Chapter 50
My heart races as I rush toward him, overwhelmed by panic. I collapse to the ground, my knees screaming from the impact, and cradle his head in my lap. His vibrant eyes begin to dim as his true form emerges, a shield protecting him.
“Crew?” I shout. “What’s wrong?”
His eyes flutter open and closed, and his body looks perfectly normal.
He gasps for air as if he can’t catch a breath, and he begins to claw at his own chest. The bond throbs as it flickers between us, and I can’t control my trembling hands as I reach for his, attempting to stop him from hurting himself.
“Crew!” I scream again.
He keeps gasping for air, and I watch his lips turn a deep purple.
“It… hurts,” he barely manages to get out.
“What hurts?” I spit. “What is causing you pain?”
The bathroom door flies open, and Locke stands there with a wild look on his face. His wounds were healing well, but the larger ones began bleeding again from the abrupt movement.
“What happened?” he demands, racing forward.
Panic takes my words, and I stutter out, “I… I don’t know.”
Locke assesses Crew’s body and snaps his gaze to me. “Mara, what happened?”
“We were talking. That’s it,” I say. “We were about to go see Theo. We think we found a way to use my lifeforce to make him immortal.”
“Is that possible?”
“We didn’t get that far before he crashed to the ground.”
Locke focuses back on Crew, watching the air barely move in and out of his lungs. He places his fingers against his neck, feeling the faint pulse thump back. Locke’s hands move to Crew’s forehead, down his torso, and to his stomach.
“Get his shirt off.” He snaps.
My reaction is instant, and I lift his shoulders from my lap with all my might just as Locke starts to remove his shirt. I gently ease him back into my lap, and Locke leans over, examining every inch of his chest for any sign of distress.
“What the hell?” Locke mumbles. “Crew, where does it hurt?”
Crew groans again and lifts his hand toward the middle of his chest.
Locke’s eyes meet mine. “There is physically nothing wrong with him.”
My focus stays on Crew. Just seeing him in this much pain makes my stomach churn, and I'm desperate to think of anything that can help.
“Crew,” I beg. “Can you tell us what’s wrong?”
He coughs, still gasping, “My… chest.”
Locke pulls him off me and props him up, ignoring the wounds all over his body. “Are you having a fucking heart attack?”
Crew shakes his head and begins to claw at his own body once more. “It feels like it’s… splitting open.”
I snap my gaze to Locke, not hiding the terror that lingers in my eyes. Still, I know from his sudden arrival that he sensed my distress and came running.
“I need your claw,” I say to Locke.
He looks at me and angles his head. “What? Why?”
“I’m going to give him my blood. Maybe that will help.”
Locke nods, and I watch as a black claw extends from his fingertip like a switchblade.
He hesitates to extend his hand, but I give him a reassuring nod.
Without a second thought, he swipes his claw across my palm, and the red blood begins to flow.
Locke grimaces at my pain, but I waste no time moving my hand to Crew’s mouth.
On the brink of consciousness, his lips wrap around my palm.
I relax for a moment as he consumes my lifeforce.
Locke keeps his gaze fixed on me, and I try to dismiss the throbbing warmth coursing through my hand. Crew pulls away his lips and remains still for a moment before taking more of the blood.
“Is that helping?” Locke asks.
Crew removes his quivering lips and leans his head back. Relief washes over me as I see my skin starting to mend itself, but the pain doesn’t ease from Crew’s face.
“I think that might have helped,” I say, looking at Locke.
“Bannermin. Hey buddy.” Locke snaps his fingers in Crew’s face. “Does that feel better? Can you talk to us now?”
A second later, Crew groans and starts to claw at his throat.
I lunge forward, stopping a claw from scratching his own skin.
Beads of sweat form on his brow as he turns his head.
His chest rises and falls, and he emits a gag.
A string of black vomit escapes his mouth, and he begins to convulse on the floor.
“What the fuck,” Locke shouts.
“No, no, no,” I say, cupping his sweat-drenched face.
“We need to get him to Theo,” Locke demands.
“Go,” I say. “I’ll get the others.”
“I felt your panic,” he says, still looking at me in shock. “It woke me up.”
“I’m glad you are here,” I say.
“Always will be.”
He stands up, and a groan escapes his mouth as he throws Crew’s large body over his shoulder.
A new crimson stain appears on his side, but he moves quickly toward the door.
I stay behind him, opening the door for him as he steps into the hallway.
I slam my fist into the opposite room, but I don’t linger.
The wooden door swings open as our footsteps thunder down the silent hallway.
Crew continues to gasp and groan as the pain doesn’t ease.
I hear Bronwyn and Damien cursing, and they don’t hesitate to follow us.
Locke moves as if he doesn’t have Crew’s weight on him, and I know he can feel my panic propelling him faster.
He may be bonded to protect me for the rest of my life, but that protection clearly extends to my heart, including saving someone we both love.
The hallway opens to the foyer, and we turn, racing up the cold marble stairs, knowing that time is against us right now.
With each step, I feel my chest beginning to hurt as Crew’s pain and emotions move into me.
Damien and Bronwyn catch up, and a look of worry twists their features, but they don’t speak—only follow.
We move up the stairs and race down the carpeted hallway toward Theo’s office. A large double door comes into view, adorned with ornate vines and flowers.
“That has to be it,” I shout, moving in front of Locke.
I race ahead, slamming my fist into the door and hearing a heavy thud echo through the silent hallway.
No sound immediately responds, and I slam my fist into the wood again.
“Theo?” I shout. “Open the door.”
Silence.
“Open the fucking door.”
Footsteps echo on the opposite side of the wood as it swings open to reveal the Elder. The office is dim, with only a fireplace illuminating the space.
“Miss Castten,” he snaps. “What is this about?”
He glances over my shoulder to reveal Locke holding Crew. The groans move through the hallway, and his eyes widen.
“We need your help,” I say, sharply.
“I told you no violence is tolerated here.”
“We didn’t do this,” I plead. “He collapsed. He says something hurts—his chest—but nothing is wrong physically.”
The Elder glances in all directions of the hallway and narrows his gaze toward me.
“Please, Theo,” I beg.
“Step inside.”
Theo moves out of our way as we rush inside. The warm office expands around us, and a similar layout makes me feel as if we are in Lowell’s office. Locke rushes to the leather couch and lays Crew down softly. Damien and Bronwyn stay back, watching in horror and confusion as Theo approaches Crew.
“What exactly is going on?” Theo leans over Crew.
“He says it’s his chest. We were talking when he collapsed. Nothing happened, and no one can see any physical damage to him. I think it’s internal."
Theo remains silent, but he starts assessing Crew.
His hands glide over his body, and a brilliant light radiates from them as he scans himself from head to toe.
The silence becomes unbearable as Crew struggles to catch his breath.
The Elder closes his eyes, his focus solely on his powers, and I watch closely for any indication of a diagnosis.
“What were you talking about before this happened?” Theo asks.
I jerk my head back. “Why does that matter?”
“I’m trying to take everything into consideration right now, Mara.”
I sigh. “We were wondering if my lifeforce went into him when we sealed our bond.”
His eyes widen. “Sealed?”
“Yes,” I respond, hesitating but not stopping myself from saying the following words. “An Elder sealed our bond.”
His bright eyes narrow. “Who?”
I don’t respond. He can’t know that Sam is alive.
“Mara,” he warns. “Did Carver or Lowell do this?”
I shake my head.
I watch a heavy exhale escape his lungs, and for the first time, worry crosses his stunning features. “Mara, an Elder doesn’t have the power to seal bonds.”
Shock ripples through me, and I can’t process the words.
Theo’s gaze hardens. “Whoever sealed this bond was not an Elder.”
Sam.
“We will need to discuss this after we figure out what is wrong with Mr. Bannermin. I don’t know what you all are up to, but this is fucking serious. You are playing with something you don’t even fully understand.”
“Theo,” I begin to speak, but he raises his hand.
A breeze moves around the room, and we can all sense the power shift coming from him. Theo is still an Elder, and we are not to disrespect him.
A blinding anger turns the room ice cold, and I turn my head in despair. Locke is there to support me. I rest my head against his chest and can’t stop the sob that escapes my lips. His hand wraps around my head, allowing me to bury my face against him.
Damien and Bronwyn step closer, and I feel a hand on my shoulder. I lift my head and stare into Damien’s eyes, noting his panic, despite keeping a strong face.
“He’s going to be okay,” Damien whispers.
“You keep having to tell me that.”
He squeezes me harder, and I glance back at Theo. The bright light continues to flow into Crew’s body, as if his power alone can search for anything wrong with him.
“Mr. Bannermin,” Theo says. “Can you tell me what you feel?”