Page 258 of Halfblood Deceived

Kam gritted her teeth. “I don’t have time to explain how wrong you are.” She whirled to stare down Doctor Hudson. “Make sure the OR is ready. Now.”

Dr. Hudson and the nurse dashed away immediately.

Kamilla and Mari noticed Aella at the same time Jessa’s mom did.

“Beast!” the werewolf female hissed. “You and your sister are nothing but fucking beasts!”

Aella’s eyes prickled. She opened her mouth, but what could she say? She wanted to defend Diana, but Jessa’s mom was suffering and she didn’t want to make it worse.

“That’s quite enough,” Aylana commanded, placing a hand on the angry female’s shoulder. “I’ll take you to the waiting area, and you’ll stay there.”

Zariah hissed and rolled her shoulder to dislodge Aylana’s hand. “Don’t you fucking touch me, mongrel!”

Aylana growled in warning, eyes flashing with verdant magic. “Move.”

Zariah complied, grumbling and cursing.

“Where’s Diana?” Aella asked. “Is she okay? Is she here? Can I see her?”

Kamilla and Mari shared a look that made Aella’s sore stomach cramp.

“She’s in a holding cell in the tribunal, waiting for a trial,” Kamilla answered.

A whimper escaped Aella’s throat. “What? No! She didn’t mean to hurt anyone. Something was wrong with her. She was in pain. You can’t believe Diana would ever—”

“I don’t,” Kamilla interrupted, approaching to place a hand on Aella’s shoulder. “I know she would never hurt anyone on purpose unless she’s protecting her loved ones. But she broke Jessa’s spine, Reese’s and Rod’s jaws, and almost killed Vaz. And everyone saw. They won’t let her free just like that. We have to clear her name.”

“I want to see her,” Aella insisted.

“You’re in no condition to go anywhere, Aella,” Mari reminded her.

“I’m fine,” Aella all but growled. “And Diana needs me. She needs me.”

“Kerian is with her,” Kamilla said. “He won’t leave her alone while we figure out what happened, and we will. Aroth and Sebastian are investigating. Aylana will join them soon.”

“But—”

“You’re not allowed to see her,” Kamilla said, looking as sore inside as Aella was. “Families can’t see the defendants until the trial begins.”

“Now get your butt back in bed, Aella,” Mari chided. “Zeydan’s blood healed your broken bones, but you need rest.”

Aella blinked. “Zeydan is here?”

Mari shook her head. “No. He gave me a couple pints of his blood to keep in case someone needed it, and you did.” She sighed. “I better go make sure those fucking idiots don’t mess up that poor girl any further.”

Kamilla nodded.

Mari gave Aella a commiserating look and left.

“Can you heal Jessa?” Aella asked. Nausea gripped her stomach at the thought of Jessa being permanently paralyzed for centuries. She had attacked Diana, but she didn’t seem like herself either. Something was going on. Something that had to explain what the Hell happened.

Kamilla sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. “I don’t know. There is a curse in Jessa’s family. She can’t fully shift or heal as fast as other werewolves. Her spine is broken into six different parts, and her spinal cord is compromised. If her system rejects my blood…”

“Go,” Aella said. “Go help her. I’m alright.”

“We will help Diana too,” Kamilla promised. “We will clear her name.” She looked around the empty hall to make sure they were alone. “And if we can’t, I will get her out of Darkwood.”

Aella nodded. Kamilla loathed breaking her own laws, but she loved Diana. And her love for Diana seemed to be stronger than her reluctance to use her power and influence the way she hated most.

---