Page 125 of Jay's Silence

Jay’s light footsteps came through the door. Blood covered half her face and neck. She’d pulled on the T-shirt I got in Ireland. More blood had already soaked through her shoulder and breasts, making the fabric cling.

“Lux will be okay,” Jay said softly. “The bullet shattered a rib and made a large hole but went clean through him. Og will toss him out here to shift as soon as he is conscious again.”

She looked down at Tyson. “There were zip-ties in the kitchen. I’ll be right back.” She stood before putting a hand on my shoulder. “You okay?”

I grunted. “No. What is going on?”

Jay squeezed my shoulder. “I don’t know yet.”

I tracked Jay’s movements through my mark. She was powerful and capable; she could walk across base camp alone but worry still ate at me. Gorm had seen us arrive and probably felt us kill his demons. We were idiots for staying here tonight. But I didn’t know how to make a portal, and we didn’t know a safe place where our dragons could fly and land without being seen.

Now, something happened to Tyson.

What was wrong with him? Could it happen to Jay? To me? My mind raced.

It felt like I held my breath until my mate returned. She flicked on the lights, and the buzzing of the bug catchers hummed to life, along with the occasional zap zap as they did their job. In two motions, she efficiently zipped-tied Tyson’s hands together, like she’d done this hundreds of times, and we rolled him over. His wide-opened eyes stared up, occasionally blinking into the night sky.

Jay ran her hands down his body, looking for marks or objects, I assumed.

“Is he drugged, like you were?” I finally asked.

Jay shook her head. “I think it’s worse than that.”

Grandson.Tukaqu’s voice faintly sounded in my head.Come home. Gorm’s shown his hand. He has help.

I froze, straining to hear more. At this distance and with the shield still around our island, he shouldn’t be able to project his thoughts at all. For all I knew, that little bit used up every bit of power inside him.

“Call Oliviarose,” I demanded.

Jay held her hands out. “I left the phone with Caoimhe. The portal would have fried it.”

“Tukaqu just spoke to me. He said: ‘Gorm’s shown his hand.’ That means he’s acted.” I pulled my hair, wishing I had my hair tie to get it off my neck.

“Even if we had a phone, conversations can be overheard by the wrong people… and the wrong people are on your island.” Jay turned to Tyson and thumped his shoulder. “Can you hear me, Gorm?”

I jerked back, though Tyson didn’t respond.

Jay rubbed her face and rocked. “Gorm lured us here. He didn’t stick around because as soon as he saw Tyson, he knew he wouldn’t need to. He could make Tyson do his dirty work.” She sucked in a harsh breath and rocked. “I left Tyson’s blood in your refrigerator, Rehan. Remember when I took it on the beach? I just left it for anyone to find. Tyson’s fucking blood.” Still rocking, she grabbed the sides of her head and squeezed. “How stupid can I get?”

It took me a moment to catch up. “When you were staying with me?”

Jay took a few deep breaths and stopped rocking. “He’s taken control of Tyson’s body, maybe even his mind. Blood is powerful. What was I thinking?”

I grabbed Jay and pulled her to my side. “A volcanic eruption almost killed you. I didn’t think of it either.”

“The orphans.” Lux croaked from inside.

Jay stiffened. “Shit. Doctor Raba had their blood.”

She sucked in a breath and stood. She took one step toward Lux before pausing to look at Tyson. I stood as well and took the zip-ties from her. They weren’t strong enough to stop his dragon strength, but after a few clumsy attempts, I got the ties around his ankles and dragged him back into the cabin.

Lux lay in a pool of blood. Og had torn the air dragon’s shirt off to get to the clean bullet hole going through his upper right breast. The air dragon struggled to take even breaths. Og sat next to him, his back against the little side table.

“We can’t keep doing this,” Og said. “It’s just a matter of time before something hits Lux I can’t heal fast enough. Or hits me.” Og squeezed his eyes shut. “And the pain. He doesn’t complain because his dad got him used to pain, but he’s almost died twice in three days.”

“I’m not dead yet,” Lux croaked. “It’s just a flesh wound.”

Jay let out a dark laugh. “Fuck, Lux. Fuck, if we had my magic…”