Page 17 of Second Chance Mates

Her scent lingers behind the bathroom door. I stop directly in front of it. My hand latches onto the handle, but it’s locked from the inside. The burning on my back increases, and I bite down to stop the groan falling from my lips. I don’t even hesitate to kick the door in until it snaps off its hinges. My arms throw the door to the side as huge puffs of steam waft towards me.

My eyes narrow as I step inside the misty room. I hear Ava’s whimpers of distress in between deep, uneven breathing. The heat of the room clings to the fabric of my clothes.

As I step closer, I spot the showerhead on full blast, the scalding water pounding heavily against her reddening back. She’s crouched down against the porcelain tub, sobbing over the loudness of the shower.

“Ava,” I rasp pathetically. Before I even think of my next logical thought, I reach in to turn off the taps. The heat from the liquid burns my skin, but I don’t flinch when it hits me.

Lucy stands over me and gasps quietly. “Put her on the floor. I should be able to heal her,” she demands, but the panic is evident in her voice.

I don’t have time to second-guess her abilities right now; instead, I lean into the tub and pull her body into my chest. I glance down at her face and watch as she falls into a lightheaded state. Her entire body is different shades of red and pink.

Lucy rushes from the room and grabs a dry towel before laying it out on the floor. I flick my gaze to Kayden standing in the doorway, his eyes upon my mate with great horror.

Give us some privacy, I snap.

His head bows, and he turns to leave. Let us know if there is anything we can do.

I place Ava down on the towel and sweep her dark hair away from her injured back. Lucy hisses, and I grit my jaw at the sight before me. “Fuck, Jaxon. This isn’t good.”

Blisters have already started to show. Parts of her skin are broken and weeping. How long was she up here doing this to herself? Heaviness clouds my eyes, and I try to calm myself down.

Lucy kneels beside Ava and places her hands gently on her back.

“If you can’t do it, Gemma will be able to.”

She dismisses the idea. “I can do this.”

I study her every move as she closes her eyes and projects her power onto Ava’s injuries. A minute passes, and nothing happens.

I groan silently. “Lucy,” I warn.

“Shhh.”

I bite down on my lip hard enough to draw blood. This is taking too much time. Knowing the severity of Ava’s health, it could be fatal. My eyes close at the thought.

No. She’ll be okay. Lucy knows what she’s doing.

When I open my eyes and focus on Ava’s back, I release a quiet breath of relief as the blisters and broken skin slowly begin to heal. Lucy’s face is deep in concentration, and I tell myself not to make a sound. Another few minutes pass, and her skin is restored back to its original state. She removes her hands and slumps backwards, her powers instantly lowering her energy.

“Thank you,” I say gratefully. I watch as she peels off her cardigan and wraps it around Ava’s naked body. “Trust me when I say, I’m going to murder those people who have made her do this to herself.”

The bond makes my body tingle as I take her hand delicately between mine—a place where I know she’s safe.

“I know, and you have every right,” she says softly. “But instead of focusing on that, you need to focus on her and her needs.”

As much as I want to rip out Lucien’s throat and anyone else who has ever laid a finger on her, Lucy is right. My priority is building a slow companionship with her—one that is built on trust, safety, and comfort.

“You’re right, Luce. She comes first.”

Ava doesn’t come down in the afternoon, and I need to know if she’s okay without overwhelming her. Three hours has been far too long. My mind can’t fathom the idea of her hurting herself on purpose. It lights a fire inside me that makes me want to tear this world apart.

I knock on the door gently. “Ava? It’s Jaxon. Are you okay?”

For a long moment, I stand at her door. I contemplate knocking again, but I don’t know if I’m doing too much—and yet, not enough. The sound of fumbling echoes loud in my ears until the door opens, and I stare back at Ava and her red-ringed eyes.

All the distress from her body floats into mine. “Hey,” I say calmly. “How are you feeling?”

Those big brown eyes keep me in focus at all times—swimming with tears. She doesn’t respond, and a part of me wonders if she heard me. She takes a step back and looks down at her feet.

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