Chapter 78

[ 863 words ]

Dangerous combination

78: 78.

Dangerous combination Barric

Quin groans.

“Did you take your meds today because you seem to be really fucking confused. Especially if you think you can just barge into my space.”

Sebastian stares at her, his jaw flexing.

Kade makes a move to go in between them but I put a hand on his shoulder.

“Let them be,” I say.

“Quinnie’s fine. Bash won’t hurt her.”

Sebastian’s wolf flashes in his eyes and Quin rolls hers.

The tension crackling between them is electric, but there’s something else underneath it, something protective, something… deeper.

My wolf snorts.

The male wants her.

“Sebastian,” I say, stepping in before this turns into something louder.

“She’s just finished being healed.”

“I can see that.”

“Then maybe don’t antagonize her. I’m sure she wants to go take a shower and get something to eat.”

Quin looks at me appreciatively.

But it’s Sebastian’s face I take notice of.

of.

How it fluctuates from self depreciating to determined.

Then he orders, “Let’s go.”

Quin just blinks at him.

“You really do exist in Bash’s world don’t you?”

Kade crosses his arms, watching the whole scene carefully.

“She’s going to bite him if he keeps that up.”

“Or kiss him,” I reply.

Kade snorts.

“Don’t even joke about that.

The last thing Quin needs is Bash’s fleeting attention.”

Kiara looks over her shoulder at Quin, “You should listen to Barric and go eat something so your blood sugar isn’t too low.”

“I’m waiting for Aria,” she states purposely not looking at Sebastian.

“You won’t be any good to anyone if you collapse,” he presses.

“I said I’m not leaving,” grins out.

“I’ll be fine,” Aria says.

“Go.

Get some rest.

We’ll talk later.

I rather you not be pale as a sheet when we do it.”

“Fine.

But you’re not allowed to pass up on my brunch offer.

I’ll be offended if it isn’t done within the week,” she says as she hops off the table.

“Dont worry, I won’t.”

“You better not.”

Quin stands and heads for the door.

As she leaves, Sebastian immediately follows Quin as Thomas finishes sealing her wounds.

“I told you, I’m fine,” Quin says, her voice fading as they get farther from the room.

I can’t hear Sebastian’s reply.

Kade watches them go, then mutters under his breath, “He better watch himself around my baby cousin.”

“I thought we were giving Quinnie space,” I say amused at his complete one eighty after only a few minutes.

Kade shrugs.

“You know I need time to adjust.”

Yeah.

I do.

Possessive.

Protective.

Reckless.

Dangerous combination.

Kiara’s magic flares brighter as she finishes with Ronan, knitting flesh and easing bruises.

Within moments, the worst of the damage is gone.

“There,” she says, leaning back.

“Good as new.”

Ronan grunts petulantly.

Aria looks at me.

“Let’s go see Theo.”

I nod.

“Come on.”

I lead her toward the curtained-off section, my chest tightening with every step.

The air feels heavier here, thicker.

My wolf whines.

Not liking seeing his band mate hurt and practically comatose.

I reach for the curtain, heart in my throat and preparing for Aria’s reaction.

“Wait.” Liam’s voice cuts through the space.

We turn toward his voice.

He stands near the center of the room now, Felix at his side.

Ronan straightens slightly, Kade pushing off the wall as the last of the injured filter out.

Kiara and Thomas follow.

Once the room is empty of everyone but Ronan, Aria, Kade, Liam, Felix and me, Ronan asks “What is it?”

Liam glances at Felix, then back at us.

“We have something you need to hear.”

Aria tenses beside me.

“Can it wait?”

“No,” Felix says quietly.

“It can’t.”

Something in his voice makes my wolf go still.

Ronan’s gaze hardens.

“Should the healers be here for this?”

“They can’t help with this,” Felix replies.

“ And there is some information you might not want them to know.”

“Why not?”

Felix takes a breath.

“Because what’s killing Theo isn’t something they can heal.”

The words land like a blow.

Aria’s scent takes on the bitter tinge of devastation, her fingers curling into fists.

“How do you know?” I ask.

Felix steps forward slightly, his eyes flicking briefly to Liam before settling on Aria.

“I hacked into the Assembly’s databases,” he begins.

“What I found, well, it’s worse than we thought. It’s not just the hidden information about Syphers, it’s the things they were doing with their magic. They were experimenting with Syphers and the things created by them. They weaponized them.”

Ronan growls low in his throat.

“And…”

Felix nods.“Theo’s poison was created by a Sypher, one who uses green magic.

It was used during the war with the hunters.

Liam and I surmised they must have stored it, saved and used it this time.”

“It doesn’t just damage the body, it rewrites it.

Slowly.

Painfully.

It breaks down organ and muscle systems making them unable to stick together,” Liam adds.

My wolf snarls.

Kill them.

“Why can’t it be healed?” Kade demands.

Felix’s expression tightens.

“Because the only thing that can counter it is a Sypher’s fire.

Silence stretches.

“How?” Aria asked, hushed.

“Fire magic can burn it out. Purge it from his system,” Liam said.

Aria staggers back a step like she’s been struck.

“I don’t—” She shakes her head.

“I don’t know how to do that.”

Panic floods her scent, sharp and suffocating.

“I can’t. I’ve barely controlled it.”

Felix’s voice is steady, firm.

“Your brother told me about your trouble.

So, I did some digging.

Studying everything I could find.

I know how this works at least in theory.

If you’re willing, I can guide you.”

“And if I can’t?” Aria asks.

Felix doesn’t hesitate.

“Then Theo dies.”

The words like a noose, dangling between them.

For a moment, she looks like she might break.

Then her wolf rises and a fierce determination venters her eyes.

“Tell me what to do.”

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