Page 62 of War Games

“I’m using magic to probe her and see if there are any injuries I can’t see, internal problems,” she explained as Teagan leaned over her. “No ruptured spleens or anything.”

“Good idea,” Dirk said, glad he had gone to get her. None of them could do that.

“Heath is moving now,” Niko said ominously. “He’ll be entering in… Five. Four. Three. Two. One.”

They all heard the front door opening and hitting the wall, then slamming shut again. Landon turned to face the door, blocking it. Dirk moved into a spot where Heath could see him but didn’t try to move Landon. Landon was the only person who was going to keep anyone in the room safe if Heath fully lost it.

Heath showed up in the door, his eyes ice blue.

“I smell magic,” the werewolf Alpha said, snarling as he stepped farther into the room.

“You do. There’s a healer in the room who needs concentration to try to find any internal injuries Jacky may have,” Landon said, holding his position.

“And who brought her here?” Heath demanded.

“I did,” Dirk said, lifting his chin.

Heath growled. He’d never really seen Heath like this. He’d known it was there. Everyone did. He told them all the time it was there. This was the Alpha that Callahan thought of as his rival, the ruthless and dangerous one who would kill anyone who threatened those important to him. This was the man who could handle the coup in Dallas and could teach his daughter how to escape werewolves before she turned eleven.

Dirk knew Heath was debating the fight he would have if he tried to kill Dirk and the witch. He’d have to kill his own son. He’d have to kill Niko. He would be left with Jacky, who needed help, and Teagan, who couldn’t offer the help she needed. He’d make enemies of every werecat in the ruling family. Subira would show up and destroy him.

“I trust him,” Landon said, moving slightly to block some of his father’s line of sight on Dirk.

“I know you do,” Heath snapped. “And he’s Jacky’s fucking wolf. He always has been.”

“Then Jacky can decide when she wakes up if this was worth the risk,” Landon said, slowly reaching out to his father, who moved back slightly to stop his son.

“She can… and if that witch does anything stupid, I expect you to be the one to kill her, Dirk.” Heath walked out, leaving them with that directive. “Landon, with me!” he called out before he left the house. Landon reached out to squeeze Dirk’s hand and went after his father.

Olivia whimpered once both strong werewolves were gone and nearly fell down, but Teagan caught her as Dirk was turning to check on her. Teagan wrapped his arms around her, holding her gently to keep her on her own feet, but it looked like her knees didn’t want to work.

“You didn’t tell me…” Her words were weak.

“Would you have come if I told you it was this dangerous?” Dirk asked.

Olivia didn’t answer, and he didn’t fault her for that.

Niko pulled out a flask from his coat and held it out.

“Sniff that, don’t drink it,” he said. Dirk grabbed it, opened it for Olivia, and shoved it under her nose. He knew the smell himself and understood why Niko made his recommendation.

“How did you convince Subira to give you a flask of this stuff?” Dirk asked, handing it back as Olivia looked like she was regaining the color in her face.

“I didn’t. Everyone calls Jacky the bad one, but I’m the real problem child. I’m just quiet enough to get away with everything most of the time,” Niko answered, sipping from the flask before putting it away.

They worked through the night. Olivia knew how to use real healing spells, but just removing the bruise from Jacky’s cheek and begin healing her hands made the witch exhausted. They let her sleep after doing that much, taking watches over Jacky’s prone form, which seemed stable for a little while.

Niko disappeared before dawn, and Dirk made breakfast while Teagan woke up Olivia to see if she had dietary restrictions. She was doing them a big favor, and Dirk wanted to honor that.

“She’s a vegetarian,” Teagan ended up telling him. “But willing to eat eggs when she needs the energy for bigger magic.”

Of course she is.

He made her an omelet and sent Teagan up with it. He made meat for everyone else. When he got to the room, Olivia was already trying to keep healing Jacky’s hands.

“Hey, you don’t have to push yourself too much,” he said, seeing how quickly she had cleared her plate.

“It’s what I can do,” she said, looking like she was about to cry.

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