Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88235 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88235 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“I will not put you down,” he growled at her. “You’re fucking injured.”
But though his deep voice sounded irritated, Vicky couldn’t help but notice that he was holding her daughter very carefully—almost tenderly—cradled against his muscular chest.
“Oh, there she is—Mom!” Jodi cried, relief filling her face. “Mom, I’m so glad you’re okay!” Her face went from relieved to worried. “You are okay, right? You have blood on your cheek and neck!”
Vicky reached up to touch the stinging scratches the Varian had made on her skin but she wasn’t in the least worried about herself.
“I’m fine,” she told Jodi. “What happened to you? And where is your sister—please tell me you’re both all right!”
“We’re both fine, Mom,” Jodi assured her. And, just as Vicky felt relief flooding her like a sweet river, she added, “We fell out of the spooky tree when one of those lizard guys shook it. I only twisted my ankle but I think Melli’s leg is broken.”
“Broken? Oh my God!” Vicky’s relief evaporated and she went into total mom-mode at once. “Where is she? Has anyone called an ambulance? We need to get her to the doctor!”
“Please don’t worry,” the Beast Kindred holding Jodi said. “My friend Liosh is with your other daughter and she seems to be in stable condition.”
“He says it’s not a compound fracture, Mom,” Jodi said. “I mean, the bone isn’t sticking out of her leg or anything. But she’s in a lot of pain.”
“We need to get all three of you back to the Mother Ship for immediate treatment,” Chain said, speaking up at last. “They have technology there that far surpasses any medicine you have here on Earth.”
Vicky was sure he was probably right. She’d had a brief glimpse into the Med Center—the Kindred version of a hospital and ER—on her last trip to the Mother Ship and what she’d seen had greatly impressed her.
“All right,” she said. “Let’s go but first I want to see Melli.”
“You can ride with her in the back of our ship,” the Beast Kindred said.
“And I’ll follow in mine.” Chain grabbed her hand and squeezed briefly. “We’ll talk later, after everyone you love had been taken care of.”
“All right.” Vicky felt her heart flutter at the intense way he was looking at her but she was still in mom-mode and right now she didn’t have time for herself—she was more worried about her daughters.
Chapter Forty-three
Melli was white-faced and being held in the lap of a young Blood Kindred, who looked to be only a few years older than she was. He was sitting on the grassy ground under the spooky tree and cradling her in his arms, much the same way the Beast Kindred was cradling Jodi.
“Mom!” she said, reaching for Vicky as her worried face broke into a smile. “Oh God, I’m so glad you’re okay! Jodi and I were so worried. That’s why she got Vorn to take her up to check on you.”
“I did not ask him to take me up.” Jodi sounded exasperated, speaking from her perch in the Beast Kindred’s arms. “I told him I would go up myself but he wouldn’t let me.”
“You’re injured,” the Beast Kindred rumbled, frowning down at her. “And though we were fairly certain the fighting was over, I couldn’t let you go alone. It would have been wrong not to protect a female in danger.”
“Will you listen to this Neanderthal?” Jodi exclaimed. “Hey, buddy, I can take care of myself!” She poked the Beast Kindred in his broad chest. He winced but didn’t let her go.
“You two stop fighting and pay attention to me,” Melli demanded, which made both Vicky and Jodi smile, as she had no doubt known it would.
“Honey, how do you feel?” Vicky put a hand on her daughter’s forehead out of instinct, though of course the problem was her lower leg, which had a bulge on one side where it shouldn’t be, not a fever.
“Pretty bad,” Melli admitted in a low voice. “The old spooky tree got me after all, Mom. I always knew it would.”
“Do you think you can make it to the Mother Ship?” Vicky asked. “Chain thinks they have much better medical technology there than if we took you to the ER here and I’m inclined to agree with him.”
“Oh, so that’s Chain, the famous Valentine’s date?” Jodi exclaimed, looking at Chain who had come with them and was kneeling beside Vicky as she sat on the ground talking to Melli.
“Yes, I am your mother’s Valentine’s date,” Chain said gravely, nodding at her. “I’m very pleased to meet you—both of you,” he said, including Melli in the conversation. “I can see that you both have your mother’s beauty—although you must excuse me for saying she is the most beautiful of all.”
He gave Victoria a meaningful look that made her blush and clear her throat.