Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers #5)(104)

The bars snicked open in both cells.

Jasper leaped out, already running for the stairs. "I'll find Nessa."

Boondock caught Bear as he started to fall, dropping to his knees with Bear's head in his hands. One hand covered Bear's throat and the other his temple. "Shut your eyes," Boondock ordered.

Bear's eyelids shut automatically. He had to get to Nessa. Where was she? Had Lucas gotten to her? Bear struggled, trying to control his body.

"Hold on," Boondock ordered. "Jasper will return with intel. She might be just fine in the war room. Lucas might've made a run for it."

A healing balm glided over Bear's brain, and he groaned out loud. His skull snapped back into place, and his brain started functioning again. The balm was heavier than Nessa's had been, somehow a little thicker and not as nuanced. He could actually feel it slide through the side of his brain, healing neurons.

"You're damn lucky you turned your head," Boondock muttered, his hand starting to shake. "The bullet cut through your skull and impacted your brain, but you protected the frontal lobe." He breathed out heavily. "Well."

"What?" Bear growled.

"Your skull. It's stronger than any I've ever felt. The bullet should've killed you, actually," Boondock murmured. "Lucas underestimated the dragon power in your genetics."

Bear shuddered from the pain. "I've always had a hard head."

"Aye. That's not a surprise, actually. You'll be fine. Well, as smart as you were to start with, anyway."

Bear gurgled, and blood spurted from his neck. He clamped a hand over his jugular, trying to stem the tide.

The pain receded in his head, leaving behind a dull ache.

Boondock reached for Bear's neck. "I don't have much left. Let's see what we can do here."

Bear looked up at the uncle Nessa loved. "I'm sorry," he croaked.

Boondock rolled his eyes. "Putting family members in jail cells is a typical Tuesday afternoon for my people. Now take a deep breath. This is gonna hurt."

Bear held his breath, and pain stitched through his trachea. He gasped and held on.

The balm was soothing but disappeared too quickly. Boondock drew in air and pressed harder. A balm teased and then disappeared.

Boondock sat back. "That's all I've got. Healing a brain takes everything, even a shifter brain, and I'll need an hour to recharge." He gently set Bear's head on the bloody concrete. "I'll go check on Nessa and be right back."

"No," Bear breathed, wrapping his hand around the front of his neck as tightly as he could to stem the blood. Pain shot up into his skull and down toward his chest, and he tried to ignore it. He shoved to his feet. 

"Jesus," Boondock muttered, sliding a shoulder beneath Bear's arm. "I'll help you up the stairs."

Bear's throat felt like blades had cut through it repeatedly. Each step was a painful move as he tried to force healing cells to his neck. They just kept sputtering in place. He wove back and forth but made it up the stairs and into the war room with Boondock's help. Nessa wasn't there.

Jasper ran back into the war room, his gaze panicked. "The guards are all in place, and nobody saw her leave. We're running through all of the security footage now."

Simone brought up the satellite view that showed the grounds around headquarters. "The storm is getting bad. I can't see much."

Boondock pushed Bear against the wall and dropped to his butt, his head on his knees. "I need a minute," he gasped.

Healing brains had to be tough. Bear looked around, trying to focus. Blood seeped between his fingers.

Garrett and Logan caught sight of him, jumping toward him in unison from opposite directions. Garrett's fangs slashed his own wrist, and he shoved it against Bear's mouth. "Vampire blood."

Bear drank deep, and the liquid burned harshly down his throat. Tingles exploded throughout his body, and he swayed again.

Logan shoved Garrett away and offered his own wrist. Bear took demon blood, its thickness nearly choking him. Then he shook his head, and the kids backed up.

He felt his neck stitching from within, and he bit back a growl at the incredible pain. The blood flow stopped. His skull finished repairing itself. He swallowed several times. "Thanks." The boys were damn handy to have around.

Nick Veis looked up from his computer. "I have satellite imagery for the last year downloading now. If the guards or snipers didn't see her leave, he took her under. Somehow. There's a hidden tunnel from here. We just have to find it." His gaze narrowed on Bear. "Do you need more blood? I'm game."

"No," Bear said, straightening to his full height. How was he ever going to repay these people? He'd just been saved by a witch, a demon, and a vampire. "Nick and Simone? Please find the tunnel." He turned toward the storage room and rec area. "Boys? Let's tear this place apart."