Lea nodded, tears filling her eyes. “Just once. He’s been restless, fighting me and talking in his sleep. Every time I touch him he feels hotter.”
Claire stepped to her, one hand brushing her cheek. “You kept him with us. I couldn’t ask for any more.” With a sob, Lea turned into her. Claire wrapped both arms around her, knowing she was beyond exhausted, and probably scared. “Simon?”
“Ready.” He looked over at the doorway; turning, Claire saw Annie, Eric, and Mindy Kay standing there, all of them wearing the same mask of grief. “I’ll need all of you to hold him. The stones have to stay in contact during the blessing—and I’m pretty damn sure this is going to hurt him.”
They moved around the bed, each one silently taking a limb. Claire noticed Theresa, huddling next to the doorway. So did Simon, and he waved her in. She shook her head, backing away from them.
“I could hurt him,” she said. “Because of—”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.” Annie stalked over to her and grabbed her hand. “You’re not poisonous. You can hold the paper for Simon, since I’m sure he has to be touching Marcus when he does the blessing.”
With a smile, Simon held out the paper. “You can, and I will.”
Claire looked over at Annie. “Thank you.”
Shrugging, Annie smiled. It faded when she took Marcus’ right ankle. “He’s burning up. We need to do this.”
Simon was already busy, laying hematite along either side of the injured arm. He looked up, nodded to them. “Hold him tight—it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
He started chanting, his deep voice bringing the ancient language to life. When the first stone touched Marcus he bolted awake.
Claire gripped his right shoulder. “I’m here, Marcus. Look at me—focus on me.” He turned his head, and it took all her control not to flinch when she met his eyes. The once rich, striated green was laid over with grey, and shadowed by death.
“Claire.” His sand raw whisper scraped over her skin, over her heart. And the realization jolted her. Somehow this man, this Jinn, found a way through her barriers, and it shook her to the core. Heaven above— “This effort will do—”
“Keep talking, Jinn, and watch how fast I shut you down.” She put her weight on his shoulder when she saw another stone headed for his bare chest. It made contact—and his raw scream bounced off the walls. “Marcus—Marcus!”
Four strong adults pinned him to the bed, but he still managed to arch away from Simon, his back bowing up, every muscle shaking and clenched. Tears burned her eyes as she held on to him, Simon’s deep, resonant voice repeating the blessing, over and over. With a raw cry, Marcus stopped fighting and collapsed to the bed.
Her heart pounded as she checked for a pulse. It beat under her searching fingers, thin, thready. She framed his face, his skin grey against the wild black curls. “Stay with me. Focus on my voice.” Tears slipped down her face. Ignoring them, she leaned in and brushed her lips over his cheek. “If you die, so help me I will follow you to wherever you Jinn fall and drag you back.”
He opened his eyes, the poison polluting their jade green depths. “I would—like to see that.”
He arched away from her as Simon’s voice rose, the power of the blessing charging the air, and she knew it would be now or not at all for Marcus. His broken voice slid under Simon’s and spoke the blessing, matching word for word. Then with a last, violent shudder he went limp.
“No—Marcus—” Claire pushed tangled curls off his face, his skin suddenly cold and clammy under her hands. “Marcus—”
“Let me in, Claire.” Eric gently pulled her away, leaned over him. When she started to shake Annie closed both hands over her shoulders, and wrapped her in an embrace. Lowering her head, she braced herself for the bad news. “He’s still with us.”
Claire felt her legs give under her. “Whoa—I’ve got you, honey. Just lean on me.” Annie caught her around the waist. “Let’s get you out of here. You’ll just be in the way now.” She led Claire out of the bedroom and settled her into a chair at the table, then crouched next to her. “Look at me, Claire.” Warm brown eyes met hers, the love and concern in them overwhelming. “You need to take a breather. Sit for a minute, or ten. I know I can’t talk you into a nap, but at least sit here. I’m going to find myself a comb and see what we can do with your hair.”
A surprised laugh burst out of Claire. “Only you, Annie.”
Glancing over her shoulder, Annie grinned. “You betcha. Here we go.” She pulled a wide tooth comb out of her purse and pulled another chair over, sitting behind Claire. “God, what a mess. This is probably going to hurt.”