Page 159 of The Satyr's Guilt
She and the vampire carried him back to themetal slab to wait for the healer.
Pulling up a stool, she tangled her fingersin his hair, needing the contact, a balm. She loved Ram even if hecouldn’t return the favor.
Two healers raced into the lab, carrying astretcher. They transferred Ram to it. Denim grasped his hand,walking alongside as they ran for a truck the medics had moved fromthe staging area to the center of the compound. They’d drive it toa portal and on to the medical center.
Ram raised a hand before they loaded himonboard. “Varik’s dead. He killed himself rather than face moretorture. Two officers, one a general and the other a colonel, werehere. I think they flew off in a helicopter with the vampire’s bodyand Dr. Messenger. Mars could have been on it, too. All my fault.”Ram’s voice was scratchy.
Kole met them at the vehicle, otherFirebrands gathered around. “Son. Glad to see you again.”
Ram once-overed the warriors. “Anydead?”
Jarek said, “Three seriously injured, buthealers are on it. They’ll be fine.”
“No bodies,” said Nace. “Lots of minorinjuries. Major ones sent to the experts. All’s well.”
Dax wiped blood from his jaw, his fangsstill sharp and prominent. “Your Denim cooked up a storm.”
The satyr’s voice was slurred and raspy. “Myfault. All my fault. Dante was my father-in-law, Jonquil’sgrandfather. This was about revenge.” He paused while Firebrandsshuffled their feet and whispered in surprise. “If I…”
“If, if, if. When did you become such awuss, son? Where’s the pig-headed, arrogant asshole we know andlove? If you had never hooked up with the female, you wouldn’t haveJonquil. She’s a decent female. Could be Firebrand material oneday. Any of us could have triggered our exposure. Fact is, we’velived a charmed life for fifteen hundred years. So, shut the fuckup and carry on. Now, I’m going home so my mate can kiss myboo-boos. Maybe it’ll give her other ideas.”
The Firebrands whooped, pounded shields, andbanged spears on the ground, the noise swelling until it was adeafening roar.
Brak guy-punched Ram’s shoulder. “Now,there’s a pep talk to remember. One of Kole’s best. You missed hisgabfest before the attack. Brought tears to my eyes.”
The satyr flinched.
“Sorry.”
Denim squeezed Ram’s hand tighter.
“I don’t deserve you, doll.”
“But you’re stuck with me.”
“It goes both ways. Did we get the femalevamp?” asked Ram.
“Got her,” said Sabine. “A healer tookher.”
Ram eyed Denim. “Home?”
“Are you nuts? You’re almost dead. Heldtogether with chewing gum and tape. The Ministry of Well Being.I’ll call Jonquil.”
“No. She can’t see me like this. Home.” Heglanced down at his chest, which still seeped blood.
“No. She’s worried. We do this my way.”
“Bossy female.”
“Have to be with you. You never listen.”
“In full disclosure, you need to know I’mabout to pass out.”
One of the healers shot her eyes to the sky.“Is the gabfest over? Can I get this male to the medical facility?He’s not out of the woods. Are you riding along?”
“Try to keep me out.”
When they loaded an unconscious Ram into theback end of the truck, the island returned to normal, birdschirping, insects buzzing, and bent cypresses stroking the surfaceof water.
