Page 142 of Fangs
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I rolled my eyes, but a grin crept across my face.
“You okay to stand?” Mac asked, holding out his hands.
I nodded and took them, trying not to wince as the scars on my back screamed at the movement. Mac moved to take my elbow, frowning, but my eyes immediately went to Lana.
She was sitting on the ground with her hands bound behind her back and dirt smeared across her face. Her eyes were flashing with anger and focused on me. Raven was standing between Lana and me, her stance defensive, like she wasprotectingme.
I stepped toward them, but Mac’s hand tightened on my elbow.
“What’re you doin’?” he asked.
“I wasn’t done healin’ her.”
“Well, you’re done now,” he scowled.
My eyes narrowed, and I tried to keep my voice even. “Mac, I’m not gonna let her go off and infect people.”
“I don’t care.”
“No.” My voice came out harsh and shaky. “You don’t get to tell me who I do and don’t heal.”
Guilt flashed through his eyes, and a muscle flexed in his jaw as we stared at each other, but after a few seconds, he relented, “Fine, but Griz and I are holdin’ her down this time.”
I nodded, and Griz got up to put the first aid kit back in the rover. When they approached Lana, she started snarling at them, but they ignored her, each of them taking an arm and holding her as she thrashed. I took a deep breath as she started screaming, reminding myself that they weren’t hurting her. Still, when I sank to my knees beside her, my hands shook as they wrapped around her arm.
“You fuckin’ bitch,” she hissed as my healing powers flowed into her. “Don’t touch me. Don’t touch me! I don’t want Juck’s whore?—”
I winced, but at the same time, Mac growled, “Lana! Call her that again, and I’m leavin’ you in these woods when she’s done.”
Lana went silent, but then she started to cry, which was worse. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I just… you pickedher.You fuckin’left me…how could you?—”
She broke off, sobs shaking her shoulders. I saw Mac lean forward and murmur something into her ear, and a sudden flash of anger went through me. Lana’s eyes snapped to my face, her red-rimmed eyes full of hate. I looked away, focusing on smothering the remaining bits of Shadowbane. After it disintegrated under my healing powers, I released her and got to my feet. Mac and Griz released Lana, and I beckoned Mac to follow me with my head as I moved back toward the rover.
“Can I check and make sure you’re not sick?”I asked as he approached.
He nodded, and I took the hand he extended. His hands were so large, dwarfing mine, and the comfort I immediately felt made me feel unsteady. I stared at our joined hands, suddenly overwhelmed with how much I’d misjudged Mac from the very beginning. My healing powers touched his skin briefly and then vanished, and I had no idea how or why, but I knew he wasn’t infected.
“You’re not sick,” I said, willing my voice to be steady. “I should check?—”
His free hand touched under my chin, nudging my head up to meet his eyes. He was frowning, his brows drawn together.
“What’swrong?”he asked.
“I’m so sorry I was so awful to you,”I blurted out, miserable.
His brow furrowed even more. “What?”
“When we first met,” I whispered. He was still holding my hand, and his knuckles rested gently under my chin.
His eyebrows raised, and amusement warmed his voice as he said out loud, “When we first met, I kidnapped you. I think you had every right to hate me.”
“I’m glad you kidnapped me,”I confessed.
One side of his mouth tipped up.“I won’t lie, I am, too.”
“You make me feel safe.”I had no idea why the words kept pouring out of me, but I couldn’t find it in myself to regret it when his eyes softened, and his fingers tightened on my hand.
“You’ll always be safe with me, Em,”he murmured.
