Page 64 of Blood and Bone

The male stood, putting himself protectively between Eoghan and his mate and their child. Ari listened to Eoghan identify himself and Ari, stating they were I.S.R. and that Ari had only dived into the pool because he thought someone was trying to drown a child. He explained that Ari had a thing for kids and that he’d seen them in dire situations before. He hadn’t actually told Eoghan about his affinity for children, but he’d picked up on it. He made apologies for Ari and then offered to introduce him to the merman, waiting for a full minute before the creature finally nodded his head, leaving his wife and child, and walking toward him.

Ari rolled to his hands and knees, fully intending on standing when pain dragged him back down to the decking as he fell flat, painfully curling to his side on the hard cement surface. Eoghan rushed over, also falling to his knees and helping him right himself as the merman stood over them. Ari glanced up at him, wincing from the pain in his neck before Eoghan clasped his elbow and hand and helped him rise shakily to his feet. When he stood in front of the creature, he noticed gills on each side of the man’s neck. They opened andclosed with each breath he took. Bright red blood caked his nose and cheeks where Eoghan had hit him over and over.

“I’m sorry,” he said, holding out a hand. “I’m Gael and they are Gialle and Jaelle. I thought you meant to hurt them.”

Ari glanced down at his hand, groaning as the simple act of looking downward, made his entire neck ache all over again, but somehow managing to take the merman’s hand anyway. “Sorry,” he croaked, absently lifting his hand to his neck in the choking gesture again. The simple touch of his fingers made him hurt so profoundly, he felt like crying as his eyes welled with tears.

“He’s having trouble speaking,” Eoghan supplied, putting his arm around Ari’s shoulder. “Come over here and sit,” he said, pointing to a nearby bench. He guided him over to it and Ari complied, only because he couldn’t speak well and at the same time, someone inside his noggin was banging cymbals, echoing hollowly inside his skull. The pain made it hard to think and at the moment, nothing sounded better to him than a long nap. At this point, he wasn’t sure he’d survive falling asleep and couldn’t stand the thought of how Eoghan would react if he didn’t wake up again.

“I can help your partner,” Gael told Eoghan, gesturing at his head and neck.

“How?” Eoghan asked suspiciously.

He simply nodded. “I-I can,” he said, seeming to hesitate just long enough to hold out one hand. In an instant, one fingernail lengthened, becoming a point. Ari stiffened but before he even had time to scoot back, Gael sliced his own inner arm open. Blood welled and then began pouring out of the wound as it opened wide.

“Why-d why—?” Eoghan shouted.

“Watch,” the merman shushed him. His fingernail once again returned to normal size and then he turned his palm upand held it out so that they could both see. Instantly, the center of his hand began to glow. The circle of red began to radiate out from the center, growing larger and larger until it filled his entire palm. “Feel my fire.” He nodded at his palm and Eoghan reached out. But, before he could get close, snatched his hand away.

“It’s hot.” He frowned as he exchanged a glance with Ari.

Ari shrugged, feeling his own head pound as his headache grew infinitely worse.

“The fire will heal.” With that, Gael instantly turned the palm and held it over his forearm. Ari watched in amazement as the sides of the wound began knitting themselves together. Within seconds, it had closed completely. He turned the palm up to show them, and Ari watched the glow fade to a tiny pinprick before completely disappearing.

“What the hell?” Eoghan said, reaching out but then stopping as he nodded at his hands. “Can I feel your palm and inspect the wound?”

“You may,” the merman said.

Ari watched as Eoghan did just as he’d asked, touching the man’s palm and then running his thumb over the place in Gael’s forearm where the skin had completely split only a few minutes before.

“I don’t believe it.” Eoghan looked at Ari. “It’s completely healed and cool to the touch.”

“Let him do it, Eoghan,” Ari gasped. “Feel like I’m dying,” he whispered disjointedly, feeling like his grip on consciousness was weak at best.

Eoghan frowned at him and then turned toward the merman. “Are you sure this won’t hurt him?” He sounded desperate.

“I promise it will not. I damaged your partner. Let me heal him,” Gael said.

Eoghan turned to Ari, looking undecided. Clearly, he was terrified of making a horrible mistake.

Ari nodded. “Please, Eoghan,” he croaked.

“Okay, fine. Do it, Gael.” Eoghan bit his thumbnail as they both watched Gael once again turn his palm over. The glow began in the center and then spread before he took a few steps closer.

Ari wasn’t surprised that Eoghan took his hand and held onto him tightly as the merman lifted his glowing hand and held it over the top of his head. Almost instantly, he felt warmth radiating over the crown of his head. It moved down to heat his face but not unpleasantly. In fact, as the heat moved lower, it felt like his entire being was being bathed in the warmth of sunshine from a summer’s day.

“Ari?” Eoghan questioned.

“It’s getting better, Eoghan.” He wasn’t kidding. The feeling was incredible. The temperature didn’t grow the least bit uncomfortable as Gael worked his magic. Instead, it simply felt as though he was being bathed in sunlight. Every hurt in his body fell away bit by bit and within a few minutes, the pain entirely vanished. Along with it, went the heat, and Ari opened his eyes again, noting the smile on Eoghan and Gael’s face as they each stared at him.

“Good?” Eoghan asked.

Ari sighed. “Perfect.” He reached up, testing his neck again with a hand and found absolutely no pain there. He twisted his head from side to side, nodding before smiling as he got to his feet. “Thank you.”

Gael reached out, and Ari took his hand, shaking it. “It was my fault. I am sorry.”

“It was my fault,” Ari said, noting that his voice was back to normal as well. “I was the intruder, but I acted on instinctwhen I saw a child under the water. I truly thought she was drowning.”