Page 60 of Champion
“Willa, you need to let me see the wound.”
Agnes?
She looked so young and beautiful, but the intensity she’d always possessed as a physician still resided in the way my friend dropped to her knees beside me, sure hands running over Adtovar’s chest and neck, taking vitals. She didn’t lift the pile of cloth I held over the wound. The sight of it only paled her face, and she cast a worried glance toward the male at her side. Handsome like the rest of the Vaktaire except… damn, did he have a mullet?
“What are the stats, Hakkar?” Anges asked as the man ran a square metallic piece of equipment over Adtovar.
“Severely declining heart rate and breath, entering last stages of hemorrhagic shock.” The machine he held gave a hateful beep. “Blood loss at fifty-six percent.”
“Fuck,” Agnes hissed.
“You have to save him,” I begged, clutching her shoulder.
Her eyes met mine, softening. “Is he your mate?”
“No.” I shook my head, my heart screaming out for Charick with a heavy beat. “He’s my….” I stalled for a moment. The word friend didn’t seem quite right. He was my friend, but Adtovar was more, and it took me until this very second to realize what. “He’s my dad.” My own father was a good man, but he’d never been proud of me, never truly acknowledged me and the woman I’d become. He’d never forgiven the fact that I’d been born without a cock. I’d always fallen short in his eyes. I never fell short when it came to Adtovar. With him, I’d found the kind of father-daughter relationship I’d always craved.
Agnes’ eyes flared in shock, but only for a moment.
“He’s lost too much blood.” The man at her side—Hakkar—shook his head sadly. Agnes took in his words, her face stoic and sad.
“No,” I moaned, feeling a wash of tears course down my face. “Please.”
Agnes took in my crumpled features and squared her shoulders, determination settling over her demeanor. “We can’t do anything here. We need to get him to theBardagaand into the Garoot Healer.”
“Take my shuttle,” the regal lady ordered from somewhere nearby.
“Help them.” Duke Ako ordered, and six of his guards knelt by Adtovar, gently lifting him.
Agnes stepped to the side, pulling me into a tight hug and pressing a kiss to my cheek. “I’ll do all that I can.”
“I know you will,” I hiccupped the words. Part of me wanted to go with Adtovar, but I needed to find Charick.
Please, please, please let him be safe.
“Don’t worry.” Anges cupped my cheek, issuing a wink. “If the Garoot Healer can cure me of Parkinson’s, healing your friend should be a breeze.”
“What?” I blinked at her.
“Parkinson’s? What? You had Parkinson’s?” Pearl echoed, coming to stand beside me.
“We’ll talk later,” Agnes promised, pulling both of us into a hug. Then she turned to run after her patient.
“I’m sure it will be fine,” Pearl promised, slipping an arm around my shoulders. “Agnes is the best doctor we know.”
“Hakkar is a fine healer as well,” Jutuk promised from his position atop Nansar’s back, taking a moment to thump his prisoner in the head.
I nodded, letting hope seep into my soul, yet the tears didn’t stop. They wouldn’t stop.
“There he is, finally,” the regal lady issued an exasperated sigh.
“Patience, Lady Prime,” Duke Ako sighed. A smile curved his lips but did nothing to assuage the sadness on his face. “We have them to thank for not having to face the Kerzak today as well.”
Them?
I followed the line of his gaze, my vision obscured by a glare of sunlight. He came through the archway glowing like a Greek god, head held high, shoulders squared. At his side strode another Vaktaire of equal size, and next to him, her hand clasped in his, red curls bouncing with each step, strode my friend, Emmy.
With a cry of surprise, I took off running, Pearl at my side. While her squeal of glee and embrace were for our friend Emmy, I wanted only one set of arms to hold me.
