Chapter 47 – Jarred
Jarred’s phone woke him up. It sounded like every phone in the house was ringing at the same time. Sleepily, he thumbed the screen and woke in a second when Chrissy’s voice came through.
“Help! Someone’s attacking Wayla!”
“What? Where?”
“At the dorms!” There was a loud crash in the background and Chrissy gasped, “Oh god!”
“I’m coming!” Jarred threw the phone on the bed and grabbed the first pair of pants he found. “Talk to me, Chrissy.”
Someone was banging on his door and Jarred yanked it open, still half dressed. Sinister, phone in hand, was on the other side.
“I’ve got him, Ginny. Open the front door. I’ll portal there.”
Jarred finally got his pants on and Sinister clasped his arm without waiting for more. The world warbled, the connection to Chrissy cut out, and then they were through. The front door flew open just as Sinister’s portal closed and, panting, Ginny stood in the doorway.
Jarred pushed past her and toward the crackling of lightning.
He jerked the door open and almost fell on his ass when the storm pushed against him.
The entire room was torn to pieces and soaking wet.
There was glass everywhere and at first, he didn’t see Wave.
Only his bond guided his attention to the slumped figure, mostly hidden under a splintered bed and bedding.
There were more voices, Sinister barking orders, phones ringing.
He ignored it all when he crawled to Wave and frantically looked her over.
She was breathing and looked to be in one piece, but there was a smell in the room that made his jaguar growl and she wasn’t responding to him. In their bond she felt… unconscious?
“I’ll get Ilijas,” Sinister said and disappeared. Zahir came through with Marc at the same moment.
“Sparkle!” Marc rushed over, ignoring the storm that was still rolling around, contained in the room, but not dissipating. “Wayla, baby, wake up.” He almost shook her, but Jarred slapped his hand away.
“No,” he growled, his jaguar trying to break through.
“What—” Marc turned to him, but Jarred tapped his nose and frowned.
“Something’s not right. She smells wrong, but I can’t see anything. The bond is too… sluggish. Ilijas…” His broken off sentences were enough to get through to Marc, though. His shields flared up, encompassing Wave into them as his eyes scanned the room.
In no time, Sinister was back with Ilijas, who stopped at the doorway. “Little help here, Marc.”
“What? Oh,” Marc said, when they realized the storm didn’t allow Ilijas to enter. It battered Marc and Jarred, but Ilijas was barred by a barrage of lightning. The same lightning kept flashing around the window.
Marc reluctantly left Wave and moved to grasp Ilija’s hand, pulling him into his shield. Together, they made their way back, while Sinister muttered something about getting the rest of the group. Most of them were already on their way.
“I called Irishen,” Diana called out from the doorway but didn’t try to enter.
Jarred threw her a grateful glance before focusing back on Wave.
Ilijas leaned over her, but before he could touch her, he recoiled.
“Lalwe root.”
“What?”
“It’s a powerful sedative that can be poisonous in large quantities,” Ilijas replied. “She reeks of it.”
“The bond feels sluggish,” Jarred told him.
“Makes sense. We need to get her clean before I can treat her more. Marc, grab a blanket and carry her to the shower.”
“Is it safe to move her?” Jarred almost growled.
“I don’t see anything amiss outwardly, but I need to touch her to know more. We have to get her clean first,” Ilijas replied and continued before Jarred could berate him. “I can heal other injuries. The most pressing thing is to wash the poison away. This fucking storm is actually helping.”
“Okay.” Jarred rushed to the closet, pulled out a towel that was likely free of any tampering, and handed it to Marc. Carefully, he wrapped Wave in it before lifting her into his arms. Jarred wanted to reach out and support her head, but Ilijas shook his head.
“Marc is better shielded against stuff like that. Let him handle this.”
“Fine, fine,” Jarred growled, rushing over to turn on the shower.
The storm began to fade once they got Wave under the water.
Ilijas tactfully waited outside and Jarred heard him ask for another set of clothes for Wave that wasn’t anything from her room.
Marc stripped Wave and tossed her soaked clothes in the trash that Jarred held out for him. They would probably burn them.
“Careful,” he snapped when Marc turned and Wave’s head lolled to the side.
Marc grunted and cradled her closer.
“Hand me that soap,” he said.
“Ilijas,” Jarred barked.
“Yeah?”
“Can I wash her when Marc holds her up?”
“Mmh… Pull up an extra shield and make sure you touch her only with soapy hands. Proper soap, not some lotion bullshit.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” someone shrieked in the background. After a moment, Chrissy poked her head in, a bar of soap in hand. “Here. Diana made this. It’s all natural and made to neutralize any plant-based poisons or irritants.”
“That’ll do well.” Ilijas nodded.
Jarred grabbed the bar and lathered his hands liberally before returning to the shower. Marc turned Wave away from the water and Jarred soaped up her face. After rinsing, he did it again before moving to washing her hair.
Slowly, they moved from her head to her throat, shoulders, breasts, stomach. Jarred kept going over every area until he couldn’t directly sniff the foul smell anymore. Then Marc shifted his hold on Wave, moving her so their chests were smashed together and Jarred could wash her back.
“Ilijas, I think she’s clean,” he called out.
“Good. Rinse yourself and then Marc can hand her over.”
Jarred didn’t waste time. Not that he had a lot to strip, either. Briskly, he scrubbed himself down and thankfully took the towel Ilijas was holding out for him. Once it was wrapped around his waist, there was a robe waiting for Wave.
They maneuvered her arms into it, still dripping wet, and Jarred cradled her to his chest. With averted eyes, Ilijas tied the robe closed.
“Marc, you need to wash, too. I’ll see if we can find some pants for you. Jarred, come.”
Jarred carried Wave out into the living room and settled her on the couch. All his attention was focused on her and the bond. The room spun and he blinked. Was that the bond?
Ilijas kneeled on the floor next to Wave’s head and cupped her face before closing his eyes. A frown marred his forehead in seconds.
“Fuck,” he muttered.
“What?” Jarred couldn’t help but ask.
“She’s tough,” Ilijas muttered. “There’s too much lalwe root in her system. I think all that rain saved her.” His eyes opened and met Jarred’s. “I’m not sure if this was a botched kidnapping or assassination attempt.”