“He jumped out the window, unfortunately, onto the fire escape, and disappeared at one point.”
“So how did Lex get free?”
“I did that, too. The magic on the binds called to mine, and just getting my hands near them, the spell seemed to break; the chains fell from him. Does that mean the sorcerer they stole was Royal? Or, is all magic the same, from the same source somehow?”
“I fear I can’t answer that for you. But, I know people who can. Let’s get Lex back to the loft where he can finish healing. We will join up with those who wait for us below, the ones around the building, and take off,” she said.
Chapter Twelve
The ride back to the loft was excruciating. From the sounds coming from Lex, he was in misery, coming around more and more, with inhuman sounds of agony coming from him as the vehicle we were in hit potholes and took turns. Each sound sliced through me, along with waves of his emotions that were like punches in the gut.
Nira stuck close, her hand always there to rub my back or my arm. Her kind looks went a ways to getting me through it. As nervous as I’d been about getting to the warehouse, I was just as anxious to get back to the loft. Differing reasons, but still, they made a short ride take forever, like each mile the van took simply took way too long.
As a vampire had carried him effortlessly down all those flights of stairs and into the van, so one carried Lex to the bed I’d been using once we got back. Although, going into the loft, under the cover of night, even after the coast had been deemed clear, he’d had to run in a blur so as not to be seen carrying a near lifeless body, save for the occasional painful groans, into the place. There were people with means and money who lived in the other apartments, so a bloodied naked man would have raised not only some eyebrows, but probably would have had phones dialing 911, as well.
“Don’t worry about the sheets and blankets,” Nira said. “Just get comfortable. They can all be tossed in the morning. Here’s a shirt and shorts for you to sleep in, and a wet towel to wipe off any blood with. I’ll get you something new to wear in the morning.”
“Thank you,” I said, watching as they laid him down on the bed. His eyes fluttered open a second, but even as I held my breath, he seemed to pass out again. “I don’t mean for the sheets, I mean for everything you have done for us so far. You gave up so much. I don’t know how to begin to repay you.”
“You don’t have to, dear. This is what we do, what we were created for. Our lives are viewed differently, by us. We had lives once, and for whatever reason we were chosen to be brought back to life. We see it as an honor to get this second chance, only to live to help, to protect, and to save. When the opportunity ends, we are fine with that. I think taking away the fear of death – well, along with all the super human strength and senses – it makes us better warriors, protectors. You have no need to thank us.”
“But, you will miss them? I’ve seen you all together, like a family.” I said, glancing back at Lex, who seemed to be unconscious, but I knew was just getting a much deserved and much needed rest while he healed. It was better that way, regardless of how much I wanted to talk to him.
“Yes, we are a family, and we love our kind, but we live a transient lifestyle, so while it hurts, it is not the same loss that you and he would have faced. You need to feel sorrier for the wolves. While they mainly are apart, following those they protect, their pack connection is strong. The worst will be the loss of Vivian and Riker. Because she was a blood relation, and because Riker actually served as her protector, had since before she’d been changed into a werewolf. So, he was close to the family, who will mourn them both greatly. Not to say they won’t mourn the others, but you get my meaning.”
“Yes. I just feel so bad.”
“Please don’t. The Royals are going to welcome you into their family with open arms. They are more aware than you that none of this is your fault. The only one to blame here is the man in the black suit.”
“I know, I guess, and at least in my brain can rationalize that out, but it doesn’t stop the guilt. I still am having a hard time with the amount of hate I felt for him tonight, the fact that I wanted to end him. You know, not to excuse his violence, but I saw the true wolves change once. It does look, well… awfully painful. I guess, in some way, I get the jealousy, though I would never react to it in such a way.”