Page 43 of The Guardian (Dark-Hunter 20)
Chapter 14
Jaden hesitated before he answered. "Yes, you can teleport him out of here, but you have to understand something before you do. In the condition he's in, he won't be able to help you in any way. None. Noir and Azura have his powers sucked down to virtually nothing, and by returning yours to you, he is literally drained to the level of a human. He's defenseless right now. He can't even move."
It didn't matter. She wasn't about to leave him here. Not like that. Not after he'd sacrificed himself to keep her safe. Only a heartless bitch could do such a thing. And she might be a lot of things in life, but that had never been one of them.
She blinked away her tears. Later she'd cry. Right now, she had to stay on task. "I don't care. I won't leave him."
His features softened. "Thank you."
She didn't understand his gratitude. "For what?"
"For being the woman I thought you were. You've no idea how rare a beast that is."
Before she could stop herself, she hugged him for his kindness.
Jaden held her tight, as if he were trying to commit this to memory because he knew he wouldn't have anyone else hug him for a long time.
If ever again.
Lydia stepped back from him. "Are you sure you can't come with us?"
"Positive. If I break my word and leave against Azura's wishes, someone a lot more important to me than I am will be hurt. I can't do that."
She understood and she hated it for him. He didn't deserve to be here any more than Seth did.
As she started back to the bed, Jaden stopped her. "Where will you take him?"
"I don't know. I doubt it'll be safe at home. If the ones after me found me here, then they most likely know where I live. Same thing for Solin's place."
"Do you have any friends?"
"Not really." In spite of her talks with Seth, she had a hard time trusting people, too. Plus being immortal made it difficult to have humans as friends. They tended to notice when she didn't age.
"Then you should go to Sanctuary."
She frowned. "Sanctuary?"
"It's a bar in New Orleans that's owned by a group of Ursulans."
Her heart clenched in fear. By nature, both the Katagaria and Arcadian branches of Were-Hunters were highly territorial. They couldn't stand for another species to enter their domain. Many times, such an action would start all-out war. That was the last thing she needed.
Not to mention, bears and jackals were mortal enemies.
"I can't go there. They'll kill me."
"No, they won't. I swear. The Peltiers are different. It's run by an Arcadian bear named Aimee and her Katagari mate, a wolf named Fang. They have doctors there who can help you with Seth. It's your best shot."
"An Arcadian mated to a Katagari?" She'd never heard of such a thing, never mind the fact that they were two different species.
"I told you, they're different."
She wanted to believe him, but ... "You're sure they won't hurt us?"
"Positive. They'll welcome you both, and do you no harm."
Please don't be lying to me.
But why would he? He really did seem concerned about Seth. You keep telling Seth to trust other people. It's your turn to put some faith in them.
Realizing the truth of that, she nodded, then returned to the bed where Seth lay.
He opened his eyes and cursed obscenely when he saw her again.
"Nice to see you, too, beast." She smiled at him and brushed the hair back from his bruised cheek. "I told you if you returned my powers that I'd get you out of here. Just so you know, I keep my word."
Seth didn't know what stunned him most. The fact that she'd come back for him or the feather-light kiss she brushed against his lips.
Even through his vicious, biting pain, both of those warmed him completely. And when she pulled back, he suddenly found himself in a strange room with red brick walls and no windows. He lay on a small, thin bed that was surrounded by strange steel and glass cabinets, the likes of which he'd never seen before.
Where was he?
Was this another hell realm?
The door behind Lydia flew open so fast, it rattled on its hinges. Three large men came in, ready for battle.
Grinding his teeth against the pain he knew would come, he put his arm out to block Lydia from them and sat up.
Too late, he realized that was a bad mistake as unimaginable agony ripped through him and stole his strength. His head swam and vision dimmed. But he refused to pass out and leave her to them.
He groaned out loud as the pain increased even more. It was absolutely killing him.
"Seth!" Lydia wrapped her arms around his shoulders and laid him back against the bed with a care that amazed him. Her lips touched his ear as she held him close and trembled against his body.
In that moment, he wanted to die with her like that. Wrapped around him, offering him comfort. Especially if it was a lie and she really didn't care about him. He didn't want to live and discover the truth.
The men came forward and surrounded his bed.
Seth tried to summon his strength to fight. How could he protect her?
I'm worthless.
The one with long black hair braided down his back placed a hand on Lydia's arm. "We'll take care of him."
Seth shoved him away. "Don't touch her!"
Instead of making him mad, the man offered him a smile as he moved her further away from the bed. "My name is Carson and it's all right. We won't hurt her or you."
Seth wasn't sure if he believed him. But what choice did he have? It was bad enough that he was injured to the point he could barely move. He was also bare-assed naked. Gods, just what he needed.
