Page 32 of Capricorn Blessed

“We were both in our own fights. She shifted into her panther form and lunged at the guy. It looked like she was about to bite him, and then she was on the ground. I didn’t see anyone hit her, but I was also trying not to get my ass beat. But they must have,” Dennis recounts.

“Could she have been tranqed?” I ask.

“I don’t think so,” Dennis answers. “I didn’t see anyone with a Tranq gun or any of those brightly feathered needles.”

“What does this look like?” I ask, my fingers still near the mark I found on her neck.

He leans over, looking at Izzy’s neck.

“A needle mark,” he answers. “Tranquilizers would explain why she’s still out. Don’t shifters heal quickly? We hardly ever have them in the hospital.”

“We do,” Beorn answers, “but if they had the dart for me or Kenric, it would have been more than needed for Izzy’s panther.”

“I’ve also heard of people healing almost at the speed of humans. I don’t know anyone personally, but the rumors have become louder these past few months,” Kenric supplies.

“I wonder if that has something to do with the magic issues Sia was telling me about,” Dennis says, leaning back into his seat.

“Another problem to another day,” I say. “If we are successful, hopefully everyone will heal like normal. But for today, I just want Izzy to wake up.”

We stop by Kenric’s flat long enough to collect our things before leaving and finding a villa to rent for a few days, a few hours closer to the coast. We use fake names to check in, and only Beorn and I go in to get the key.

Beorn carries Izzy inside, laying her across the couch. I sit in the armchair next to her, my eyes locked on her chest as it rises and falls.

What feels like years later, but was closer to an hour, Izzy lets out a low moan. I put aside the sandwich Beorn gave me to eat and drop to my knees next to the couch.

“Iz,” I say, reaching up and brushing her hair from her forehead. “You’re safe! We found you, and you’re safe.”

Her eyes flutter behind closed lids, and she takes a deep breath. I grab her hand and squeeze.

“Wake up, Izzy,” I urge. “You can do it. Open your eyes and join us.”

She squeezes my hand back before her eyes finally crack open.

“H-h-hey,” she murmurs with a smile.

“Izzy!” I shout, lunging forward to hug her. “Thank the Constellations!”

The men pile into the room from wherever they had been, quietly keeping an eye on us.

“Welcome back, Izzy,” Dennis says. “It’s good to see those eyes of yours open.”

“I was starting to wonder what I’d do with all the quiet I was suddenly surrounded with.” Kenric laughs.

Beorn doesn’t say anything but walks in with a glass of water, which he holds out to Izzy.

I help her sit up slightly so she can sip some of the drink. She coughs as the liquid hits her throat, before recovering quickly and drinking half the glass. She smiles at Beorn.

“Thanks for that,” she whispers, and he blushes. Then she looks at Kenric, “Were you implying I talk too much?!”

“A little,” he answers, “but it’s entertaining as hell.”

She glares at him, but he shrugs.

“Iz,” I say, drawing her attention back to me. “You scared me.” I look at the men surrounding her. “Us. All of us. I know you want to help, but I think you need to go home.”

She sits up, glaring daggers at me.

“He got hurt, too,” she says, pointing at Dennis. “Are you sending him home, too?”

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