Page 113 of Blade's Battle
“Discovered the fix for their broken genes? The adults know, but you’ve given them hope. They saw what you did for me and that’s enough. The kids will understand in time too, that a cure for the weak shifters may be a long time off. All the kids, even the ones whose parents don’t have problems shifting know how important you are to the pack, Anna, to all wolf shifters everywhere, not just here. They want you to get well.”
Anna sank into the pillows. It was a bit overwhelming to think the whole pack was talking about her. Tess’s words and images of her jumping and running in the middle of the compound flooded Anna’s head. She had forgotten what she’d witnessed before passing out. “You can shift!”
Tess was beaming. “As fast as before the WSSO infected me with the virus.” She leaned in and gave her a big hug. “Thank you, Anna! I can’t even describe how good it feels to be my old self again!”
“It worked,” she said, stunned. That fact still hadn’t quite sunk in yet. She wanted to share the news with Blade. Of course, he probably knew it, but even so, it wouldn’t feel like a victory until she shared it with him. She’d woken over an hour ago and Tess had sent someone to find Blade. It wasn’t like him to be so far away, especially if she’d been unconscious for days. A terrifying thought occurred to her. “What’s taking Blade so long to get here?”
“He’s fine. I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”
“Please don’t lie to me, Tess. You’re my only friend here. I need to be able to count on you.”
Tess’s smile fell away. “It’s been a challenge for him, seeing you lying there for so long.”
Three days since she’d passed out, and she felt worse than before. “What aren’t you telling me? Oh, God. Blade shifted and went feral!” Anna pushed the covers aside and would have fallen out of bed if Tess hadn’t caught her.
“Blade hasn’t shifted, but he’s been going a bit crazy with worry. The guys have been taking turns keeping him busy to help distract him and his wolf. Chopping wood, fixing roofs, anything that needs to be done, he’s been doing it.” Tess frowned as she tucked Anna back under the covers. “He wants to stay here with you, but he was getting in the way. He’sagitated, Anna.”
Agitated?Blade’s wolf was taunting him, pushing him, but Blade was strong. He had proven that so many times already. “How agitated exactly?”
“Two days ago, when it was clear you weren’t going to wake up so quickly, well, every time Pryce touched you, Blade started growling.”
“And?”
“Yesterday he pinned Pryce to the wall ready to do some damage, permanent damage.”
“Blade’s wolf—”
“We know. Pryce knows too. But Damien had to protect Pryce and everyone else taking care of you. He ordered Blade to stay away from the lodge, and he has a guard following Blade everywhere. There’s even a guard outside your door. Damien’s trying to avoid throwing Blade back behind bars because he knows being near you is the only thing keeping Blade from going feral right now.”
“I need to blood-bond him today, Tess. As soon as they find him!”
“Pryce is worried you’re too weak to handle the bond. You need to recover first.”
“The blood-bond will help me heal.”
“Or it could strain you further. There haven’t been that many cases of shifter-human blood-bonds.”
Anna shook her head. “I handled it fine with Kurt, and I’ll be fine with Blade. More than fine.”
“But your health wasn’t compromised with Kurt, was it?”
Anna shook her head. “But Blade can’t hold out forever and it could take me a while to recover. You’ve seen Blade. You tell me, do you think he can wait another day, week, or even a month?”
“It’s not me you have to convince. It’s Blade and he won’t put you at risk.” Tess bit her lip, then her ears pitched toward the doors. “With that pale skin tone and those bruises. . . Forget it. You’ll never convince Pryce or Blade that you’re healthy enough to blood-bond.”
“Then get me some makeup, give me a healthy glow and I’ll give him the biggest smile ever. We can do this, Tess. Make him think I’m better, long enough so he’ll blood-bond me!”
“You can’t trick him.”
“You blood-bonded Damien without his consent. How is this any different? Besides, Blade has already agreed to blood-bond me. Just help me get to the point where I’m standing up there. You’re my matron of honor. It’s your job!”
“Ah, thanks for the honor, but shifters don’t use maids or matrons of honor.”
“I know that, but humans do. I’m invoking my right—as a human—to have a matron of honor.”
“So, you want me to hold your bouquet? We don’t use bouquets either.”
“Forget holding up a bouquet. You’re going to holdmeup.”
