Seth grunted, but stopped arguing.
I watched as Peder climbed into the back of an SUV to lay Ian down. Slash followed suit with Seth, laying him beside Ian. They both headed back to the warehouse.
“Where are they going?”
“Do not worry, my pip. You and I will take the boys home. You need to heal.”
“No. Tell me what they’re doing. We are done here. Aren’t we?”
“My pip, you’ve been through enough tonight.”
“Bryce, what are they doing?”
“Fine. There are mortals inside.”
“Take me to them. Now.”
Bryce sighed, but led the way. We jumped into the basement again. This time I fell to my knees upon landing. My wound continued to weaken me.
Still, I refused Bryce’s hand when he offered. I clenched my teeth and rose to stand. Bryce went to an open door I hadn’t noticed earlier. I almost collapsed again when I saw what was in the room.
They’d chained five women along one wall. Two men along the other. They were so covered in blood it took a moment to realize they were naked.
They were so weak they didn’t react to our presence. Two were no longer conscious. One was no longer alive. Hadn’t been for a while.
“I don’t understand. Why…” I let my question trail off as one woman’s gaze met mine.
She sat in a throne-like chair on a pedestal in the center of the room. She appeared to be the strongest even while being the bloodiest. Our eyes met. In hers I saw pain, but also determination.
Physically, Ian and Seth would recover. Mentally, they knew what they signed up for when joining the clan. They had known the risks. These mortals were oblivious to banshees. They were innocent. Now, they had been tormented by what they considered creatures of myth. Because more than likely, they thought their captors were vampires.
For most of them, their physical wounds would heal. Their mental scars? I could only hope that wiping their memories would help. Extreme mental trauma could leave traces, even if the mortal couldn’t remember what caused them.
One of the stronger males said he had been the last to arrive about three weeks ago.
These poor people.
Slowly and carefully, the guys carried them to the awaiting vehicles. A few more members of our clan had returned with more SUVs by that time. We placed two mortals in each vehicle with one banshee in back with them to keep them comfortable and calm. We wrapped the deceased mortal in towels and laid them in the back of the dually pickup. Peder assured me he would lay the body to rest.
“You coming, my pip?” Bryce asked as he slid into the driver’s seat of one of the SUV’s.
My attention moved to Peder as he took the wheel of the SUV that held Seth and Ian.
“I’m going with Peder.” I climbed into the back and settled between my guys for the ride home.
It was not an easy ride home. Without the adrenaline from the fight, the pain from my wound strengthened. I soon lost consciousness.
When I awoke, I was in my bed. Peder was there. He was murmuring something to me, but I couldn’t make it out. Everything looked fuzzy.
The faeritonium had made its way into my bloodstream and was attacking my vital organs. It felt like acid was coursing through my veins. I was doubtful that Bryce’s tea would help this time.
The pain will stop. I’ll be dead soon.
Chapter Seven
Something thick and wet was tickling my lips. My tongue slipped out to lick whatever it was. It tasted metallic.
Blood?
“What the hell? Ow! Son of a…” Large, strong hands on my shoulders gently held me to the bed.
“Goldie, do not move.”
“Ian?”
I lifted my hand to his cheek. It hurt, but I needed the contact.
He turned his head to kiss my palm.
“I have given you some of my blood.”
He picked up a wet cloth to wipe my mouth but set it back down when I slid my tongue out to lick my lips. He watched and mirrored my movement before bringing his eyes back to mine.
“If you feel up to it, I can try giving you my essence to complete the healing process. It will be similar to how Peder shared with you earlier.”
“He thought it’d help.” I was trying for sarcasm, but it fell flat.
“It did. Otherwise, you would be dead.”
“Oh… ‘K, make the pain stop?”
“Yes. I am going to kiss you.” It was pretty much what Peder had said.
But this was not Peder. This was Ian. Ian was going to share his essence with me. This was way more special. A wave of pain passed through me and I curled into the fetal position. I suddenly didn’t care if it were Ian, Peder, or a frigging frog. I just wanted the pain to stop.
“‘K, do it.”
He slipped into the bed, cradling me in his arms. He pressed his lips to mine. It started slowly. Just a kiss. Gentle and tentative but turned into much more.
Ripples of energy passed over my skin as Ian began releasing his power into me. I expected agony, but none came. This was nothing like it had been with Peder. Instead of feeling like I was dying, I felt comforted. The pain from the faeritonium was subsiding. The fog was clearing. An immense feeling of calm came over me. I felt peaceful and safe.
Ian’s hands began to caress me, massaging my neck and back as he shifted his head for a better angle. The ripples stopped, but the kiss continued, and new sensations arose.
Unable to stop myself, I wrapped my arm around his back, hooking a finger in his belt loop. A small groan came from deep in Ian’s throat as he rolled on top of me. I moved my hands up his back to his shoulders and down again. His muscles tightening under my hands felt amazing. The weight of his body on top of mine felt exquisite.
Wanting more I pulled his shirt up so to run my hands over his bare skin. Moaning as his hand slid under my shirt, I arched into his touch as his fingers teased, stroked, massaged.
“Ian.”
“Goldie.” He deepened the kiss again. “Better?”
“Yes, better. Wait. How are you better already?” Last time I had seen him he had been unconscious and nearly dead. Surely, he’d had faeritonium poisoning too.
Here he was, healthy and whole. His hand still under my shirt.
“We are banshee.” He shrugged. I rolled my eyes.
“So, Seth is okay too?”
“Yes, he is fine. He did not have as much exposure to the faeritonium.”
“Good. Very good. So, why didn’t your essence hurt? When Peder gave me his, it was awful.”
He cleared his throat and shifted a bit.
“Well… I believe it was painful with Peder because he is not attracted to you.”
“Oh… well then… so that means… hmmm.” I’d suddenly become an idiot.
His pupils constricted, proving that annoyance was not the only cause of this banshee trait. He lowered his gaze to my lips and this time the kiss wasn’t so gentle.
Without the haze of pain clouding my thoughts, I was able to enjoy Ian’s lips on mine. I could bask in his familiar earthy scent and savor the spiced wine taste of him. He nipped lightly at my bottom lip before pulling away to look into my eyes. I had caused that dreamy look on his face. I had made his breath come faster. Me, I did that. It was intoxicating to know that I could do that to anyone, but especially Ian. It made feel powerful and sexy.