More liquid surrounded the bullet, lifting it so it appeared to float, yet it was still anchored. Just the very tip, Jonas was certain. Like Kaden, he wanted to yank it free. There was just no way to do it. Two more times, she patiently did the seesaw motion back and forth and tugged, and suddenly, the bullet slid free into the liquid and floated right into one of the many long tubes that rushed toward Kaden’s heart.
Jonas’s own heart jumped, and he swore, unaware he did so aloud. Evidently, Camellia had anticipated the arc of the bullet because when it dropped into the fast-moving bloodstream, she was ready in her neuron-fueled starship, calmly blasting the projectile with Kaden’s antibodies. With more than his own antibodies. With tiny little clumps of red missiles that Jonas couldn’t identify but were very effective. Each missile hit the target as if she were playing a video game. The bullet shattered again and again until it broke into such small pieces, she could no longer shoot them with the missiles.
Middlemist Red? Jonas couldn’t help asking.
Camellia didn’t reply but switched from blasting the pieces to using another liquid. This was a distinct pink, much like the color of the Middlemist Red blossom. It shot through Kaden’s veins and arteries, overtaking what was left of the bullet. The liquid slowed. Gelled. Sat there devouring those tiny pieces until there was nothing left, not even specks.
“Put your hands directly over that spot just below his heart, Jonas,” Camellia instructed.
She sounded utterly weary. Jonas did what she asked, moving his hands from Kaden’s ribs to where he knew that gel had consumed the pieces of bullet. Heat spread through his veins. Through Camellia’s. Through Kaden’s veins and arteries. The gel liquefied and moved through Kaden’s system, was absorbed by his tissues, dissipating until nothing was left, leaving no sign behind.
Camellia let out her breath slowly and sagged. “I believe you are free from that bullet, Kaden. Do me a favor and don’t get shot again anytime soon.”
Gator caught her before she fell on the floor. “Don’t crash on us, woman. Sit down.”
Camellia just sat right on the floor. “I think I’m done for the night.”
She looked it. Jonas wanted to scoop her up and take her to his home. He couldn’t be in two places at one time, and now everyone knew she could heal. The thought roused his aggressive instincts, and he wanted to snarl. Where there was one traitor, there might be another.
“How do you feel, Kaden?” Tansy asked.
“Good. Very good. It doesn’t even feel as though I’ve had anything wrong with me.” Kaden sat up and looked down at Camellia. “You really did it. You removed the poison and you got rid of the bullet.”
Tansy put a restraining hand on his shoulder. “Wait a minute before you start moving around, Kaden.” She looked anxiously to Camellia. “Is it safe for him to just get up and start doing everything he did before? Could the metal lodge somewhere else?”
Jonas answered for Camellia. “It’s gone. Dissolved. He’s perfectly fine. It’s as though that bullet was never there in the first place. All the damage the chemicals did to his body were repaired.”
He swept a hand through his hair and reached down for her. “You ready to get some fresh air before I find a place for you to sleep?”
“Out of curiosity,” Ryland said, “you don’t happen to have a small amount of that poison they had in that breached cavity, do you? Or know what was in it or what it was? Kaden was shot when we were sent into the field that first year after Whitney enhanced us. It was one of several missions we had gone on, and all of us were struggling. Kaden was one of the steadiest of all of us, and he’s an anchor, drawing away all the psychic energy so the others could perform. If they use the same poison again, I’d like to be prepared.”
“I’m sorry, I have no idea what it was,” Camellia said. “I might be able to figure out the compound given a little time if that would help.”
“You think you may be able to figure out the compound given a little time?” he echoed. His eyes met Jonas’s over her head. “She’s really amazing, isn’t she?”
How, Camellia?
Not me. I have no idea what it was. I said I might be able to figure it out. I might have help. I’m tired, Jonas.
Jonas couldn’t help the grin. “She is. Come on, baby.” He tugged her hand until she was on her feet, swaying just a little bit until he steadied her with his arm around her waist.
“Thank you, Camellia,” Kaden said. “You saved my life. I won’t forget it.”
“It’s kind of a compulsion,” Camellia explained as Jonas opened the door and stepped out into the hallway with her.
Ryland, Gator, Kaden and Tansy followed behind them. Lily sat on the floor across from the door, knees drawn up. She looked completely devastated. “Ryland . . .”
Ryland ignored her, striding down the hall, back toward the interior of the compound. Over his shoulder, he snapped a command at Jonas. “I’ll expect you to join me, Jonas.” He didn’t wait to hear Jonas’s reply. Gator went with Ryland, matching his commander’s quick, angry strides.
Kyle waited, back to the wall, a short distance away from Lily. “I take it everything is okay with Kaden?”
Jonas nodded. “Thanks for sticking around, Kyle. I appreciate it. Kaden’s fine.”
“I think I’ll stay here for a few minutes,” Camellia said. “You go do whatever you need to, and Kyle can take me to your house when I’m ready to go.”
Jonas studied the compassion on her face and then looked at the misery on Lily’s. I don’t think there’s a way to fix this right now, honey. They’ll work it out.
I know they will.
Jonas could see he wasn’t going to get anywhere by arguing with her. He brushed a kiss along her forehead and followed Ryland and Gator down the hall.
Camellia watched Jonas—her lifeline—go. She stood there a moment, wondering what she was doing. She hadn’t seen Lily since she was a child. She doubted if Lily even remembered her. Lily, no doubt, was embarrassed that Camellia, a virtual stranger, had heard what Ryland had accused her of. Still, Camellia couldn’t force herself to walk away.
Behind her, Kaden and Tansy were talking in low voices, Kaden’s hands moving over Tansy’s in reassurance. Now that Kaden was actually on his feet and proving to his wife that he really was okay, she was weeping softly, and he was comforting her. Camellia glanced up at Kyle. He looked down at his phone, reading the text message there and shaking his head.
Taking a deep breath, Camellia walked over to Lily. “Would you mind if I sat with you for a few minutes? We weren’t formally introduced. My name is Camellia Mist, and I actually was raised with you for a few years when we were children.”