Chapter 14 #2
Gideon paused, then begrudgingly let Liam lift Ophelia from his arms, ignoring Tom’s outstretched hand until she was safely stowed in the back of the Jeep. The medic grunted as Gideon slapped his palm against his, unable to heft all of his weight.
“Damn, you made of rock or something? Hey, Liam!” he called over his shoulder, missing Gideon’s glower. “Little help?” The two of them fought to get Gideon to his feet, an arm over each of their shoulders, his legs not cooperating.
“You have got to be the heaviest son of a bitch I’ve ever triaged,” Tom muttered after they had finally stumbled to the Jeep and hoisted Gideon in.
The vehicle was ridiculously small, made more so by Tom’s bulk blocking the view out the windshield.
Gideon put a hand on Ophelia, lacking the strength to pull her into his lap, and keenly understanding what a canned sardine must feel like.
“We’re taking you to the compound. Jena and Chase are there, and we’ve got plenty of room,” Liam said, glancing in the rearview once they’d hit the main road.
“It’s also where I left the ambulance,” Tom added, exchanging a look with Montgomery. “And you my friend, just might need it.”
“I’ll be fine,” Gideon said again, groggy but certain he’d survived far worse than this.
Unfortunately, that had been contingent upon him reverting to his stone form beside the node’s well at the center of the City of Light.
His strength was rapidly fading the further they got from Havers’s node.
His connection to it would have to be enough.
He refused to be parted from Ophelia, and the offer of alternate lodging was somewhat of a relief.
He hadn’t been relishing the idea of spending another night on a bare twin mattress.
“And thank you for your overture of hospitality.”
“‘Overture?’” Tom snorted. “Who the hell is this guy?”
Liam ignored him, glancing in the rearview again. “Yeah, man, no problem. It’s not like we could just leave you out there.”
Gideon frowned, his mind drifting with thoughts of plenty who would. He’d done little to foster relationships outside of his professional network and was certain none of them would lift a finger if there wasn’t something tangible in it for them.
It had been a very, very long time since he’d had anything even remotely resembling a friendship, and the potential for finding that in some backwater hamlet shook him.
He brushed a lock of matted hair from Ophelia’s face, begrudgingly admitting that the prospect was not unwelcome.
If they were to build a life here together, coming to a mutual accord with the town’s residents would be necessary.
Of course, that didn’t mean it would be pleasant. He scowled at the two men in the front seat snickering over an inside joke. But, as long as he and Ophelia weren’t the punchline, Gideon suspected he could make do.
Liam pulled off onto a goat path several minutes later, and Gideon’s teeth rattled as they bumped down the poor excuse for a road.
Tall conifers lined the way, the woods dark and deep.
They approached several clusters of snow-bound, dilapidated trailers.
Gods help them if this was the compound they’d spoken of.
Thankfully, they passed by the sad structures and continued deeper into the forest.
Gideon frowned, his senses tingling as his awareness of the node grew and his strength trickled back. Had they gone in a circle? There was no other explanation as to why he’d feel its presence so keenly. He stared off into the distance to his left, confused.
“What’s out there?” he asked, unable to remain silent.
Liam glanced at him in the rearview. “Huh? Oh, um, the hollow, I guess. We’re more or less in the middle of the pack’s territory. Why?”
Gideon chewed his lip, at odds with himself. “Because the node’s presence is much stronger here than it should be,” he said, his curiosity overruling caution.
Liam was silent for several breaths. “Ah, that’s probably something you should ask Jena,” he finally said, running a hand over his jaw.
Indeed. Gideon scowled, his temper rising. If she was leveraging her guardianship to benefit the Unseelie Court— No. The node was young, but it wouldn’t risk endangering its existence by allowing a fairy mound to form.
Yet, he couldn’t deny the bleed of power.
He scrubbed a hand over his face, his thoughts still muddled and nothing fitting together as it should.
What the hell was going on in this town?
Perceiving power out here didn’t make sense.
Nodes had defined boundaries and were restrained to the area where leylines crossed.
It had absolutely no business popping up in the middle of nowhere.
Jena had some serious explaining to do.
They continued on for several minutes more and came to a large log cabin set in a clearing. Chase’s truck, a handful of other vehicles, and an ambulance were pulled beside its long front porch.
“I’ll be right back.” Liam parked beside them and got out, flipping up his seat to take Ophelia.
“So, you gonna tell me what kind of supe you are?” Tom asked, turning to look at him. “It would be a hell of a lot easier to treat you if I knew.”
Gideon glowered at him, remaining silent.
“Then I guess we’ll do it the hard way.” The man grinned at him. “If it makes it any easier, I’m a were—lynx, specifically. Local pack wasn’t too keen on Kelsey and me dating at first, but the Montgomerys, they’re good people. FYI, don’t fuck with them or I’ll bury you.”
“You’re welcome to try.” Gideon fought to keep his eyes open, his breath shallow. “But I’d prefer it if you waited until I’m able-bodied to threaten me.”
The man’s grin widened. “Nah. I want to give you something to dream about after you pass out. You know, something for your subconscious to marinate on.”
The door to the house opened, and Tom got out of the Jeep as Liam jogged down the steps. “Ready?” he asked.
“No, but we’re doing it. Jesus, did he get heavier?” He swore, dragging one of Gideon’s arms across his shoulder and wrestling him from the vehicle.
Liam grunted, staggering as he took the other. “Sure as hell seems like it.” They paused at the base of the stairs. “Fuck. How the hell are we gonna do this?”
“One step at a time, my brother, and if he falls, hope it’s forward.”
The journey to the front door took entirely too long. Both men were sweating profusely as a surly teen wearing far too much black opened the door for them.
“Holy crap,” she said, her blue, kohl-lined eyes wide. “You do look just like Chase. Well, if he was half dead.”
“Not now, Cruze,” Liam muttered, huffing past her. “You guys are in the spare room in the back. Kelsey’s in there cleaning up Ophelia, and Felix snagged some clothes from my dad’s closet that should fit you.”
Glorious. Gideon eyed the plaid-on-plaid decor, positive that whatever was delivered would be of a similar aesthetic.
The three hobbled across a vaulted great room toward a door at the far end.
The windows lining the southern wall looked out over the forest, and a fire crackled in the large fieldstone fireplace at its center.
A woman’s soft voice began to register, growing louder as they cleared the doorway.
The walls here were a deep green plaster, and a king sized bed dominated the room.
Liam and Tom gratefully dropped Gideon onto it.
He fell onto his back, long past attempting to maintain his dignity. Gods, why was it so hard to breathe?
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Tom wiped a hand across his brow. “I’m gonna grab my gear. I’ll be back.”
“That you, Liam?” a woman called from an adjoining room.
He turned his head to the voice, hands on his hips and panting. “Yeah.”
“Cool. Help me get her into bed?”
He left the room and returned a moment later with Ophelia in his arms. She was still out cold, and they’d dressed her in a loose t-shirt and pajama pants with pink, fluffy bunnies on them. Gideon gave a weak snort. She was going to hate that.
“Wow, you look awful,” a woman said, coming in behind them. Her dark hair was in pigtails and, Gods help him, she was in overalls.
Gideon stared at her, blasé.
She gave a little wave. “Hey. I’m Kelsey, Liam’s twin. Tom’s my boyfriend.” She squirmed beneath his unblinking gaze. “Okay, then. I’m gonna go see what the kids are up to.”
And thank the Gods for that. Gideon closed his eyes, drifting off.
Swearing brought him backing into the now.
“Damn it, that’s the third fucking needle I’ve broken. What the hell is this guy?”
“I dunno,” Liam murmured. “Chase said something about a gargoyle, but here? I thought they were only on the far continent.”
“Yeah, well, big cat shifters aren’t supposed to be in this part of the world either, but that sure as hell explains— Sec, looks like he’s coming to… Hey, dude, can you quit the stone act? You need fluids.”
“No. Allergic to saline,” Gideon rasped, his eyes fluttering open. He tried to swallow, his mouth uncomfortably dry.
“Then we’ll skip it, but you need blood.”
Gideon didn’t disagree with Tom’s assessment, but reversing his body’s reflex to the damage he’d incurred wasn’t something as simple as flicking a switch. However, perhaps he could manage a small area.
“Press where you need the needle,” he rasped.
The bald man’s brows furrowed and then a steady pressure began at the crook of Gideon’s right arm. He focused on the dime-sized point, softening his skin—
“Got it.” A sharp prick, then a quick burn, followed by a subtle warmth. “Right,” Tom said, adjusting a drip. “Let that do its thing, then I’ve got two more with your name on them. I’ll be back to check on you.”
Gideon grunted and closed his eyes again, surrendering to exhaustion.