Page 49 of Dragon's Revenge

“He needs you,” Delton said to Erwan, who sat slumped in one of the chairs, looking pale and exhausted. He hadn’t been himself since he’d returned from Sweden without Rhene, and Delton couldn’t even imagine what the man was going through. But right now, none of that mattered.

Erwan looked up. “Excuse me?”

Delton gently moved Oliver until the omega was leaning against the wall, then pushed himself up. His legs stung from sitting for so long, like a thousand needles were pricking him, but he ignored it. “Adar needs you. He needs the White Dragon.”

“I don’t… He’s a wolf. I don’t know what I can do for him.”

Delton shook his head, his voice gaining an urgency that seemed to come from deep inside him. “It doesn’t matter. You and Rhene are one, and so are the pack and the clan. We’re the same, united in power. And he got hurt defending a dragon—Oliver. Your dragon can heal him.”

Erwan rose on shaky legs. “Heal him? Delton, I don’t know if?—”

Delton took a step toward him. “Please, Erwan. He needs you. I can’t explain it, but he does.”

Erwan slowly straightened, squaring his shoulders. “Tell me what to do, what your intuition is telling you.”

Just then, Enar stepped into the waiting room. His surgical scrubs were covered in blood, and his hands shook as he reached up and took off his mask, then removed his surgical cap.

“How is he?” Delton asked as Oliver scrambled to his feet and took Delton’s hand. The omega’s hand was ice cold.

Enar took a deep breath, his face pale and grave. “Quico has done extra surgical training as a pediatrician and knew what to do. When he opened him up, we confirmed what we saw on the scan, that he had severe internal bleeding. We removed his spleen and finally managed to stop the bleeding, but he’s lost a lot of blood. We’re really not equipped to handle these kinds of emergencies, nor are we experienced in this kind of surgery, but of course, we had little choice.”

“Will he make it?” Oliver asked, and even under the circumstances, Delton was so proud of him for using his voice. It wouldn’t have surprised him if Oliver had retreated again into his nonverbal safety, but he hadn’t.

“We don’t know. I wish I had better news, but we honestly don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see how he makes it through the next forty-eight hours. A complicating factor is that he has a rare blood type, AB negative. No one else in either pack or the clan has it, and right now, a blood transfusion with that blood type would really help him.”

Delton swallowed. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for him. C-can Erwan see him?”

Enar looked puzzled. “Erwan?”

“Delton feels strongly that I should see Adar. He thinks I may be able to do something as the White Dragon.” Erwan sounded apologetic, and Delton didn’t like it one bit.

“You have to believe it. You have to believe in the power you’ve been gifted,” he said, and it came out more sharply than he’d intended.

Erwan cringed a little. “I’m sorry. I’m just not sure if…”

Yeah, that wouldn’t do at all. Delton stepped close to him and put both hands on Erwan’s shoulders. “I know you miss Rhene and that you’re worried about him. We all are, and I can’t even imagine what you’re going through, being separated from your mate for so long. And I understand it’s a distraction that weighs on you heavily. But that’smymate inside there, and he needs you. Right now, there’s nothing you or anyone can do for Rhene, but youcando something for Adar. Youcanstep into that room and be the White Dragon. Youcanlet the power you’ve been gifted fill you and use it to heal him. Youcando what Enar and the others can’t.”

With every word he’d spoken, Erwan had stood a little straighter, color filling his cheeks and energy bubbling from his posture as if, somehow, Delton’s words had been the proverbial kick in the pants he’d needed.

“You’re right,” he said, sounding far more confident than before. “You’re absolutely right. Enar, can I see him?”

Enar nodded. “We’ve moved him into a room so you can come in and watch,” he said to Delton and Oliver.

Hand in hand, the two of them followed Enar and Erwan into a small room. Adar lay motionless in a bed, and Delton hadn’t thought it possible, but he looked even worse than before. More bruises had bloomed on his face, which was completely swollen and covered in all colors of the rainbow. His upper body was bare but wrapped with bandages from the surgery, and he was clearly in a lot of pain.

Delton fought back a gasp. He had to be strong for Oliver, or the poor omega would lose it.

“We’ll stand here,” he said softly, positioning himself with his back against the far wall, placing Oliver in front of him with his back against Delton’s chest so he could hold him close.

Erwan took a sharp inhale but then stepped close to the bed. “Can I touch him?” he checked with Enar, who nodded.

“Keep it light, and don’t touch his abdomen.”

Enar stepped back as well, and only Erwan remained, staring at Adar for a long time. “I’m sorry I didn’t see what Dempsey was doing. I should have.” He caressed Adar’s hair almost tenderly. “I’m in your debt, and I will not forget it. And thank you for what you did for Oliver. You exacted revenge and found justice for him, even if it was a small fraction of what Dempsey deserved. He will never inflict pain upon anyone ever again, thanks to you.”

He closed his eyes, his hands now resting on Adar’s forehead, and the alpha let out a soft groan. “The gods have found honor in you,laoch. You have been found worthy of their blessing.”

A breeze drifted through the room, gentle as a feather, yet it sent shivers down Delton’s spine. Something was stirring, moving.

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