The black-haired one held a hand out to the others, stepping forward to crouch. His eyes glowed navy, and he growled back at the wolves. I felt his own will pressing, and I pushed back, releasing mine to the maximum strength of what I was able. His eyes met mine and he growled loudly even as I wobbled, shaking my head to stay conscious.
I felt when he gently broke through my control. His will overran my order, and the wolves broke apart, lowering to the ground just as I fell under his control. Lying over Ezra’s body, I was barely able to lift my head as I snarled at the black-haired man, holding my sword out in his direction. He was moving forward slowly, the others following behind him even as the brown-haired man shouted, the brown-and blond-haired one holding him back.
The black-haired man held a hand out to me as if he meant no harm, but he growled low in his throat, telling me he was an alpha. I snarled back, placing my free arm under Ezra’s head and holding his face close to my neck.
Protect.
He watched, his head cocking.
I felt the press of his will.
Then nothing. Darkness.
Chapter Twenty-Five
My eyes shot open to blinding white light.
I jolted, sitting up.
I rolled, falling heavily onto a cold, hard floor.
“Queen Ruckler, stop!” a man shouted, the voice vaguely familiar.
Twisting, I squinted into the brightness, my eyes darting. I was in the infirmary at King Cave. There were medical beds throughout the room, and the Mage that had worked on me previously after my bout with Elder Kincaid was standing at the end of the bed I had fallen from.
He held his hands up, saying, “You’re alright. Try to calm yourself.”
“Ezra,” I stated instantly, my voice hoarse and my eyes going to the other beds. “Where is he?” I remembered avidly the events at the beginning of the attack. The last bit was a little blurry, once he was shot, but I remembered Elder Merrick’s face at the end.
The Mage’s eyes carefully blanked. “Queen Ruckler, you need to—”
“Fuck off. The only thing I need to do is find him.” I slammed a shaking hand down on the bed, and hauled myself on wobbling legs. The white gown they had put me in was drafty, and I shivered as I got a better look at the occupants of the beds. Ezra wasn’t there. “Where the hell is he?” My heart knocked, dread hammering me.
Hesitation. “He’s in his family’s room.”
“Why? He was shot three times and once with a silver arrow. He should be in here.”
A longer pause. “I think I should call Elder Kincaid to come and speak with you.”
My gaze snapped to him. I asked the one question I didn’t want to. “Is he dead?”
Instant. “No.”
Relief surged and my knees weakened. I began to fall, and the Mage jumped forward, catching my elbow and holding me steady. I shook my head, trying to focus. “Why is he there?”
The Mage made me sit on the thick mattress. Softly and slowly, he explained, “We removed the bullets and repaired the damage of his injuries, but the silver had already entered his bloodstream.” My heart stuttered, chest squeezing painfully, and my vision shrunk to pinpoints. “He’s in a coma, so he’s not in any pain, but there’s nothing else we can do. It’s only a matter of time as the silver travels through his bloodstream.”
Instant. “Blood transfusion?”
He shook his head. “Too much silver.” He cleared his throat. “Your injury had already healed by the time you returned, but your body rejected the blood we tried to give you. We believe that was caused from the silver injury to your thigh. You’ve been asleep for two days.”
I barely listened, my mind seizing. “How much time does he have?”
He rested a hand on my shoulder, squeezing soothingly. “A day, at most.”
I nodded and pushed off the bed. “Where are my swords and gun?”
He tried to maneuver me back on the bed when I teetered. “You really should rest longer.”
“My stuff,” I demanded, eyes glowing. I was on a fucking mission now that he had given me the timeframe. “Where is it?”
“Queen Cooper took the items to your room. She and King Collins have been in to check on you regularly, both of them having returned from their trip shortly after you and Ezra were brought here,” he murmured, taking a step back when he saw the expression on my face. “Queen Ruckler, there’s really nothing that can be done to save him. You won’t even be able to see him. Only Vampires are allowed at a time like this.”
I snorted, holding the back of my gown together. “When a damn Mage is involved there’s always something that can be done.”