Page 321 of Redeemed

In typical little sister fashion, Rora ignores me. She’s looking around frantically. “Where’s Theo?”

“Theo—wait, is he the one who told you about this?”

What the hell was he thinking?

“Where is he, Luc?! Is he okay?”

“He’ll be here in—” I pause as another armored truck pulls up next to ours. “He’s in there.”

She takes off before I can stop her. The door opens, and Theo is the first one out. He’s still in his gear, and when he sees Rora, he freezes. She barrels into him, and his arms lock around her protectively while he stares down at her in confusion.

For some reason, that makes Athelia frown. She scans the area until she finds whatever it is she’s looking for. Her eyes widen, and her face pales. “Wes?”

I follow her gaze, immediately understanding why. Wes is slowly getting out of the van. His pants are soaked with blood, and he looks like he’s about to pass out.

Athelia takes off toward him, and I’m right on her heels. She grabs onto him just as Wes starts swaying.

With a tired smile, Wes twists a strand of Athelia’s dark green hair around his finger. “There’s my girl. Was wondering where you were.”

“Wes, sit down. You—oh!” Her knees buckle as Wes collapses. She tries to keep him upright, but she’s not strong enough.

“Cal,” I shout as I take the bulk of Wes’s weight. “Get over here!”

Athelia scrambles out of the way as Cal rushes over. He jumps into the van and flings his medical kit open as I pull Wes inside and lay him out on the floor.

“Put pressure on it,” Cal commands as he pulls out the supplies he needs. “And for fuck’s sake, Wes,say somethingnext time.”

“Wanted… wanted you to do Haven first.”

Shit.He already sounds weak.

Cal shakes his head. “Goddammit, Carver. You’re an idiot, you know that?”

Wes winces when I press against the wound on his thigh. He’s already lost a lot of blood. Potentially too much.

“Thelia,” Cal says, “I need you to find someone here who has an O negative blood type.”

“Xander does,” I blurt.

“Then get him over here.Now.”

I look around to find him, only to realize that he’s already sprinting over with Kellan.

“Heard you say my name?”

“Wes needs blood,” I say.

“Shit,” Kellan mutters. “Is he unconscious?”

“Fading in and out,” Cal replies. “Xander, get in here.”

Carefully, Xander climbs into the van and pushes his sleeve up. “Ready when you are.”

Athelia turns and buries her face in Kellan’s chest while Cal gets the blood transfusion set up.

“Keep your arm raised,” Cal tells Xander. “We need gravity on our side. Lucas, keep pressing hard while I cut his jeans off.”

“You got it. Athelia, where’s Haven?”

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