Page 144 of Short, Lethal & Claimed

“I can make him something to eat after I give her blood,” Ashley offered.

“I don’t think we’re going to need your blood this time,” Noah said as he took the IV kits from Kale.

“Are you sure?” Ashley asked after a slight hesitation.

“Positive,” Noah said, gesturing for Chris to step back as he tossed the kits on the bed and began searching for a vein in Jill’s arm.

“Go eat something,” Logan said, only to add, “They could probably use some food, too,” when Shane opened his mouth to argue. He watched Shane’s silver eyes flicker to Emma and Caleb before he reluctantly nodded and forced himself to sit up.

“Are you hungry?” Ashley asked with a warm smile for Emma and Caleb as she carefully climbed off the stretcher with the help of what he was guessing was her brother based on the matching honey-blonde hair and the glare that he was sending her way when she refused to take it slow.

“I wanna stay with Mommy and Daddy,” Caleb mumbled sadly while the human made quick work of putting an IV in Jill’s arm.

“Go with your Aunt Ashley and Uncle Kale,” Logan said with a pointed look at Kale, knowing the shifter would do whatever it took to keep them safe.

With a firm nod, Kale grabbed Shane and carefully tossed him over his shoulder while Ashley’s brother took Caleb from Ephraim. They made their way into the foyer with Ashley and Marc and-

“Dad?” Shane said, putting everything into that one word as he raised his head and met Logan’s gaze.

“I promise,” Logan said, answering the unspoken question that had his son swallowing hard as he was carried away.

“They’re marked,” Ephraim said as soon as they were gone.

“Which is why I know that you’re going to do everything within your power to keep them safe after you hand me over to the Sentinels,” Logan said, meeting the Pyte’s curious gaze as he rolled up his sleeve so that the human could put an IV in his arm.

“And you still came knowing what was about to happen?” Ephraim drawled.

“Yes,” Logan said without hesitation because he would do whatever it took to keep his family safe.

“Tell me something,” Ephraim said, his gaze shifting to Jill as he moved closer so that he could take her hand in his before he looked back up and met Logan’s gaze. “What makes you think you’re leaving this house alive?”

“If you’re going to do it, then do it now while the connection is destroyed so that she doesn’t have to feel it, otherwise, let me save my mate and child,” Logan said, holding the Pyte’s glare as he held his arm out for the human.

Slowly nodding, Ephraim said, “The pump will be faster,” as he kept his gaze locked with Logan’s.

“Then, do it,” Logan said as the man that he was assuming was a doctor made quick work of inserting an IV into his arm. “Where’s Madison?”

“Asleep,” Ephraim said as he stood there, considering him for a moment.

“Maybe we should get her,” Chris said, taking Jill’s hand in his again.

“Not yet,” Ephraim said, his curious gaze never leaving Logan.

“You might want to lay down for this,” Noah said, gesturing to the stretcher behind him.

“I’m fine right where I am,” Logan said, keeping his eyes locked with Ephraim’s as he leaned down and kissed Jill’s forehead while the human attached a tube to Jill’s IV.

“Did he tell you why he kept her away from us?” Ephraim asked Chris, absently caressing the back of Jill’s hand with his thumb as he kept watching him.

“I believe there was mention that he was an asshole,” Chris said, making his father’s lips twitch.

“You’re not handing her over to the Sentinels again,” Logan bit out as a tube was attached to his IV seconds before the pump was started and his blood began filling the clear tube leading to the pump.

“No, we’re not,” Ephraim murmured in agreement while he considered him. “What is my daughter to you?”

“Everything,” Logan said as his gaze shifted to the clear tube running from the pump to Jill’s IV as it quickly filled with his blood. Praying that this worked, Logan leaned down and kissed her forehead again, needing the comforting gesture to pull him through this.

“I need you to drink this,” Noah said, holding a bag of blood in front of him.

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