Chapter 35
Erica
I finally break free from Fish’s hold and rush to where Ari is spluttering on the ground, his hand holding his neck.
“God, Ari, are you okay? I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I never should have—”
His eyes pin me with a look that kills the words in my throat. I know he thinks this isn’t my fault but I fully blame myself. How did I not realize how far gone Vann was?
Ari opens his mouth to speak but nothing comes out, his eyes widening as a scratchy sound escapes him. My eyes widen in horror. His voice.
Ari, are you okay? I plead through our bond.
I don’t think so, love. I can’t speak.
I quickly fill in his bandmates while the shifters deal with a still unconscious Vann.
Bach and Scooter agree to go back to the VIP area and finish the last few fan experiences while Fish comes back to the hotel with us and calls the manager to find a local healer.
If they can’t find someone that specializes in merpeople, they may have to go into the ocean.
We make it back to the room and Ari plops onto the couch in the living area of the conjoined suites. I can’t plop, can’t sit. I’m pacing, thoughts running wild in my head.
How did Vann find me?
Why did he even think I’d go back with him?
What would he have done to me if he had taken me?
Would Ari have ever been able to find me?
Ari.
Will he be okay?
What if he doesn’t get his voice back?
Was Vann high on something and pumped on adrenaline or something?
Little siren, your pacing is making me dizzy. A light-hearted chuckle follows his words through our bond and some of the tension leaves me. I don’t know what I would do if I had no way to communicate with him. We’d have to text each other or something.
“This sucks,” I say out loud. “Do we know how any of this happened?”
They both shake their heads, Fish checking his phone. “Not yet. But we will.” There’s no room for doubt in his voice, and I remember that they’re not human. I’m sure paranormal beings have a whole network of people to help with all kinds of things.
The healer comes and goes, checking over Ari completely.
He tells us that when Vann was strangling Ari, he managed to either crush his larynx or injure the nerves that control the vocal cords.
He recommends that Ari does not try to use his voice—at all, he stressed—and to stay hydrated.
He was going to see if he could get a hold of any healers or doctors that specialized in the throat to ensure he’s out of the woods for potential paralysis.
He also recommended going into the ocean to see if his mer form would be able to help with the healing. Though mer aren’t known for faster healing like some paranormal beings, it’s worth a shot.
With the healer now gone, we get ready to head down to the beach and hope that the water helps.
I’m so upset that Ari is hurt, but I’m equally relieved that Vann didn’t make it away with me, and that no one was more seriously injured. That’s when a thought occurs, How did you know I was in trouble?
Ari reaches over running his hand along my mate mark, making me shiver. I felt your fear. Your pain. It was awful.
I pull him into me and bury myself in his chest, his arms coming around me to hold me. I can hear Fish stepping away to give us a moment.
“I was so scared he was going to take me and I’d never see you again.” My muffled words reach him, and I can’t help the tears that escape.
I never would have let that happen. I wanted to kill him. I have never had such violent urges in all my life. There is nowhere he could have taken you that I wouldn’t have found you.
Shaking my head, unable to rid myself of all the awful “what ifs,” I continue through our bond because I can’t bring myself to say it. What if he had killed me? I kept thinking, this is it. He’s going to kill me.
I can feel Ari shaking his head before he lifts my chin to look him in his eyes. Then I would have followed you into the afterlife and we would have lived whatever afterlife we were granted. Together. There’s no other option for me, Erica.