Shoving to his feet, Wyatt took a couple of deep breaths before looking at his lover. Through the thick door, they could still hear the howl of the smoke alarm. Someone was pounding on the metal barrier, and pounding had started on one of the windows for the lab. With enough time, they’d get through, assuming the house didn’t collapse on them first.
“We got this,” River said, trying to smile.
Wyatt could only nod. He pulled River to his feet and hefted him over his shoulder in one smooth motion, not giving the wolf time to have second thoughts. River let out a strangled cry, like he’d tried to hold it back, but the pain had forced it out all the same.
Placing one hand on the ladder rung, he looked over his shoulder at Bel. “No martyrs?”
Bel shook his head. “No martyrs, I swear. You need me for direction to Marcus’s house. He’ll be able to patch up River.”
Wyatt believed him. He had to. For one cold second, he was afraid the vampire would close the door behind him, separating them while he fought the shifters on his own. No, they were sticking together.
Small muffled cries slipped from River as Wyatt made slow and steady progress down the ladder into the darkness. Above him, he could hear Bel moving very slowly. His breathing was heavy and labored as if he were struggling, but he kept moving.
The sounds in the house grew more distant until they were enveloped in a kind of unnerving silence. No smoke. No alarms. Just the quiet of the earth and their ragged pants.
Just before Wyatt reached the bottom, lights flicked on, revealing what looked to be a spartan garage. Along one wall was a small number of weapons and in the center was a black sedan with darkly tinted windows.
“Put River across the back seat and open the trunk,” Bel whispered between wheezing breaths. “There’s a heavy blanket in there. I’ll lay on River to try to slow the bleeding, but you’ll need to cover me with the blanket. The tinting on the window isn’t enough to block out the sun at this hour.”
Wyatt hurried to follow Bel’s instructions. River was frighteningly pale, blood already soaking through the padding Bel had applied. They were running out of time, and Marcus’s house was so fucking far away. Grabbing the blanket, he carefully helped the vampire into the car. He wasn’t looking much better, lines of pain cutting deep into the uninjured side of his face.
Once they were settled as best as they could be, Wyatt jumped behind the wheel and started the engine. Thankfully, the keys had been left in the cupholder for just such an emergency. He barreled down the long underground driveway. After what felt like miles, it dumped out onto a lonely road in what appeared to be the middle of nowhere. He focused on the road in front of him, desperately trying to keep the growing panic at bay.
Bel gave directions, but they were almost immediately drowned out by the persistent ringing of a phone.
“The Bluetooth display says ‘Rafe,’ ” Wyatt said. “Is the car connected to your phone?”
“Yes, a spare I picked up in the lab,” Bel murmured. “Answer it. Tell him.”
With the push of a button, Rafe’s frantic voice filled the car. “Bel! Where are you? What’s going on?”
“We were attacked. Bel’s hurt, River…” Wyatt’s voice cracked and he had to try a second time to get the words out. “River is dying.”
There was a long string of curses and muffled commands, probably shouting at Philippe to get ready. “Bring them here to my penthouse. It’s closest.”
“No,” Bel said. “Too much traffic downtown. Midday.”
“It would take too long to get to you in downtown traffic. We’re less than twenty minutes from Marcus’s,” Wyatt repeated. Twenty minutes felt like an eternity. He kept his foot on the accelerator, pushing the car as fast as he dared. He just prayed they didn’t pass any cops. Nothing was going to stop him from getting to Marcus’s house.
“Okay. I’ll call Marcus. Warn him. Aiden should be there. Philippe and I will try to beat you to Marcus’s.”
“The sun, Rafe!” Bel cried.
Rafe growled. “I’ll have a Blush employee bring us there wrapped like fucking mummies. Go directly to the carport on the side of the house. It will be the safest way to bring Bel inside.”
“River’s blood type,” Bel whispered.
“River…River is losing a lot of blood,” Wyatt forced out. He clenched his teeth, fighting back the tears and another desperate sob when he was sure his heart was being pounded to dust in his chest. “He’s A positive.”
“Okay. I’ll make sure Marcus has plenty on hand. We’ll save your wolf. You just get to the house safely.” Rafe ended the call, and Wyatt was sure it was the longest he’d ever heard the man be completely serious.
For now, he clung to Rafe’s promise while he focused on the road. One step at a time. Get them to Marcus’s house. From Bel’s stories about his mother, Wyatt knew the Variks were extremely experienced at patching each other up. They would be able to save River.
After his men were alive and healing, Wyatt could think about tearing apart the pack that had attempted to destroy his family.
19
Bel pushed down the pain that sent daggers through his face and neck. All his attention was on the man lying beneath him, his breathing far too shallow. His face had taken on an almost gray pallor. The scent of blood surrounded him, tormenting him, but the hunger and pain from the burns were nothing compared to the ache in his heart.
“Bel,” River whispered.
“I’m here, dearest heart. I’m here.” Using his uninjured hand to brace himself against the twists and turns of the car, Bel very carefully ran his burned hand over River’s forehead, pushing back sweaty hair. He couldn’t feel River’s soft skin. Only pain. But he kept up the gentle caress, praying it gave River some relief. “We’re almost to my brother’s. He can fix you. I promise.”
“I love you, Bel. So much.”
“I know. I love you too. Everything is going to be fine.”
“Love Wyatt too,” River continued as if he hadn’t heard him. “Love you both so much. Was so happy with you.”
“River, you will hang on. Do you hear me? You will keep fighting!” Bel’s voice shook as he tried to infuse as much force and steel as he could into it. His body throbbed with pain, and he was utterly exhausted. He wasn’t sure if he could feed now even if the donor was pressed right to his fangs, but he would fight for River.
“So sorry…”
“River! No! I’m not losing you,” Bel screamed, tears choking his throat. He tried pressing his fingers to River’s throat, but they were so badly burned that he couldn’t feel a damn thing. He pressed his ear to his chest, but there was too much padding and the thunder of his own heart in his ears.
“River!” Wyatt shouted from the front seat. The car swerved violently and hit a bump hard. “We’re here, River! We’re here! You hang on!”
Bel let loose a sob of relief, tears stinging his wounded cheek, but he didn’t care. He had to believe that Aiden and Marcus could save their River. He didn’t care about himself. Didn’t care if he ever healed again. They just had to save their heart.