Connor wasn’t happy with the idea of anyone else holding his mate, but he relented. He handed Aislinn into the truck, giving her to Cole. Climbing in, he held his arms out to her. She immediately settled against him.
“I’ll try to keep the bumps down to a minimum, but I can’t help it if the roads are paved horribly,” Cole said as he closed the door.
Aislinn was quiet for most of the trip to the hospital. Every now and then, she would let out a cry or whimper of pain, but Cole kept to his word and tried to make the ride as smooth as possible for her. When they arrived at the ER, Connor held her close before passing her to Cole.
“When they ask you what happened, tell them you were attacked. If they ask you to describe your attacker, try to be vague. Understand?”
She nodded and went willingly to Cole while she waited on Connor to get out of the truck. Once she was back in Connor’s arms, she visibly relaxed.
Inside the ER was pandemonium. Lucas’s friend rushed over to greet them.
“You’re lucky that Lucas called ahead,” she told them. “Otherwise, you’d be here all night.”
“I don’t know that we have all night,” Cole said as he stepped aside so the nurse could see Aislinn.
The woman sucked in a breath and rushed off only to return a moment later with a gurney and two orderlies. “We’re going to take her back immediately. I’ll need one of you to stay and fill out her triage paperwork.”
Cole nodded to Connor. “You go with her. I’ll wait here for Gabriel and take care of the paperwork.”
Connor gently laid Aislinn down on the gurney. Holding her hand, he followed her into the back. “They’ll have you good as new in no time, honey.”
“What happened?” the nurse asked.
“I was attacked,” Aislinn whispered. It wasn’t entirely a lie. Hugh had, after all, attacked her.
“You poor thing! I’m going to put you in room nine and a doctor will be right with you.”
“Thank you,” Aislinn murmured.
The nurse nodded and ducked out of the room, leaving Aislinn and Connor alone.
“Connor?”
He pulled the chair closer to the bed. “What honey?”
“Have you ever heard of a Sorcerer or Wizard?”
He grinned. “You mean like in books?”
She shook her head. “I mean here, in Ashton Grove.”
The grin was replaced with a look of intense concentration. “I haven’t ever him. I actually thought the Sorcerer was just a myth. Why do you ask?”
“The Sorcerer? As in the only one?”
“From what I remember, he’s been around since the time of the Vikings. He’s popped into stories here and there throughout the ages, but what exactly he does is a little vague.”
“Is he a good guy?”
“I don’t know. Why are you so interested in the Sorcerer, Aislinn?”
Before she could respond, an orderly stepped into the room.
“Aislinn Walsh?”
“Yes,” she answered.
“We’re going to take you for some tests. Mr. Tierney, if you’ll wait here, we’ll bring her back as soon as we can.”
Connor nodded and watched as they wheeled Aislinn out of the room.
An hour later, the orderly brought Aislinn back to the ER room, asleep.
Connor stood when they brought her in. “Is she okay?”
The orderly smiled. “She’s just fine, Mr. Tierney. I think the tests wore her out a bit.”
“When will we know something?”
The orderly shook his head. “Hard to say. They ran three or four different tests. You just never know when the doctor will finish reviewing the results.”
Connor nodded.
“It’s probably best to let her get some sleep. Once the doctor comes in, there’s no telling what he’ll want to do.”
“I have family in the waiting room. Could you let them know what’s going on?” Connor asked.
“I’m sure she’ll be fine for a few minutes if you’d like to tell them yourself.”
Connor looked down at Aislinn. She was so pale and looked so small lying on the bed. “I guess I could go tell them the news and come right back.”
“If they move her, I’ll be sure to come tell you.”
Connor followed the orderly out of the room. He quickly walked to the ER waiting room to tell his family that they were waiting on test results.
Eric, invisible to the human eye, watched as Connor and the orderly left. His focus immediately shifted to Aislinn. As he neared the bed, he materialized.
“Why are you in the hospital, Aislinn?” he asked her softly.
Her eyes fluttered open and she gasped in surprise when she saw Eric. “Connor brought me.”
“He wouldn’t have brought you if you had taken his blood,” Eric pointed out.
“If it had worked, it would have proven I was his mate.”
Eric shook his head. “I’ve already told you that you’re his mate.”
“I can’t be. He deserves better.”
“You’re time is running out, Aislinn. You’re about to be out of options. When the doctor comes in, you’ll have to make a decision. Either accept that you’re his mate, or not.”
Aislinn swallowed and stared up at him. “What happens if I accept that I’m his mate?”
Eric smiled. “Then you can start your new life.”
“Just as easy as that?”
“Nothing in life is ever easy, Aislinn. You’ll still have the memories of your life with Hugh. And with those memories will still be the nightmares.”
Aislinn sighed. “I’ve had Hugh hanging over my head for a while now. I think I can live with that.”
Eric gave her a grim smile. “There’s more, sweetheart.”
“What?”
“You’ll be tested. No one gets a second life, even if it’s owed to them, without there being a price to pay.”
“What kind of test? What price?”
“The test is the price. If I told you what the test was, it wouldn’t be a test. You’ll know when you’re being tested, Aislinn. Just know that it won’t be easy.”
She nodded.
“Connor is coming back. I have to go.”
“But…”
Eric disappeared just as Connor walked through the door.
Chapter Four
Connor looked around the room and sniffed. With a growl, he focused on Aislinn.
“He’s been here, hasn’t he?”
She nodded. “He left just as you were coming in.”
“What did he want this time?”
“He said that if I stayed that I would be tested.”
Connor brushed her hair back from her face. “Tested how, Aislinn?”
“He didn’t say.”
Connor growled low in his throat. “I don’t like this guy. And I really don’t like that he shows up when I’m not around.”
“I’m fine,” she said softly, her strength starting to wane.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” Connor said.
A portly man with glasses entered, giving them a smile. “I’m Dr. Kent. You must be Aislinn,” he said looking at his patient.
“Yes, sir,” she mumbled.
“You are quite a remarkable lady.”
“What do you mean?” Connor asked.
“Well, she has three fractured ribs, one broken rib, and her right wrist is sprained. She has internal bleeding and a skull fracture. By all rights, she should be unconscious. How she’s able to sit up and talk is beyond me.”
Connor sank blindly into the chair beside Aislinn’s bed, the blood draining from his face. He’d known her injuries were bad, but he hadn’t realized just how bad.
“Now, before you get too carried away, Mr. Tierney, I should tell you that we plan on running more tests. This young woman is a miracle to say the least. We’re going to do everything we can for her.”
“I’d like a moment alone with her,” Connor
said quietly.
The doctor nodded and left the room.
Connor stared at Aislinn, dazed. “The Sorcerer must have kept you alive.”
“He said I would have a decision to make. I think I know now what he meant.”
He looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
“Will your blood heal all of my injuries?” she asked quietly.
Connor’s breath hitched in his throat. Was she asking because she planned on staying? “I’m not sure. I know Marin was severely injured when Cole found her, but nothing like your injuries.”
“Will you try?”
“What exactly are you asking me, Aislinn?”
“Will you try and heal me? Will you…” Aislinn paused. It was hard to form the words, but she knew she had to.
“Will I what?” he asked quietly.
“Will you let me stay with you? Will you…” No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t form the words will you accept me as your mate.
Connor gently squeezed her hand. “Yes.”
“But how? The doctor isn’t going to let you inject me with anything.”
“Let me worry about that.”
Connor stood and opened the door. Sticking his head into the hall, he waited until Lucas’s friend walked back. Flagging her down, he asked a question he hoped wouldn’t be impossible.
“I need a syringe.”
She gave him a questioning look and opened her mouth to respond.
He held up a hand. “Please, I can’t answer the question your about to ask, just know that it’s going to help Aislinn.”
“Does this have anything to do with Lucas and his secrecy?” the nurse asked.
Connor gave her a grim smile. “I’m afraid so.”
She nodded. “Give me a minute and I’ll bring it to you.”
“Thank you.”
Connor closed the door and sat down beside Aislinn again. He held her hand, stroking her fingers. He’d never tried to heal anyone before. The thought of losing her scared him to death. What if it was too late? What if her injuries were too severe for the blood to work?
“Connor, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he said, flashing her a grin. “Just anxious for the nurse to return.”
“If… if it doesn’t work, I want you to know that I appreciate what you’ve done for me.”
“It’s going to work,” he said, squaring his jaw in determination.
“But if it doesn’t… it’s been a long time since anyone has cared about what happened to me. I’m glad I met you, Connor.”
The door opened and the nurse stuck her head inside. “Here’s the syringe,” she said in a hushed voice.
Connor got up and took it from her. “Thanks.”
She nodded and slipped back out of the room, closing the door firmly behind her.
Connor took a breath and faced Aislinn. “This might be easier if I were sitting behind you.”
“I don’t mind,” she said weakly, “but I can’t sit up on my own.”
Connor helped her into a sitting position and climbed onto the bed behind her. Settling her body between his legs, he wrapped an arm around her, letting her head fall back against his chest.
“Are you comfortable?” he asked, his voice rumbling through his chest under her ear.
She nodded.
Taking the syringe, he uncapped the needle and stuck it in his arm, withdrawing as much blood as he could. He pulled the needle out.
“Before I inject you, I need to get a Band-Aid. You won’t heal as quickly as I do.”
Aislinn looked at the injection site on his arm and realized it had already closed.
Connor rummaged in the drawers until he found an adhesive strip.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
She nodded and curled against him. Extending her arm, she tried to relax. She winced when the needle pricked her skin, but Connor’s murmured words of comfort helped.
He had just put the bandage on her arm and deposited the needle in the biohazard tub when the door opened again.
“We’d like to run some blood tests,” Dr. Kent said. “We’d like to figure out how it is she’s survived this long.”
“Dr. Kent, we appreciate all you’ve done, but if her injuries are as severe as you say I’d rather take her home for however long she has left.”
Dr. Kent narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips, his displeasure apparent. “I can’t stop you from checking her out of the hospital, but I would advise against it.”
“I understand,” Connor said, “but I think we’ll take our chances at home. At least she can be comfortable there.”
The doctor nodded. “I’ll draw up her release paperwork, but you should know that it will say she’s being released against doctor’s orders.”
“I understand.”
“Connor?” Asilinn said softly.
“What?” he asked, shifting her so that her body was more comfortable.
“Thank you for taking care of me.”
He grinned. “It’s my pleasure, sweetheart.”
While they waited on someone to bring Aislinn’s discharge papers, Connor absently rubbed her arm, lulling her to sleep. He buried his nose in her hair and breathed in her scent. Connor couldn’t remember a time when he had felt so content just holding someone. He only hoped his blood would be enough to heal her. Now that he’d found his mate, he didn’t want to lose her.
An hour later, a portly nurse walked in carrying a clipboard.
“I have your discharge papers ready,” she said in a no nonsense voice.
Aislinn stirred from her nap and opened her eyes.
“Did you hear that? You get to go home,” Connor said with a smile on his face.
Aislinn gave him a half-hearted grin and buried her face against him. Still tired, she closed her eyes again.
“I’m afraid I need Ms. Walsh to sign the papers,” the nurse said.
Connor hugged Aislinn and whispered in her ear, “Come on, honey. You have to wake up now. The nurse needs you to sign some papers.”
Aislinn snuggled closer to Connor.
“Aislinn, if you don’t sign the papers, they won’t let you go home.”
Aislinn lifted her head and scowled at him. Turning to the nurse, she held her hand out for the clipboard. Signing on all of the highlighted lines, she handed the papers back to the nurse.
“Okay, Ms. Walsh, you’re ready to go,” the nurse said.
“That’s it?” Connor asked in surprise.
“Since you’re declining medical attention, she won’t have anything to take home with her other than the receipt showing she was here. We can’t send medical advice home with someone who doesn’t want to be treated.”
Connor nodded. “Well, thank you for your time.”
He gently shifted Aislinn, lifting her into his arms and got out of the hospital bed. Carrying her, he headed for the ER lobby and his family.
Chapter Five
Later that evening, Cassie and Matt stopped by after having heard about the excitement from Kiera. If Connor was surprised to see them, he didn’t give any indication.
“So, where is she?” Cassie asked with a smile.
“In the bedroom, resting.”
Cassie lifted a small plastic bag. “We stopped and did some shopping on the way here.”
Connor sighed. “I should have known. Alright, go on in, but try not to wake her if she’s still sleeping.”
Cassie grinned at him and hurried through the living room to the bedroom, leaving Matt and Connor alone.
“How is she?” Matt asked.
Connor shrugged. “It’s too soon to know if my blood was enough to heal her or not.”
Matt nodded. “Let us know if we can help in any way.”
Connor rubbed a hand across his jaw. “Now that you mention it, I don’t want to leave her alone when I have to return to work on Monday. Do you think Cassie would come and sit with her?”
Matt smiled. “I bet she would be delighted to.
The kids are staying with their grandparents next week for spring break so she’ll have plenty of time on her hands.”
“Thanks. I’ll feel better knowing someone’s here with her.”
“You never know. She may be good as new by Monday. You have the whole weekend.”
Connor nodded. “True, but she’s …”
“She’s what?”
“He nearly killed her. She has broken and fractured ribs, a skull fracture and a laundry list of other injuries. The doctor said it was a miracle she was alive.”
Matt placed a hand on his shoulder. “But she is alive. That’s what counts.”
In the bedroom, Cassie quietly approached the bed. She didn’t want to disturb Aislinn if she was sleeping, but she wanted to get a closer look at Connor’s mate. She looked over her shoulder at the closed door, hoping no one would walk in. She didn’t just have clothes and toiletries in the sack. She’d also prepared a spell.
Taking out her anointed candles, she placed them strategically around the bed and the sleeping woman. Pulling a piece of paper out of the sack, she took a steadying breath.
Goddess of love and light
Embrace this woman with your power.
Make the wrongs right.
Heal her hour by hour.
Wrap her in your arms,
Bathe her in your love.
Let her come to no harm,
Protect her from above.
Sprinkling a powder of lavender, sage, and patchouli around the bed, she thanked the goddess for assisting with her spell. Putting everything back in the bag, she pulled out the clothes she’d brought. Laying them across the back of the chair in the corner, she turned back toward the bed.
“You poor thing,” she murmured, eyeing the bruises covering Aislinn.
Quietly slipping from the room, she left Connor’s mate to her rest. It would be a miracle if she survived the night, but at least Cassie knew she had tried to help. Between her spell and Connor’s blood, the young woman in the bed might just have a fighting chance.
Following the voices of her husband and Connor, she found them in the kitchen. “I left some clothes in the chair for her, but I doubt she’ll feel up to wearing them for another few days.”
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