Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers #5)(93)

A little heartbeat pressed against her energy. "Okay. The baby is all right." She searched for damage, easily finding an amniotic sac ripped down the side. Though she couldn't actually see the damage, she could feel it. "Simone? I need you to breathe in and out and try to calm yourself. I know it's tough."

"What's going on? What do you know?" Simone's voice was shrill. She moved restlessly and tightened her body. Pain flared through her, transmitting itself to Nessa. "Please."

"Two things are going on. First, your body is reacting to the Apollo by heating your internal organs. I can counter that. Second, the baby is in danger, but I can sew up the sac and make sure she's nice and safe."

"She?" Simone panted.

Nessa widened her fingers across Simone's abdomen. "Aye. You have a very strong demon-witch female in there, and we're garna help her to survive. Both of you will survive." There was so much damage. How could Nessa secure the baby and still fight the Apollo in Simone's blood and organs? "But you need to help me." She wasn't that strong. Nobody was that strong.



       
         
       
        

"How?" Simone arched off the bed, fire dancing on her lips.

"I need you to shut your eyes, breath in and out, and calm your body. You have more control than you think. Let's slow your heartbeat. Come on." Nessa imagined a chilly healing balm spreading around Simone's heart. At the same time, she created a gel-like bandage to cover the sac holding the baby.

"I'm still bleeding," Simone whispered.

"Doesn't matter." Nessa soothed another layer of gel over the sac. "The baby doesn't need that blood. The baby needs you to breathe and slow your heart rate. Now."

Simone settled back on the pillow, another tear leaking out of her eye. "Okay." She drew in air, pushing out her chest, and then exhaled slowly.

"Good," Nessa said, her hands and arms starting to shake. Another layer around the baby. Then she turned her attention to Simone's liver, which was vibrating with heat. The organ shook as it started to burn. Simone moaned but kept still, breathing as evenly as she possibly could. Nessa sent ice over the liver.

"I need Nick," Simone whispered.

"He'll be here," Nessa said, trying to force coolness around the kidneys. "Keep breathing. I need your blood to slow down a little." Her thudding heart was spreading the drug too quickly. "You're a tough, take-no-shit Councilwoman for the Coven Nine, Simone. You throw fire like a warrior."

"That's true," Simone whispered, her nails digging into the bedcovers. She groaned.

"Good." Nessa moved back to Simone's heart to cool it more. "How's your head?"

"Hurts," Simone muttered. "Protect the babe first."

If Simone died, so did the baby. "I will take care of her, don't worry." Nessa lifted her hand off Simone's chest and covered her forehead. Heat filled her palm. She dug deep and created another soothing balm, forcing it through Simone's skull.

A ringing set up in Nessa's ears. Blood dribbled from her nose, and she casually wiped it off. Her ears felt wet, and she ignored them.

She rubbed circles over Simone's abdomen, and the sac stitched up, quickly filling with fluid. The baby's heart rate sped up to a healthy level. Nessa swayed and caught herself. She opened her eyes, but her vision narrowed to a pinprick and then went black. Her stomach rolled over. She shut her eyes and concentrated on the baby, keeping the protective gel in place for a while longer.

Blood slid from her nose and over her mouth.

"Nessa," Simone said, not moving. "You're bleeding."

Nessa wiped off her nose and opened her eyes but saw only blackness. "It's all right. That's normal," she croaked, sounding like she was being choked. Her lungs heated until her chest burned. 

Simone grabbed her wrist. "Your eyes are bright violet. You need to stop. Rest." She tried to push Nessa's hand away from her chest.

"I'm fine." Nessa fought her, aiming for the kidneys again.

"Your ears are bleeding," Simone said urgently. "Stop for a minute. Please."

Nessa shook her head. "Here's the deal, Simone. If I don't heal you, your baby dies. So keep taking deep breaths and just focus internally." Blood from her ears wound down her neck to her blouse.

Simone gave a frustrated moan.

"It's okay." Nessa was fading, and fast. She tried to heal more, but her strength was tapped. Her ability was gone.

The baby wouldn't make it. Neither would Simone.