Page 66 of Above Cursed Winds

“Myko was just saying there’s a wounded hawk on the porch, Jeremiah,” Zia explained, making no sudden moves. “We should probably go check on it.”

Then, to Jeremiah, Zia telepathed, I’ve told Myko you needed a friend last night. Please don’t say anything more.

While any immortal could receive telepathy, Elementals, vampires, and werewolves couldn’t respond. Only Raeths held the talent to hold a dialogue, though several vampires had developed the talent over time. In Zia’s head, there was only silence.

“Yep, we should probably go make sure your hawk is okay, little man.” Nothing but positivity fueled Jeremiah’s voice, even this early in the morning.

By the time they all made it downstairs, Zia was surprised the hawk was still there. The creature did indeed have a broken wing, no doubt from the massive winds that currently whistled around her home.

“What can we do for him, mom?”

Pure concern emanated from her son, and she felt a fleeting stab of guilt. “Baby, we can’t help him. He’s a wild animal, and no one in our clan can speak with them. If we could—”

Her words were cut off by the sound of an opening door. Jeremiah, unabashed, started outside as the wind died down and stopped blowing into their home on the Elemental’s command. Startled, Zia swiftly padded after him, ready to warn him against the hawk.

The moment he’d stepped onto the porch, the predator’s pitch-dark eyes fixated on the Elemental, its curved beak opening as if to squawk. A soft smile lined Jeremiah’s lips before he crouched only feet away.

Eagerly, the hawk stalked toward him, its unblinking gaze focused solely on the Elemental. In two steps, the raptor’s claws had clenched around Jeremiah’s forearm, balancing precariously as Jeremiah stood and ran two fingers down the hawk’s chest.

“Zia, I’d ask you to heal her wing, please.”

Bewildered, all she could do was follow his instruction. Gingerly stepping onto the porch after him, she slowly approached the pair.

“You speak with animals?”

A genial smile hooked Jeremiah’s mouth. “Animals and Elementals share a special affinity. They belong to us as surely as we belong to them.” The hawk’s intense gaze pivoted to Zia, tilting to better see her. “Shh, love, she’s here to help.”

Though she was suitably awestruck, Zia complied with Jeremiah’s request. She sent healing waves into the wounded wing, righting it with little effort. In the minute it’d taken, Myko had inched closer to them, his wide eyes slowly morphing into a wide grin.

“Come here, little man.” Jeremiah slowly crouched, bringing the hawk down to Myko’s level. “She’ll let you pet her. And you don’t need to worry about your power affecting her. It won’t work on avian brains.”

Appreciation burned in her throat as she watched her son gently stroke the mottled white, brown, and black feathers of the wild Hawaiian Hawk. Myko, like the precocious genius that he was, began spouting off his random facts about the birds while being exceptionally careful with her.

Zia had never been more proud.

“I’m going to fly her back to her nest, Z.” Jeremiah’s summer blues caught hers. “She isn’t far from here, and I don’t want another gust taking her out.”

“Of course.” Looking to her son, she added, “Back inside, Boo.”

Ushering the young Raeth back into the house, she was greeted by none other than the boy’s father. Sehrin, leisurely leaning against a wall in their foyer, wore a cruel smirk.

“Should’ve put it out of its misery. No sense in saving those who shouldn’t be saved.”

Zia bristled. “Is saving an animal below you?”

Registering her quirked eyebrow and general disdain for his comment, Sehrin waved a hand dismissively. “Waste of energy if you ask me. It’s like assisting those petty humans when they drone on and on about starvation, and natural disasters, and other ridiculous things. But to each his own.” Sehrin’s eyes flashed back to the door. “Your Elemental friend playing postman, delivering your hawk to its nest?”

“Yep!” Myko rushed to his father, wrapping his arms around Sehrin’s waist. “I’m so glad you’re here, father.”

Much to her disdain, Sehrin didn’t return the affection. “Well, I didn’t have anything better to do.”

Zia’s temper stirred inside her, and before she knew what’d taken over her, she’d telepathed Sehrin. Have decorum around your son, Sehrin, or you’ll find yourself on the receiving end of a boot out the door.

The Raeth’s gaze hooded, darkening at her threat. Don’t tempt me, woman. You know how much I enjoy it.

Deciding not to dignify him with an answer, Zia wrapped an arm around Myko’s shoulders, gently pulling him away from Sehrin.

“Come on, baby, let’s make breakfast.”

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