Page 89 of Rise of the Melody
“He’s okay,” Shani assured Clare behind me. “He’s breathing, and I’ve called my dad. I’m scared about his lungs and internal bleeding.”
Clare was on her knees, crying, gently petting the top of Chrys’s cat head. He took shallow breaths. I couldn’t believe that was Chrystamos lying there.
Mayor MacCray jogged up and stood surveying everything, his face ashen.
“Where did it go?” he asked.
Teague pointed. “Down the road about twenty yards and into the trees on the left.”
The mayor cursed under his breath as he looked down at the dead woman. He pinched between his eyes. Another car pulled up and a man and woman jumped out, sprinting up.
“Mom!” Shani hugged the woman as her stepdad fell to his knees next to Chrys and opened a medical bag, throwing on a stethoscope and listening to his heart. He gave a curt nod.
“Let’s get him in a car. I need to get x-rays and get him on an IV straight away.”
I hadn’t yet met their parents, and I knew now was not the time for it. I watched helplessly as they lifted Chrys, and I covered my mouth as he let out a pitiful, loudmewlof pain.
As the Patels, Papachristoses, and Nora sped away, Clare broke down and I took her in my arms while Teague talked to his uncle.
“He’s going to be okay,” I said, and then remembered her scream. “Clare, are you all right?”
“That was the worst thing I’ve ever felt,” she cried. “Iknew. It was like the grim reaper touched my soul and I could feel death coming but I couldn’t do anything about it.” She sobbed against me.
I held her closer, trying not to freak out at the thought of what that must’ve been like.
Another car pulled up and Ron stepped out with two other men. As they neared, I felt magic burn off them. Druids.
Ron checked me over, and I gave him a nod to let him know I was okay.
“Girls,” the mayor said to Clare and me. “Teague will take you both home. We’ll all meet tomorrow to talk about this in detail. Until then, don’t speak to anyone about what happened tonight.”
“Yes, sir,” Clare said, and I gave him my nod of agreement.
Ron looked at me. “I’ll call you in the morning.”
“Okay,” I whispered before climbing in.
I sat in the back while Teague drove, so I could keep an arm around Clare until she joined her mom, who was waiting on her doorstep. They had matching red hair and freckles. My eyes filled with tears as I watched Clare’s mom pull her close and begin crying too.
I wiped my eyes in the passenger seat as Teague drove in silence, both of us in complete shock.
Chapter27
Distraction
Teague parked outside of my house, and I stared up at the empty, dark building. No Aunt Lorna making snacks. No CooShee to protect me and snuggle. I pressed my fingers against my mouth and a tremor passed through me.
“Come on,” Teague said gently. “I’ll walk you up.”
I stepped out into the sounds of ocean waves and shells crunching under my feet. The normally calming sensory only felt ominous tonight as I stared out at the forest. Was Zar in there?
Teague walked me to the door and stood there with his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels. His eyes seemed unfocused, lost in thought.
He looked at me. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“Me either,” I whispered. We’d just been through something horrific together. He’d been really brave.
I didn’t have words, but my body knew what would feel nice.
