Page 140 of Legacy of Danger
He shook his head. Still had goddamned stars dancing in his vision. His hearing was screwed up, too, like cotton got stuck in his ears. He bent over. Whatever. He was getting her out of here. Now.
When he staggered forward and went down on a knee, Mariah appeared. He locked onto her arm and dragged her down. He couldn't seem to release his grip on her.
Damn it.
"What the hell did you do?" Garrison ran up. His voice sounded a million miles away. Tinny. Muffled.
"Power. Changed," Vaughn gritted out as he grabbed his head with his free hand. "Holy crap." He forced himself to let go of Mariah before he hurt her. "Sorry."
"Can you walk?" Garrison grabbed him under the armpit.
"Ease up there." Vaughn wobbled. "I'm a little weak. Can't hear real well." He rubbed his ear. Warm, iron-scented wetness dripped down his neck. He wiped his fingers on his jeans. Later. He'd deal with the fallout later.
Mariah's fingers were feather light as she ran them over his face. Best feeling in the universe. "You're bleeding from your ears. What can I do? Do you need anything?" Her voice barely reached him, but he still heard it. Sweetest thing he'd ever heard.
He took her face in his shaking hands. "I need you to be okay." He kissed her hard enough to scrape teeth. The heat from her soft lips gave him an extra burst of adrenaline he didn't know he still possessed. He sat up straighter.
Kerr cleared his throat as he looped a hand under Vaughn's other arm. "Bro. Again. I know it's quite the debate: escape black blob of evil versus swap spit with pretty doctor." He sucked a tooth. "Hate to be the adult once more, but we should get the hell out of this place before something else tries to kill us."
Vaughn leaned against both his brothers. "Let's go. Odie, can you help Mariah?"
"With pleasure."
"Don't get too handsy with her, man," he growled. Shit, Vaughn needed to be in contact with her. Needed it more than air.
Odie's chuckle was seen rather than heard. "Not to worry. I'm spoken for."
Vaughn leaned on Garrison while their motley group limped through the forest to the horses.
"Are we close?" Garrison gritted out. "Delicate flower here weighs a ton."
"Head more to the left, and we'll be at the horses in a few minutes," Kerr said. "Not that you need to hear this, but I'd hurry. Stuff feels spooky out here."
"So says Mr. Obvious," Garrison agreed.
After another minute, Vaughn's legs became more stable. The ringing continued, but at least his ears had stopped bleeding.
All he wanted was Mariah next to him.
He clambered onto his horse. He turned and extended his hand; she hesitated. Then with a boost from Garrison, she settled behind Vaughn.
The moment her arms clamped around his midsection felt like heaven.
