Page 110 of Fangs
I blew out a shaky breath, feeling suddenly exhausted, but before I could say anything, a shout interrupted us.
“Bones!”
We all turned to see Cloud running down the road toward us, his eyes wide. My heart lurched.
“What is it?” I asked sharply.
“It’s Nemo,” Cloud gasped as he reached us. “He just collapsed.”
The three of us ran the entire way to Nemo’s house. By the time we got there, I was panting and shaky, and, to my annoyance, Tuck and Lee had barely broken a sweat. Wolf and Kai stood outside Nemo’s house like they were waiting for us.
“Sable’s upstairs with him,” Wolf said immediately.
I didn’t hesitate, I ran up the wooden steps of his porch, feet pounding, and darting through the door. The fear seizing me was far more intense than I would have expected. If Nemo died, what would happen to the Vault? Would everything fall apart?
Nemo’s guards were standing inside the main room. As I approached, they all looked up at me, their faces a mix of relief and wariness.
“He’s upstairs,” said one.
I dashed up the stairs. Smith, the guard, stood outside a door at the far end of the hallway and beckoned me forward. When I entered the simple yet cozy bedroom, Sable looked up from where he leaned over the bed, checking Nemo’s pulse. Relief nearly choked me when I saw Nemo awake and alert.
“Howdy, Bones,” Nemo murmured. “Sorry if I gave you a scare.”
“He’s stable, but I think he may have some internal bleeding,” Sable said gravely. “He mentioned being tortured, and I think there might be some residual damage.”
I made my way to the opposite side of Nemo’s bed from Sable, but I hesitated, my hands hovering between hanging at my sides and reaching out toward him.
“Can I?” I asked hesitantly.
Nemo blinked, his brow furrowing slightly. “Go ahead, Bones.”
I gently wrapped my hands around his forearm, hoping no one noticed how they trembled, and let my healing power flow through me. My powers surged to several places in his body, carefully healing many lingering injuries. I remembered how battered he’d been that last time Madame had summoned me, and I’d refused to heal him. I hadn’t even checked on him after that. He must have been in so much pain for the past few months, but he hadn’t come to me for healing either.
“Suppose I shoulda come see you sooner,” Nemo said.
I kept my eyes down, shame eating away at my insides, as I double-checked to make sure I’d healed every injury. “I don’t blame you.”
“Whaddya mean?” Nemo asked.
“I just mean…I don’t—” I swallowed hard. “After…after what I did, I understand.”
“Bones—” Nemo began in a gentle voice, but I panicked.
“I don’t blame you,” I said again quickly, backing toward the door. “You’re healed, but you should rest.”
“Bones, wait,” Nemo called, but I darted through the door, startling Smith.
I didn’trundown the hallway but walked as fast as possible.
“Ember?” Sable called behind me, but I didn’t stop.
As I quickly descended the stairs, I internally cursed at all the people still standing in the main room. Wolf, Kai, and Lee stood just inside the front door. Everyone was staring at me expectantly, and I tried to paste a normal expression on my face.
“He’s okay,” I said, “but he needs to rest.”
I strode past my brother and his crew and out the door. I made it a couple steps before all three were at my side.
“What’s wrong?” Wolf asked.
