For the Good of All (Law of the Lycans Book 7) (24 page)

“We’re like an old married couple out camping with the kids,” she quipped.

He made a non-committal sound. Were they? He’d never gone camping with his family. Sleeping out of doors when they had a perfectly good house had never made sense to his mother. His father had always been too busy working, trying to multiply their already large fortune. Always concerned about appearances and money and where had it got them? Killed in a private plane crash. He’d vowed to never let his priorities become skewed as theirs had.

Christina touched his arm. “You’re being strong and silent again and look way too sombre. That’s not allowed on my shift, you know.”

He allowed the corner of his mouth to twitch. “I thought that was only at Club Mystique.”

“Usually, but you’re a special case.”

“A special case? Should I feel honoured?”

“Yep. I don’t waste my efforts on just anyone.”

Stone studied her features. Without any make-up she was just an ordinary girl-next-door. Slightly rounded face, dark lashes, average mouth. Of course, right now there was sweat and streaks of dirt on her cheeks, a scratch on her chin, a few mosquito bites and hints of sunburn. Her hair, still colourful, needed combing, wisps sticking up here and there. Her brown eyes sparkled despite it all and humour curved her lips. He reached out and cupped her face, his thumb stroking her cheek.

“Damn, you’re beautiful.”

“What?”

He cleared his throat, having no idea what prompted the statement. It was true though and he’d stand by his word. “I said you’re beautiful.” He leaned in and gently kissed her.

When he drew away, her eyes searched his face and she gave a funny half smile. “Okay, now I know things must be bad. I look a disaster and you just said something nice to me.”

Stone hesitated, not sure what had prompted him and then shrugged. “A momentary madness.”

She gave a brief nod, still looking puzzled.

“I’ll get the first aid kit and check your leg before we turn in for the night.” He could feel her watching him. Little wonder after his unexpected statement.

He returned and squatted by her side, keeping his attention focused on her leg. It was inflamed with streaks of red in the flesh around the wound.

“That’s bad, isn’t it?”

There was no point in lying to her. “Yeah. It means the infection is spreading.”

“So what do we do?”

“Maggots have been known to help.” He gave a soft chuckle at the expression that passed over her face.

“You
are
kidding, aren’t you?”

“Perhaps.” He waited a moment and then winked at her. She relaxed just as he’d intended and he dressed the wound, not mentioning his real concern. A Lycan would be able to fight off the infection, if they were in good health, but he had no idea how a witch’s metabolism worked. A lot like a regular human’s, he suspected, which meant she was considerably more fragile than he was. He thought of the scar on his cheek, a reminder of what an untreated wound could become, of how ill he’d been. He’d pulled through but would she be as lucky?

Why hadn’t he brought along antibiotics? They were easy enough to get over here. Problem was he’d been thinking only of Lycans. Having an injured witch on his hands had never crossed his mind.

“Stone?”

“Hmm?” He hadn’t realized she was talking.

“I said not to worry. It’s going to be okay.”

“A vision?”

“No. Just being optimistic.” She smiled at him, but it didn’t light up her face as it usually would have. “No point in worrying about the future.”

“True.” He nodded in agreement even though it was a lie. “I’ll put this stuff away and be right back.”

A few minutes later, he was beside her again, arranging the mosquito netting around the lean-to as best he could. “Mind some company?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

He eased down beside her. “You won.”

“I did? What did I win?” She rested her head against his shoulder.

“The other night. You wanted us to camp out rather than stay inside the mission.”

“Ah! The circumstances were supposed to be a bit more romantic as I recall.”

“This isn’t romantic?”

“With kids nearby and a bullet in my leg? Nope.”

He stroked her hair. “I suppose you’re right.”

She shifted her position a bit and slid one arm over his chest.

“You can’t get comfortable?”

“I’m fine. I just wanted to be closer to you. I feel safer that way.”

“I’ll take care of you, don’t worry.”

“I know.” She was silent for several minutes, her breathing even. He thought she’d fallen asleep, but then she spoke again. “What’s ‘the good of all’?”

He stiffened. “Where did you hear that phrase?”

“The other night, when you had that bad dream. You mumbled it several times.”

“It’s a Lycan saying, part of the Book of the Law.”

“Sam has mentioned that book in the past. It contains all your important rules, doesn’t it?”

“Yep. It serves as a guide, governs how we live and interact. It’s a bit like the American constitution only it encompasses every aspect of our lives.”

“And it was written ages ago when Lycans were almost extinct.”

“Sam taught you well.”

She nodded. “So what is this ‘good of all’? A law or part of one?”

“I suppose you could say it’s our ‘last resort’ law. If you’re in doubt about what to do or how to interpret a law, you ask yourself what action do you take that would be in the best interests of the majority of the pack. A Lycan should always act in a manner that is for the good of all.”

“It sounds like a good law. Acting selflessly, putting the needs of others first.”

He tightened his grip on her and stared at the banana leaves overhead, not really seeing them, thinking back to his earlier conversation with Fielding. “Yeah. It sounds good.”

Tina slept fitfully, fevered then chilled, her leg aching. She tried not to wake Stone. He’d borne the burden of all the work that day; carrying the children, cutting through vegetation when it blocked the path, gathering food, caring for her. Tomorrow would be more of the same and he needed his rest.

Her good intentions were for naught, though. Every movement had him waking to check on her, wiping her face, offering her a drink.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized when once again he awoke in response to her shivers.

“Quit apologizing,” he growled.

“Hey, don’t grumble at me.” She tried to smile even though her teeth were chattering. “Nurses are supposed to be friendly and chipper.”

“I thought they were battleaxes who woke you up to give you a sleeping pill, took your blood and then gave you a cold bedpan.”

He pulled a spare t-shirt from the backpack and laid it over her then spooned his body to hers. His warmth seeped into her and she began to relax, the shivers that had wracked her earlier easing.

“I guess I’m in luck. No bedpans in the jungle.”

“Nope, just bushes.” He stroked his knuckles over her cheek, her hair. The soft touch was soothing.

At some point, she must have dozed off though it seemed like only moments later that she was too warm. Irritably, she shoved away the material that covered her and pushed at his arm, the heat from his body seeming to scorch her.

Something metal was pressed to her mouth and water spilled onto her lips. She cracked her eyes open, even the dim light seeming too bright.

“Gwyneth will be so pissed off at me,” she murmured.

“Why is that?” A damp cloth was wiped over her brow.

She swallowed with difficulty. “Because there’s probably some spell that would cure me if only I’d taken the time to study it.”

“Perhaps.”

Stone’s face swam before her eyes, her fevered mind morphing his face into a wolf’s and then back again. She furrowed her brow, trying to think. There was an idea floating about in her head, but it wouldn’t stay still long enough for her to latch on to it.

“Aroooo!”

“What are you doing?”

“Howling. Arooooo!”

“You’re delirious, burning up with fever.” He unbuttoned her shirt and loosened her waistband.

“I’m turning myself into a wolf. If I was a Lycan I wouldn’t be worried at all. I’d just heal myself, wouldn’t I?”

The movement of Stone’s hands stilled. “If you were a Lycan.”

“Yeah.” She closed her eyes, suddenly exhausted. A grey cloud began to envelop her.

“Christina?”

“Hmm?” It was too much of an effort to wake up.

“Christina, listen to me.” His hand cupped her face. “I have an idea, but it might not work.”

“Idea.” She nuzzled his palm.

“I’m going to give you some of my blood to drink.”

“Blood?” Her mouth didn’t seem to want to cooperate, the words sticking in her throat. “Witch, not vampire.”

“I know you’re a witch and that’s why this might not work, but I need to try something.” He worked an arm under her shoulders, lifting her so she was cradled in his arms. “Lycans have superior healing abilities. There’s a slight chance that ingesting some of my blood might buy you some time.”

She blinked at him blearily. A beam of moonlight flooded the small clearing they were in, bathing Stone in a cool, silvery light. “...turn into a werewolf?”

“No, you’d have to have a Lycan gene for that. This is for healing only. I don’t know if it will work, or even if it’s ever been done before.”

He was crazy. She wanted to tell him that, but it really was too much effort. Her eyes drifted shut and she dreamed of a wolf and a witch surrounded in silvery light. They were playing together, frolicking in the forest until suddenly the wolf gasped in pain and blood began to rain from the sky. Droplets landed on her face, dripped into her mouth, metallic, salty. She made a face and tried to spit it out, but there was too much. It filled her mouth and she swallowed it, coughing, trying to turn her head away, but it was no use. The witch faded from existence leaving only a wolf howling at a blood red moon.

Chapter 10

Christina’s fever had finally broken during the night, whether it was from the blood he’d given her or her body’s own immune system, he didn’t know. Whatever the case, she’d been more lucid in the morning, chatting with the children as he’d struck camp.

“The wound’s still festering and red but no worse in appearance.” He checked her leg before they began their journey.

“Stone.” Her voice sounded hesitant. She glanced towards the children who were a few yards away. They were playing with the doll, rolling about like puppies.

“Yes?”

“I had the strangest dream last night.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I was a werewolf howling at the moon.”

He snorted. “And your howls are pathetic.”

“I wasn’t really doing that, was I?”

He couldn’t keep his lips from twitching. “Sorry, but yes, you were.”

She let her head drop back to the ground. “I am
so
embarrassed.”

“Weird shit happens.”

“At least the bit about it raining blood wasn’t true.”

“Well…”

She levered herself up on her elbows. “It did not rain blood. Even I know that isn’t possible.”

He held out his wrist. The flesh was still scarred from where he’d cut it.

“I didn’t do that!”

“You’re right. You didn’t. I did.”

“My howling was so bad you cut your wrists?” Her eyebrows shot upwards. “That’s pretty extreme. Couldn’t you have just covered your ears or left me a bad review?”

“No. I gave you some of my blood to drink.”

“Ugh! I’m not some blood-sucking leech of a vampire you know!”

“I realize that. I was hoping it would help the healing process.”

“Not meaning to insult you, but drinking blood?” She made a face. “Yuck.”

He shrugged. “You’re still here. Not healed but better than you were last night.”

She was silent for a moment. “Okay. Then thanks.”

He rose to his feet, her leg now bandaged. “Time to get moving.”

“Don’t forget Clarice.”

He sighed. “I’ll make sure she comes along.”

Some time later, Stone heaved a sigh of relief as the trees began to visibly thin. Just yards ahead of him was the clearing where they would rendezvous with the chopper. His arms were beginning to feel the strain of carrying the two small children and a backpack as well as supporting most of Christina’s weight. He had briefly thought of abandoning the pack, but if they should miss the scheduled pick-up its contents might make the difference between survival and death.

“Almost there.” He offered the reassuring words to the trio. The toddlers clung to him silently, still showing no signs of talking. Christina offered him the briefest of nods. Her jaw was set, lines of strain showing on her face. The improvement he’d seen that morning appeared to be wearing off. He was sure it was only fear of Mendoza’s men behind them that kept her going.