Page 11 of Primal Bonds

A pulse at the side of his neck jumped erratically. She set two fingers on it.

“It feels really fast,” she said to Kyler. “Is that normal for them?”

He moved a shoulder. “Fuck if I know.”

The fada’s eyes popped open. They were a bright, feverish green again. “Salt.”

“Salt?” she asked. “Are you thirsty?”

Kyler stood up. “I’ll get him some water.”

“Yes.” Their patient moistened his lips. “But…iron—poison. Need salt. Clean.” He indicated his stomach.

“You want me to clean it out with salt?”

A short nod. “Salt. And warm water.”

Kyler returned with a glass of water. Evie took it and lifted the fada’s head enough so that he could drink. His eyes closed but he greedily gulped the water down.

She handed the glass back to her brother and helped the guy resettle his head on the pillow. He lay there, eyes closed, panting raggedly. His light brown skin had an unhealthy yellow tinge. And were those red streaks spreading from the wounds out across his belly?

“What was he saying about the salt?” Kyler asked.

“He said clean it out with salt and warm water.”

The fada’s eyes opened. “One part salt, four parts water,” he said in a clear voice. “And now. Or I…die.”

Chapter 5

Jace could guess who was behind the attempt to kill him—Lord Tyrus. Nothing else made sense.

Tyrus was the only surviving son of the night fae prince, but more importantly, he was Silver’s half-brother. When Tyrus had learned that Silver had mated and sired a daughter, he’d put out a contract on the entire small family to ensure his father had only one heir—himself. The assassins had gotten first Takira, then Silver, but a Rock Run fada had saved Merry.

Prince Langdon, Tyrus’s father, hadn’t wanted it known that he’d spawned a mixed-blood granddaughter. But when he found out Tyrus was hunting Merry, he cast a special ward to protect her. Any night fae who tried to harm her, even Tyrus, would meet their end.

Thank the gods Merry had a new set of parents now, a Rock Run couple who loved her like she was their own daughter. When Jace had finally tracked her down, years after Takira’s death, she’d been adopted by the man who’d saved her from the night fae and his mate. As far as Merry was concerned, Rui and Valeria do Mar were her parents now, the Rock Run base her home. Jace couldn’t bring himself to take her away from the only family she’d ever known.

The pretty blond female frowned down at Jace, and his mind spun away from his niece.

The pain was a raging fire in his belly now. While he was unconscious, the small amount of healing he’d done seemed to have been reversed, another symptom of iron poisoning.

“Salt and warm water?” The female’s low, practical voice came from down a long dark tunnel.

All he could do was tell her what to do and hope it worked. Because if not, Jace would die, and probably the two humans as well. He’d somehow eluded Tyrus’s henchman, but the night fae lord was smart—and brutal. He’d track Jace down and snuff these two like flies.

Fortunately, his rescuers followed directions. The boy returned with a pitcher filled with the salt solution. The female knelt on the floor next to the couch and then, to Jace’s surprise, touched his cheek.

He squinted in her direction and her face swam into view, pinched with concern. “I’m Evie, by the way, and this is my brother Kyler.” She indicated the skinny dark-haired teenager.

Her fingers were cool—or was it because he was so hot? He moistened dry lips and then croaked his name. “Jace.”

“Nice to meet you, Jace.”

His lips twitched despite himself. It was so human, to introduce herself at a time like this…but sweet.

Her fingers brushed his forehead, and he tensed, anticipating what was to come.

“Try to relax,” the female—Evie—murmured.

---