39. Chapter 39 - Chayce
Chapter 39 - Chayce
W e are in the same clearing Regina and I were in when I showed her my dragon. Ours were the only tracks at the time. As soon as I realized where we were, my dragon took over, flying in low, slow circles. As soon as I caught her faint scent, we flew back to tell the others.
Immediately, we turned our focus onto that area.
We find a cave entrance hidden under a curtain of moss, leaves, and branches. For a brief moment, I wonder how many other places similar to this we overlooked. Pushing the thought aside, Regina’s scent assaults me from multiple directions.
A hand on my shoulder has my head spinning around, snapping my neck in the process.
Adyr holds his hands up, taking a step back before speaking.
“Calm yourself,” he says softly. “You are her mate. If you settle your mind, you should be able to hear her heartbeat and smell her. Release your dragon. Let him help you.”
Closing my eyes and relaxing my body, I let go, giving my dragon control without the shift. It’s an odd sensation and something we haven’t tried before. Breathing deeply and quieting my mind, a very faint heartbeat is detected. It is actually starting to slow down. Moving my arms out to the side, I strike walls on both sides of me, letting out an angry roar.
My feet start moving, racing to find her. Knowing my brothers are following me, I concentrate on Regina, letting them deal with the threat. After what seems like an eternity, the cave opens into a large room. A small figure is on the far side as Regina is slumped on the floor in front of me.
Leaving my brothers to deal with this unknown person, I pick up Regina’s limp form and run back to the cave’s entrance. As soon as possible, my dragon takes form, taking to the sky. My chest heats, trying to warm Regina’s body.
In no time at all, I am landing in the street in front of Tavan’s clinic. I change back to human form as quickly as I changed to my dragon. Rushing inside, Tavan guides me into one of his exam rooms.
“There are scrubs in the corner,” he says offhandedly, his focus on my mate. “Something there should fit you.” Tavan gives me instructions while tending to Regina. “If you can behave and be quiet, you can stay,” he says in warning. “If no, go sit in the waiting room.”
Finding it best not to comment, I get dressed then flop into a chair, sitting on my hands, my eyes never leaving Regina. Tavan hooks her up to an IV and covers her in hot water bottles and blankets.
“She is dehydrated and has mild hypothermia. Other than that, she seems to be okay,” he says, and a rush of breath escapes my lungs in relief. “I need you to climb up on her other side,” Tavan says, indicating the side opposite where the IV line is in her arm. “Your body heat can help warm her faster.”
Tavan barely finishes his statement, and I am lying next to her, pulling her body tightly against mine on the small exam table.
“Just stay like that. I will be back to check on you in a little while,” he orders before leaving the room.
Having Regina in my arms has me relaxing slightly. The unknown person in that cave is something that needs to be handled, but it can wait until tomorrow. My eyes drift closed, and at some point, I fall asleep.
Hearing a throat clear has my eyes popping back open. My brothers are standing just inside the door, watching us. Glancing down at Regina’s face, her eyes are still closed, her breathing steady.
“The person from the cave is secure in the jail. Crispin, Jorden, and Madox have offered to watch her,” Adyr whispers so as not to disturb my girl. “We wanted to come and check on you both.”
“Can you please call Rafferty? Oh, and Emmalee? Let them know we found her?” I ask, my mind running on overdrive and switching from concerned mate to Sheriff.
“It’s already been handled. Rafferty asked that one or both of you call him later on, tomorrow at the latest,” Brady adds.
Regina stirs, causing all of us to go still.
Tavan enters the room, giving my brothers a resigned look. “I understand, but get out,” he says flatly. Not wanting to argue, they start to leave. Just before Tavan closes the door, Deakon pushes it back open, setting my cell phone on the chair next to the door.
Tavan checks Regina’s IV, adding another bag of fluids and then another blanket over both of us. It’s too hot for me, but I ignore it.
“Once she wakes up, and I can do a full exam, she should be able to go home,” he tells me. My shoulders sag in relief.
Nodding in lieu of an answer, he leaves again. My chest heats, hoping to speed up the process.