreached, she risked burning out or frying herself completely. Vulnerable while she healed. Her gaze came to rest on Durant. Loneliness clung to him in a way that felt so familiar her throat ached, convincing her to act when self-preservation said run. “I need to touch her.”

Durant released his hold, gently folding Cassie’s hands over her stomach before retreating. Raven reluctantly removed her gloves and placed her hands on Cassie’s arm, very aware of all eyes on her, studying her as she reached for her gift.

A spark pulsed through her, answering sluggishly to her call. A twinge of nausea squeezed the breath from her lungs. Her skin tingled as the spark burned along her arms and pooled into her palms.

Cassie’s body bowed as current swept through her system, speeding along her veins and muscles, seeping into her flesh. All except for her upper shoulder and the blackness eating away her flesh like bacteria.

Raven retreated, balling her hands into fists to hide the way they shook. She’d seen that bacteria before. She swallowed hard, dousing the current seething under her skin. “Roll her on her side.”

Durant immediately complied. Then froze. His shoulders drooped and a huge shudder swept through him.

Raven caught a glimpse and swallowed around the grapefruit-sized lump in her throat. The bite looked like something tried to strip the flesh from her back by using teeth.

Vampire teeth.

Crimson streaks blazed against her pale skin.

“Dominic, take Mr. Durant and the boys to the kitchen. Bring me the med kit.”

Durant snarled with such ferocity when Dominic neared, Raven tensed to step between them. Hopefully, they’d leave enough of her in one piece to heal.

“Mr. Durant.” His gaze swung toward her, all parts human stripped away. “I need to examine Cassie without you in the way. She wouldn’t want you to be here while I fix her up. It will be painful for her. How will your beast react to her agony? I can’t watch my back and help her at the same time.”

He didn’t blink, and Raven softened her voice. “You came to me for help. You must have trusted me for some reason. Trust me a little more.”

A great shudder passed through him. “There is no coming back from a vampire bite once infected.”

“She’s the same girl you adore. She’s dying, going through severe transition sickness. Most don’t survive without large amounts of blood.” Doubt dug its mitts into her, but she couldn’t repress her next words. “I can’t stop it, but I might be able to make sure she wakes up again.” She met his gaze. “Can you live with that, if she was one of the undead?”

When he didn’t answer, her heart dropped. She didn’t know the man, so she didn’t know why his lack of response disappointed her. Shifters and vampires were complete opposites. One vividly alive, the other craving life by drinking blood. Their opposite natures put them at odds.

“Try.” The scratchy sound of his voice broke through her chaotic thoughts. Durant’s eyes had partially turned back to human, the green splinters quelling her doubts. “Do what you can for her. Whatever happens, I won’t forget what you’ve tried to do.”

He loomed over her and the solemn, bleak expression gave her emotions another vicious twist. He turned, his shoulders back, his posture brittle. She sensed he let very few people close to him. If she let this wisp of a girl die, there would be even fewer.

Dominic followed the large cat at a cautious distance. Taggert and Jackson lingered, but she waved them off. “Go. I’ll call you if I need anything.”

Taggert nodded, but Jackson’s brows lowered ominously. To forestall any protest, she turned her back on them and offered the only incentive she had. “We’ll finish our conversation later.” If she lived long enough.

After three hours, she admitted defeat, struggling to fit her gloves on fingers shaky from overexertion. The pounding on the door had long since ceased. The wound had mostly healed into a rough scar, but no amount of energy she poured into the girl could animate her dying flesh. If Raven pushed harder, Cassie would not come back as a vampire, but a mindless zombie instead. Raven couldn’t risk that.

Exhaustion pressed heavily on her shoulders, the current burning her from the inside out. As she opened the door, she braced herself to face the men in the hall.

Without a word, Raven shook her head.