Lauren Dane - Heart of Darkness

“We can’t expose the clan unless it’s absolutely necessary. It’s not.”

With a growl of annoyance, he got her outside. If they were going on this fool’s errand, he wanted it done as fast as possible.

“Loyalty to the clan doesn’t mean being stupid,” he muttered, putting her down gently as the car approached. Nell bent and rustled through a first aid kit.

“It’s our clan now. You know it’s not stupid.” Meriel gasped when Nell wrapped her wound tight.

The sound tore at him. “Let’s move this along then. You did your part. The longer we stand here, the longer you have a bullet hole in you.”

Arel jogged up and jolted when he saw Meriel. “The other turned witch is gone. We’re searching. Can I assist?” He looked from Meriel to Dominic.

Meriel stood a little taller. “Take care of the search. Nell, give me your keys and call William to let him know we’re coming so a bunch of bloody witches don’t surprise him. And then clean this up. My blood, I’m sorry but there’s a lot of blood where I was standing.”

Nell exhaled hard, clearly torn between one duty and another.

She handed the keys over to Dominic. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. The survivors have been taken into our custody. Everyone but the male is accounted for.”

“I expect you know how to conduct some questioning. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I want you at these interrogations.” Meriel winced and swallowed hard and then swayed.

Gage came roaring up in the car and threw his door open, scrambling out to get the other so Dominic could help her.

“I’m going to get blood on your seat.”

“I’ll bill you.”

He ran around to the other side. “This better work, Nell. If it doesn’t, I’m taking her to a hospital; I don’t care about the rest. Get this place cleaned up before the early shift shows up for the other businesses and we get the cops called.”

HEsped out of the warehouse trying to keep it steady. He knew every pothole must have hurt.

“Keep with me, Meriel. Stay awake.”

“You were totally badass,” she said. “I’m not going to die you know. It hurts. I can’t lie. But if the bullet had gone a little to the left, it’d have hit my stomach and we’d have a whole different conversation.”

He groaned. “These are words I wish you would never, ever say in conversation again. Your job is to run the clan, not to get shot by fucking thugs. Piece of shit, I wish I could kill him twice. These people, Meriel, what could make them hate so much that they’d willingly go out to hurt others?”

He’d seen a lot of violence, but these humans doing the bidding of criminals like Gloria made no sense. Their hatred at what they didn’t understand was staggering. Their willingness to hunt, kidnap and aid the mages in killing astounded him.

“People fear what they don’t understand.”

“Sounds like Simon when he’s talking about how witches should come out to the humans.”

“He’s probably right. But when they find out about us they shoot us. It’s an update on the burnings and drownings.”

He sighed. Not like he could argue. But he knew she understood the world was shrinking every day. It still wasn’t a conversation for that moment.

There was a balance to driving fast very late at night. Too fast and he’d get pulled over and then they’d really be fucked. But it was empty enough so there was no need to crawl along either. He pushed away his impatience to get her there.

She reached out and took his hand. He looked down for a brief moment, her fingers still bloody, tangled with his. He’d made the clan safer but she’d been shot. He hadn’t made her safer.

“I can feel you trying to blame yourself in that head of yours. Stop it. You didn’t shoot me. In fact, if I remember correctly, you took care of the guy who did. And then you went all superhero and punched a bunch of people and you used your magick. It’s pretty impressive and sexy. So stop blaming yourself.

“I should have protected you.”

“ You did. Don’t you see? Gloria and those mages were a threat to me. They aren’t now. I’m here because of you in so many ways.” She snorted and then whimpered.

“I don’t know what I’d do—”

“Don’t.” She squeezed his hand. “Not gonna happen. You’re stuck with me.”

He tried not to turn too hard onto Nell’s street. The house was at the end of a good-sized drive and at the top several cars already waited.

“Shit, that’s my mother’s car.”

“Of course. You know she and Abe would be here. Sit still, I’ll be around to get you.”

William rushed out, followed by Abe. They stood back while Dominic pulled her from the car and carried her into the house.

“Guest room. Second doorway there.” William pointed to where Gage’s mother, Shelley, waited. The bed was covered and the room had been made sterile as well as it could be he guessed.

“Put her on the bed.” Shelley moved with them and bent next to Meriel. “Hi there, honey. I think that shirt is ruined. I’m going to have to cut it off. Everyone but Dominic out.”

Edwina sniffed and didn’t move. “I’ll be assisting. I have triage training. It’s a long story.”

“She did it for a Girl Scout camp I went to,” Meriel said from her place on the bed. “Hello, Mother. Sorry I woke you.”

“Yes, well, you’ve been doing it entirely too much of late. Your father and I would appreciate if you could stop getting yourself stalked or hurt.” Edwina’s gaze cut to Dominic. He saw and understood the emotion he saw there.

“Fine. Bathroom is through there. Get washed up and come back.” Shelley grabbed the scissors and cut the shirt open and Meriel looked up into her friend’s mother’s face.

“Oh, sweetie pie, this is going to leave a mark.”

Meriel coughed and it hurt. “Don’t make me laugh.”

“I’m going to give you something for the pain.” She swabbed Meriel’s arm and the cold shocked her back to attention. The prick of a needle and then the burn of the medicine as it shot into her system. Once that was done, Shelley began to weave a spell, her hands above the wound. Heat radiated outward as she did. The pain drifted away on drugs and magick.

“Gloves.”

Dominic was there, she could smell him. She turned her head, feeling dizzy as she did, and managed a goofy smile. “See? I told you …”

MERIELwoke up with a dry throat. Once her eyes were able to focus, she noted the IV drip. Must have been some good stuff in there because she couldn’t feel more than the tug of the stitches when she moved.

It was late afternoon if the slant of light on the walls was any indication.

She was really thirsty. Inside her the bond woke up and magick hummed through her. “Dominic?”

“Here. I’m here, baby.” He came into the room quickly, holding a mug. “Your mother made tea. Hang on.” He stepped outside the room again and she heard him call out for Shelley.

He was back wearing a smile. But he didn’t fool her. She could see the lines from lack of sleep around his eyes. But when he kissed her on the forehead and sat next to her on the bed, his body touching hers, everything was so much better.

“You’re awake.” Shelley came in. “How are you feeling?” She looked at the wound, both sides, and changed the bandages. “This is healing well. You’re going to be just fine. Are you in any pain? How’s the medication?”

“How long was I out?” She sipped a little water and then Dominic helped her sit up.

“Day and a half. You needed to just let yourself heal and rest. Your body took care of it for you.” Shelley carefully looked at her wounds and changed the dressing. “This is healing really well. I’m afraid you’re going to have some scars, but you’re going to be just fine.”