Page 16 of Gargoyle Reaper

Cassiel nodded. “Yes. I unsealed them.”

Ezekiel dipped his chin, as he ushered them inside. “Archer! I need your help.”

Archer hesitated, his eyes wide as he stared at the sight of the injured Slayers. Then, as if a switch had been flipped, he rushed forward alongside Ezekiel.

Ezekiel gestured to Cassiel. “She can fill you in while I reseal the wards. It’ll only take a few minutes. Start triage until I return.”

Ezekiel rushed to reinstate the wards. The way the Slayers had been checking behind them had him on edge. He hoped it didn’t mean they’d been followed. The lairs were a closely guarded secret. The attack in L.A. when Dante’s mate Amir was almost killed was the first they’d ever faced.

Once he was comfortable that the lair was protected, he rushed back inside. Archer glanced up from where he was crouched on the floor, checking Darius. His features a study in relief the moment they locked eyes.

"What happened?" Archer asked while assessing Darius' wounds. “Is all this from back at the bank?”

Ezekiel helped Archer lower Darius onto an ornate pew lining the hall. He seemed to be going in and out of consciousness, and Ezekiel knew they didn’t have time to waste on talk.

“I don’t know. I thought we had the advantage, were prepared.” He drew his eyebrows together. “Have you determined what his injuries are?”

Archer indicated to Darius’ right arm. “This laceration is the most obvious wound, but I’m concerned by how incoherent he is. Do you have any medical equipment here? He needs a CAT Scan at the very least, and that’s not something I’m qualified to do. I can read the results, but I’m not a medical technician.”

Ezekiel placed his palm at the base of Darius’ skull. “That’s all right, dearest. We don’t utilize that type of medicine here.”

Archer pinched the bridge of his nose. “I guess I should’ve seen that coming,” he muttered. “Okay. Then you’ll need to guide me through gargoyle protocol. I can dress wounds, do stitches, set broken bones without issue. Anything else you’ll have to talk me through.”

Ezekiel regarded his mate with affection. “I have a feeling you’ll find your place as a healer on your own. But of course, I’m here to help however I can.”

He returned his attention to Darius, the cloud in his colleague’s mind from more than a physical injury. As he’d feared all along, the drain on his spirit would be immense. Perhaps that was the rogue demons’ plan. They didn’t have to kill every Shadow Slayer, only injuring them enough that healing the ranks would be next to impossible. They could strike and run before losing too many of their own army.

Slow and deadly wins the race.

Archer had been studying him while he worked on Darius, but now he needed his help tending to the physical injuries Archer could handle.

“Dearest, check on Cassiel, please. She would’ve taken the other Slayers to the infirmary. It's down the hall, third door on the left. While you’re there, perform a triage, then grab whatever you need to dress Darius’ arm.”

Right as Archer rose, Cassiel appeared around the corner, pressing a hand to her own bleeding side. “Hey, I could use some help with the other guys back there.”

Ezekiel frowned. “Looks like you’re the one who could use the help.”

“I’ll live.” She jerked her chin toward Darius. “How’s he doing? He got slammed against a wall several times pretty damn hard.”

Ezekiel wrapped his palm around Darius’ nape, letting his fingers be guided to the parts of Darius’ brain where light was needed the most.

“Sorry we couldn’t stay and help. Was the security footage wiped clean before you left?”

Cassiel huffed, then winced again. “What do you think this is? Amateur hour? Yeah, I zapped that shit clean before we bailed.” She sighed. “However, it wasn’t the bank wall that Darius was smashed against. That was in an alley about a block away.” She arched one eyebrow. “The one we left the cycle at. It was an ambush. Shadow gargoyles were waiting for us. We barely made it out."

Ezekiel’s gut clenched. “They’re being awfully brazen, aren’t they?”

Cassiel sank on the pew next to Darius. “The Seal of Solomon that Amir found seems to have tipped the scales of desperation for them. I’m guessing the latest relic was a biggie too?”

The darkness pushed against the light Ezekiel was sending into Darius’ brain. He needed more focus. “The Mary Magdalene Amulet.”

Her jaw went slack. “The one given to her by the Superstar Himself at the tomb?”

“That would be the one.” Ezekiel screwed his eyes shut. “I need to concentrate. Can you bring Archer to the infirmary?” He opened his eyes, catching her gaze to make sure she understood how serious he was. “Let him decide who gets treated first. If he says you’re his first customer, don’t argue.”

“Whatever,” she mumbled.

“Cassiel, Imeanit,” he growled.

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