Page 200 of Primal Bonds

Marjani sat next to him, legs folded lotus-style. “Rest.” She set a hand on his heart. “Right now, you need to get better. Everything else can wait.”

He moved his chin, a short up-and-down motion.

She turned over the damp cloth. “Close your eyes.”

When he obeyed, she smoothed it over his forehead and then placed her hand over his heart again.

Marjani was safe. That made it all worthwhile.

The tightness in his chest eased and he fell into a deep, healing sleep.

Chapter 21

Between them, Jace and Zuri managed to get Adric back to his den before he threw up again. At least this time, he made it to the toilet first.

After rinsing out his mouth, he staggered back to the living room to collapse on the couch. He lay there shaking, his body exuding a rank odor.

Zuri sat on the couch’s other end. “I’m staying here tonight. I can sleep in Jani’s room.”

His glare dared Adric to object, but Adric just nodded. “Works.”

Jace remained standing, his brow creased with worry. “I have to go back to Grace Harbor. I don’t trust the night fae not to mess with Evie and Kyler, even with Horace there.”

“Go,” Adric rasped. “But call Merry. In the morning.”

Because Langdon would investigate to see if she was really dead.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t call her adopted parents, because water fada couldn’t use small electronics—their bodies tended to short them out. Meanwhile, Merry was protected by Rock Run’s wards, and Adric didn’t want to scare her—the kid was only thirteen, after all.

Besides, Rui do Mar, her adopted father, was a scary-ass shark fada. If Langdon wanted Merry, he’d have to get past do Mar, and the shark shifter would die before he let that happen.

“Tell her…get a new quartz,” he added. “Throw…the old one in the river. The ward of protection—the prince might be able to trace her through it.”

She’d lose the protection, but with Tyrus dead, it probably wasn’t necessary anymore.

“Will do.” Jace shook his head. “Lord, you’re a crazy mofo. I can’t believe you told a fae prince a lie right to his face. But you’re right. Let him think she’s dead—at least until she’s grown up.”

“The sun fae queen will protect her,” Zuri interjected.

“Yeah.” Adric hadn’t thought of that. But Queen Cleia loved Jace’s skinny, serious niece. “Do Mar.” He clamped his jaw shut against another wave of queasiness.

Jace understood. “I’ll tell Merry to have him contact you.”

“Make sure…he knows it’s important. The Full Moon Saloon.” It was a shifter bar in Fells Point. “Tonight, seven o’clock.”

Jace studied him doubtfully. “You sure you’re up for it?”

“Yeah.” Adric rested his head against the couch’s worn fabric. “Just need…sleep.”

The rest of the night passed in a feverish haze. Jace left for Grace Harbor, and Zuri contacted Suha. He tried to help Adric to bed, but Adric bared his teeth and he backed off.

And he did it, even though it took him a good five minutes to strip to his boxers and ease himself under the sheets.

Suha arrived shortly after, dressed in a bright, tribal-patterned tunic and leggings. The clan’s head healer was a deer fada with short black hair, a pretty oval face, and a doe’s calm brown eyes. One look at him, and her full mouth tightened.

“Holy shit, Ric. What did you do now?”

Zuri opened his mouth, but Adric stopped him with a look.

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