Page 88 of Sparks Flying

I looked at Dean as he turned to look at me.

“Dammit. Why do you think I’ve had you on quarantine? Idiots. Stay in this room and seal your bond. It might not be too late to turn this around.”

“You really are a cantankerous old man full of superstitions, aren’t you?”

“And are the pair of you too stubborn to even try?”

“We’re two down, and one left to go, Doc. We’ve got this,” I assured him. “Come on, Dean.”

Before opening the door, Dean turned back to Doc.

“But we’re also not willing to risk the chance you’re right.”

He pointed to his neck to show him the mark I’d left there. Doc had to have been blind not to notice.

Dean beams proudly.

“Hallelujah!” Doc cheered. “Victory will reign.”

I laughed and shook my head.

“You could have just let him think we hadn’t. Now he’s going to swear that we all survived this because we mated,” I whispered.

“He’s an old man. Let him have his moment.”

We were in good spirits as we left the clinic.

The crowd parted to let us through as we exited the building, or that’s we thought until Elias ran up with a frantic look.

“I heard they brought Kim in. Is she okay? Do you know anything?”

He and Dean embraced.

“She’s going to be okay,” I told him.

“The wolf saved her,” someone yelled. “Just a broken wing. The doctor has already set it. She’s going to be fine. She’s a hero and so is that wolf.”

They didn’t know I was the wolf they were referring to, but as Elias looked down at me, I knew he did. I was sure regret was written all over my face.

“You?” he asked.

Dean wrapped an arm around me and squeezed.

“She broke her wing when she landed on me. I didn’t know it was Kim. I just had to try to help.”

“Kim took off, determined to put out the fire that was paralyzing every vulnerable person in the area. She was a hero, brother.”

“Sounds like Bailey was a hero, too.”

He hugged me. I could feel his whole body shaking, but he controlled his emotions in front of prying eyes.

“She’s going to be just fine,” Dean assured him.

“Thank you. I owe you everything for this.”

“I’ll send you the bill from my shrink,” I teased.

Elias laughed halfheartedly and headed into the clinic while Dean and I pushed our way out. It barely even registered to me that we were both naked, probably because most of the town was also at this point.

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