Cole’s Redemption (14 page)

The fight was on, and there was no time to check on his Pack brothers in the first
car. He could only hope they were all right as he engaged the first rogue, sliced
its throat and stabbed it in the heart, and then fought the next one. And the next.

Exhaustion crept in, but he couldn’t stop. Finally, he spotted Nick and the others
from the first car joining the fray. That was a relief, though he couldn’t spot the
boy. Then Nick went down and didn’t get up. That moment of distraction almost cost
Zan his head. But at the last moment, he whirled and deflected the killing blow and
dispatched the attacker.

His arms were tiring, his head throbbing. But he couldn’t quit. At one point he was
amazed to see that the young man had acquired a long blade from somewhere and was
cutting a swath through the rogues like he’d been doing it all his life. Zan figured
the kid owed the bastards for killing his family. Maybe he had found a new calling.

Slash, stab, yank out the heart. He shut out fatigue and emotion. Kept going until
he and his teammates, and the boy, along with the prince’s soldiers, were standing
alone on the blood-soaked battlefield, amid their defeated enemy.

Defeated for now.

Jesus, he hurt all over. He was tired and ravenous. Whatever the prince was serving,
he was going to eat until he exploded.

Suddenly, a shout chased away thoughts of dinner. He looked around and spotted Rowan
crouched over a prone body—Nick! Running, leaping over bodies, Zan made his way to
his boss’s side and dropped to his knees.

“He and the prince are hurt,” Rowan told him. She met Zan’s gaze, the knowledge there
painful. “I know Melina and Mac told you not to use your healing again, but Tarron’s
wound is bad.”

“I’m not letting either one of them die,” Zan said grimly, “so don’t try to stop me.”

Nobody could argue with that, no matter how badly they didn’t want Zan hurt by using
his gift. And nobody tried to talk him out of it, though he knew they wanted to. As
Zan assessed the two men, he noted that the boy was watching intently. Taking it all
in. He supposed the period of shock had given way to a survival instinct. That would
hold the boy in good stead for a long time.

“What’s your name?” he asked as he placed his hands on Tarron’s chest.

“Daegan.”

“Watch and learn, Daegan. They’re our leaders, and that’s exactly why that limo was
targeted. Even if the battle is won, if the leader falls, the war can be lost. It’s
the soldier’s job to protect him, no matter the personal price.”

“Yes, sir.”

Centering himself, he tried not to think about what might happen to his brain. About
the doctors’ warnings coming true. This was his calling, what he was born to do.

“Stab wound to the gut,” he told the group. “Got a bunch of the intestines. Fatal
without intervention because he’s losing blood faster than his vampire healing can
handle. Here I go.”

The wound was a raging bitch to repair. Slowly, he knitted together the ripped tissue,
reconnected thousands of tiny veins. Pumped up the blood supply to the prince’s organs.
Halfway through, his head began to ache. Throb. Three quarters of the way, he was
struggling not to pass out from the pain as the tiny eruptions began to take place
deep in his brain.

“Almost there,” he whispered. “Just a little more.”

Then he was done. He was almost blind from the pain as he pushed from Tarron’s healing
body to Nick’s nearby. The commander was sitting up, protesting any help.

“No,” he told Zan. “I can see you’re in a lot of pain. I’ll be fine.”

Ignoring him, Zan laid a hand on his chest. Assessed. “Femoral artery tear. If you
weren’t a shifter, you’d be dead by now. Let me work.”

He started again, struggling with every second, with every cell he coaxed back together,
even though the job wasn’t as tedious as Tarron’s healing. When he was finished, he
swayed on his knees, then collapsed.

Something warm gushed from his nose. He tried to wipe it, but couldn’t move his arm.
Jax’s face appeared over his, worried. Zan couldn’t make out what he was saying.

Then the world gradually vanished and the pain with it.

•   •   •

Selene was playing a game on the Wii with Blue when the call came in.

She wasn’t the one who answered. Suddenly Melina was striding into the room, and when
Selene glanced at her, she immediately knew something was wrong.

“What’s happened?” She pushed to her feet, leaving the game. Blue joined her.

“We have to leave right away for Prince Tarron’s stronghold.”

“Why?” she asked in growing alarm. “What’s going on?”

“The team was ambushed tonight by a large group of rogue vampires. They were traveling
to the stronghold with the prince and his men in two cars when the attack happened.
Zan had to heal your father or he was going to die. The prince as well.”

Selene felt the blood drain from her face. “Is Zan okay? Of course he’s not, or you
wouldn’t be here.”

“I’m going to be honest. His brain is rupturing from the stress of healing again too
soon, and the prince’s doctor can’t get him stabilized. They think your being there
will help him, considering your bond.”

“What are we waiting for?” she cried. “Let’s go!”

“Good. We can send for some things later.”

“How are we getting there? Will we take a helicopter, too?”

“No time, and there’s an easier way.” Just then, Noah joined her, followed by Kalen,
Mac, and the new baby. “We’re all going, including Kalen. And Mac and the baby aren’t
going to be left here virtually all alone in this big place.”

She was about to repeat her question about how they were getting there when three
males in black jeans and black long-sleeved shirts suddenly appeared in the game room
out of thin air. Selene jumped with fright and scrambled back.

“It’s all right,” Melina reassured her. “These vampires are some of the prince’s soldiers.
Vampires can teleport, so they’re going to take us directly to the stronghold.”

“Okay.” She hoped she didn’t get sick. Teleporting sounded scary as hell, though she’d
never done it.

There wasn’t much time to worry. The three vampires spread out, instructing them to
link arms. Told them to close their eyes.

And in a flash, she felt as though she were hurtling through space. Rushing along
like she was seated in a fighter jet—with the top down.

As quickly as she made that comparison, the trip was over. They were on stable ground
again. Or rather, a floor. Opening her eyes, she gaped at her surroundings. They were
standing in a huge foyer fashioned out of the mouth of a cave. The space was every
bit as richly appointed as a palace, and that’s in fact what it was. A massive stone
fortress carved right into the side of a mountain. She couldn’t imagine any enemy
strong enough to penetrate it.

“The prince will see you momentarily,” one of the soldiers informed her. “Wait here.”

Then they were gone. But in the next instant, she spotted her father and a tall, stunning
man hurrying toward them. Her father’s face was drawn, worried, and the other man’s
was too.

“I’m Tarron Romanoff,” the prince said, confirming his identity. “Your mate saved
our lives, your father’s and my own. He’s a very brave and honorable man.”

She resisted the urge to demand he take her to see Zan right the hell now. “Thank
you. I think the same of him.” She hung on to her composure. “Please, how is he?”

“Not well, I’m afraid. His brain has been pushed to the limits of his endurance, and
the bleeding continues. He’s unconscious.”

“How can I help? I’ll do anything.” She meant that.

“Our doctor and our team of nurses believe strongly in the power of the mate bond.
Especially in cases where one mate is straddling the line between life and death.
The mate bond can sway the other partner toward life and healing.”

Tears filled her eyes. “I’ll do whatever it takes to get him well. May I see him now?”

“Of course. Come along and we’ll get you settled with him.” To the others, he said,
“I’ll have rooms prepared for all of you. I’d like to extend an invitation to your
medical staff to work in our infirmary while the Alpha Pack remains our guests and
we battle this rogue problem. We know so little about shifter medicine; your presence
would be a great help.”

“Nurse Brooks and I accept, thank you,” Melina said. “Dr. Grant is on maternity leave.”

The prince graced the baby with a warm smile. “I see that. I’ll make sure the baby
and his parents have the best accommodations available.”

He spun and walked away. The group followed, entering a whole new world.

But all Selene could focus on was making sure her brave Healer was healed himself.

S
elene followed the prince through the maze of tunnels, thinking that if an enemy did
somehow manage to enter this place, he’d need a map and a tour guide to find his way
out.

When they finally reached the infirmary, she was gratified to see Zan’s friends all
gathered, waiting on word. She knew they were scared, but not as scared as she was.
This was her mate in danger.

Spotting a doctor coming through some double doors toward her, she hurried to him.

“Please, I’m here to see Zander Cole. How is he?” she asked in a tremulous voice.
The handsome doctor swung his steady gaze around and scrutinized her, his face softening
in sympathy. Selene felt her heart lurch as he came to stand before her.

“Are you Selene Westfall?”

“Zan’s mate, yes,” she said. A shuffle of feet came from behind her, and she knew
his team was listening. They wanted news just as badly. When the doctor spoke, he
addressed her kindly, unruffled by the horde of shifters pressing close to listen.

“I’m Dr. Archer. Let’s take a seat, and we’ll start with the good news. Please,” he
instructed gently, and waited for her to comply.

She did, afraid her trembling legs wouldn’t support her. It hadn’t escaped her notice
how Dr. Archer had avoided her question, taking calm control like a man accustomed
to dealing with the worst scenarios. Given that he had an entire coven of vampires
to doctor, she was sure that was the case. The doctor positioned himself on one side
of her, and Jax sat on the other. Nick hovered close by, his face set in hard lines.

“I’m pleased to report that tests reveal no massive internal bleeding or damage to
his major organs. Of course, we will continue to monitor the slow internal bleeding
in his brain.”

Hope surged within her, but the doctor’s reserve kept it in check. “What can I do
to help him?”

“Remain by his side as much as you can, at least until he turns the corner. I’m sure
our prince told you how highly we value the power of the mate bond in healing.”

“He did, yes. It makes sense.”

“There’s more you should know. Brain trauma is our most immediate concern. When he
arrived here, he was in shock and suffering from seizures. To be honest, he gave us
quite a scare. We ran a CT scan and took X-rays. The bleeds are here.” He touched
a finger to a spot behind his right ear, toward the back of his head, and then at
his temple. “There’s some swelling putting a bit of pressure on his brain, but he’s
breathing on his own and is showing signs of normal brain activity. We’ll know more
once he regains consciousness.”

“God.” She pressed a shaking hand to her mouth.
Zan could have died
. She’d known that, but now it was more real. Her entire body felt frozen. “How long
until we know something? Until he shows improvement?”

“There’s no way to be sure. He’s holding his own, but I want him under close observation.
Once he wakes up and shows no further complications, I can have him moved to a regular
room. Try not to worry, Selene. He’s strong and fit, so we have every reason to expect
a full recovery—with your help.”

“When can I see him?”

“He’s being moved to intensive care. I’ll have the head nurse come get you when he’s
settled, and I’ll check back later.”

Zan was back there somewhere, hurting. Fighting for his life. Her lungs and throat
burned with the effort to stifle her tears, but she was determined to stay strong
for Zan. If nothing else, she could do this for him.

His Pack brothers milled around, unwilling to leave without further word. Time stretched
out, and the wait for more news scraped her nerves raw. “Zan,” she said through their
bond, trying to reach him. There was no answer. People drifted in and out. What could
be taking so long? Hundreds of possibilities loomed, all of them frightening.

Her father sat next to her and took her hand. She stared at his big hand on hers,
realizing how much she’d missed her father’s comfort.

“Tarron’s healing was crucial, but I didn’t want Zan to make this sacrifice for me.
I wish he’d let me go. Then you wouldn’t have to go through this.”

She gasped, glaring at her father. “Don’t you dare cheapen his gift to you by saying
that! He almost gave his life for you, and that meant something to him. Don’t say
that again.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, taken aback. “I didn’t look at it that way. Nothing like that
will cross my lips again.”

“Thank you. And I’m sorry for snapping; I’m just scared.”

“Me too.”

“I find it hard to believe you’re afraid of anything,” she said quietly. She marveled
at how he was always there for his men, always so strong. “You really care for your
Pack. You could have died tonight, and your first thought is for them.”

“That’s part of my job.”

“I think it’s more to you than that. They keep you going.”

He hesitated, then sighed. “Those guys saved my life, and they don’t even know it.”

Her heart lurched. “How so?”

“I’d been in the FBI for almost twenty years, and it was time for me to move on before
my human colleagues figured out I wasn’t aging. I was at loose ends and feeling down,
like I couldn’t stand to start my life over one more time. And then Jarrod Grant contacted
me about commanding the Pack.”

“And joining them saved your life—literally?”

“Yes.” He looked deeply into her eyes. “Selene, you haven’t lived long enough to know
what it’s like to spend almost two centuries in the agonizing grip of loneliness,
hoping to find your true mate, then to find him and have him taken away. I pray you
never do. I’ve survived in hell ever since, struggling to find meaning in my existence.”

“Have you?”

“I’ve tried. But there comes a time when the loneliness becomes too much to bear,”
he said softly. “When the guilt of one’s mistakes just won’t be assuaged, when the
past just won’t die. When the body is too tired to house a dead soul. This is why
humans are fortunate to be mortal, because forever is just too long.”

His words scared her terribly. Was he ready to cross over? She didn’t want to lose
him, especially before they got things settled between them.

He was silent for a time, and she gave in to the temptation to press him. “What was
your role in my mother’s death? Did you kill her?”

“Now isn’t the time,” he said gently.

“You’re just trying to get out of answering me!”

“No. I promise you I’m not. I mean it when I say you’re not ready to hear the truth
yet. I’ll know when you are.”

“Do you miss her?”

“Every day of my life,” he croaked. “Just as I’ve missed you. When I lost you, I didn’t
want to live.”

Her gaze snapped to his. “You didn’t
lose
me like a set of car keys. You
left
me.”

“No, I—look, this isn’t the time to discuss—”

Just then the middle-aged head nurse finally came through the doors, her grim expression
doing nothing to calm Selene’s fears.

“You can see him now,” she said.

Selene wasn’t prepared for the sight of her mate lying in the bed, so pale and vulnerable.
He was normally so full of life. Kind and funny and sweet. His expressive brown eyes
were closed, lashes resting against his cheeks. There were tubes and wires all over
his body. An IV in his hand.

Taking a chair next to his bed, she sat and held the hand without the IV. For a time,
she watched the slow drip, drip, drip of clear medication through the line until that
made her a little stir-crazy, and she went back to watching him instead.

Come on, baby. You can beat this. I know you can. The doctor says the mate bond will
help you get well, and I believe that. Please, do this for me.

There was no answer.

At some point she grew weary and slept. A nurse came in later and set out a cot for
her, and she gratefully stretched out beside him. Before she fell back asleep, she
mentally tested their mate bond, finding it strong. It had taken some blows, but it
was intact. She imagined Zan at the other end of the thread stretched between them,
like he was a fish she had to reel in. Slowly, she tugged at him in her mind.

She could be wrong, but it felt like he was moving closer. Tying off her end of the
thread, she at last gave in to the sandman.

•   •   •

Zan surfaced by gradual degrees.

At first he couldn’t place where he was at all. Sometimes he thought he heard Melina
and Noah talking, but other times he heard an unfamiliar male voice. He seemed to
be a doctor, and someone called him Victor . . . something. He couldn’t grasp it at
the moment and didn’t care.

He drifted for a while. Tried to figure out what had happened to land him here. Wherever
here was. Cracking his lids to a tiny slit, he saw stone walls. Like natural cave
stone, not man-made. What the hell?

Then he turned his head, and all was suddenly okay with his world, no matter where
they were. Selene was sitting in a chair beside him, fast asleep. He drank in the
sight of her pale blond hair framing her face, her tall body slumped with her legs
sticking out in front of her. She probably would want him to wake her, but he was
tempted to let her sleep.

“Selene?” His voice sounded like he’d been gargling glass, with whiskey chasers.
Baby
, he sent mentally.

That seemed to do the trick. Yawning, she sat up and looked at him—then her electric-blue
eyes widened. “Zan! You’re awake!”

“Hey, baby,” he whispered. “Where are we?”

Leaning forward, she touched his arm. “We’re in the prince’s stronghold. Your entourage
was attacked on the way here.”

“How are
you
here? Why?”

“You were really bad off.” She swallowed hard, as though remembering. “They thought
you might die. They sent some of the prince’s men after me, Melina, Noah, as well
as Mac and Kalen. We’re all staying on as the prince’s guests until this rogue situation
is resolved. The Pack is working with his men.”

“I knew we’d work with them, but we’re living here? I wasn’t expecting that.”

“That last attack changed everyone’s perspective. They’re targeting Nick and Tarron,
and now you all have to find out why.” Leaning over, she kissed his lips gently. “Enough
about that right now. How are you feeling?”

He thought about that. “Head aches some. Tired.”

“My poor mate. I don’t want you to think about anything but getting well, all right?”

His eyes got heavy, and he slid back into sleep.

When he awoke again, he was feeling better. The ache in his head wasn’t as bad, and
he wasn’t as tired. But where was his mate?
Selene?

Coming, honey. Are you all right?

Better. I just wanted to see your beautiful face.

Just then she walked into his room, her smile only for him. He smiled back, but he
was sure his expression looked as drugged as he felt.

“I leave to eat lunch, and there you are.” She sat next to him and took his hand,
kissed his lips. “Been awake long?”

“No, just a minute. Where is everyone?”

“The team is around the stronghold somewhere. Some have been in to see you, but you
weren’t awake. My father’s been here a lot, and so has Jax. Everyone has been really
worried.”

“I’m all right. Especially now that I’m with you again.”

She looked pleased by that. “Our mate bond helped you turn the corner and get well.”

“If anybody could help me do that, it’s you.”

Her happiness dimmed. “You almost died, though. I know Melina is coming to talk with
us soon.”

He had a feeling he knew what she was going to say. And he would be able to heed her
words pretty much like he had before—not at all.

“I’ll listen to her, but—”

“I know, honey. You don’t have to explain to me. I’ve got my father and a grateful
vampire prince who owe you their lives. I know why you do what you do and that you
wouldn’t change it.”

“You really do understand.”

“Yes. Doesn’t always make it easier to accept or not to worry, but I get it.”

Noah came bustling in, checked his vitals. After the nurse left, he figured it wouldn’t
be long before the doc followed, and he was right. Melina came in, her elfin face
wearing a carefully composed frown. He wondered if she practiced that look in the
mirror to intimidate her patients and instantly felt bad for the uncharitable thought.
The doc was dedicated to her work, and she was good at it.

“Zander, we need to talk,” she began.

“Do we? I already know what you’re going to say.”

“I have to say it anyway—Zan, you
cannot
heal anyone again for at least six months if you want to stay alive. That’s the short
version.”

“And the long version?”

“Your brain has been taxed to the limits of its endurance. On the way here, you stopped
breathing. Then you had seizures and a slow bleed that came tenuously close to becoming
an all-out hemorrhaging. Your brain is done. It can’t take anymore, or you’ll be done,
too.”

“Melina,” he said softly. “I’ve known you for years. You’re an awesome doctor, and
you want what’s best for your patients. I know you have to give it to me straight.
So here’s where I have to do the same.”

She waited while he rested, gathered his thoughts. He was getting tired again.

“The thing is, being a Healer is who I am, just as being a doctor is who you are.
I can’t separate that from myself any more than I could cut out my wolf. I discovered
I could heal when I was just a child and a neighbor’s cat broke its leg. I picked
it up and just . . . fixed it.”

“I didn’t know that.” She gave him a fond smile.

“I never told anyone about what I did. But from then on, I used it whenever I could.
In my mind, there was no need for others to suffer if I had the power to stop it.
You see? I have to give my soul to see others well. That’s what I know.”

“I understand.”

“I know you do. I just had to tell you that I’m not being reckless, or using my gift
lightly. I know exactly what’s at stake, but when it comes to the lives of my Pack
brothers and my mate, there’s no question I’ll risk everything to make sure they’re
okay.”