Page 62 of Discovered Magic
“Gone?”
“Bart Mercer abducted her.” Draven’s rage for the man was building, and if he didn’t get it under control, it could be catastrophic. His unleashed power could rival Abbie’s.
Jonas shrugged into his duster and strapped on his belt. “Which way did he go?”
“I do not know, but if I had to guess, the caves where we found her.”
Evie touched his arm, halting him from leaving. “Let’s use our heads, Jonas. First, we heal Abbie’s young man. Then we find her.”
“You don’t know the kind of man Bart is, Aunt Evie.”
“I’ve been around a great many years, my dear. Trust me, I’ve seen his type before. But remember, our girl has a built-in defense mechanism.”
“If that’s true, how did he abduct her in the first place?” Jonas countered.
“Wilder said she was knocked unconscious. It could explain why she was easily taken, oui?”
“Where is he now?” Evie asked.
“His room at the hotel. Alone.”
“Follow me, fellas.” Without waiting for them, she blinked away.
“Uncle Nate is going to kill me if she gets hurt,” Jonas muttered.
“Then we must make sure ta tante est safe, mon ami. Let us go.”
Within minutes of everyone leaving Wilder, they’d reconvened in his room with reinforcements. Castor, the first to arrive, told him Roxanne hadn’t gotten a clear vision of Abbie’s abduction.
Jonas grimaced. “Sometimes it happens that way for her if she is too busy. Apparently, her mind needs to be calm to receive messages.”
“All right, let’s get to this.” Evie clapped her hands before pointing everyone to a corner of the bed. “Don’t let him move. And Draven, please remove whatever incantation you used to stop the bleeding for me to work.”
Castor, Jonas, and Draven each braced their weight on Wilder for the bullet extraction. Despite the numbness from his waist down, the point of entry still hurt like a bitch as she gently probed the opening to find the slug. Evie was remarkably skilled, performing the task with the expertise of a neurosurgeon.
Wilder held back as best he could by biting on the leather strap Jonas provided, only crying out once during the procedure. Although the pain was the greatest he’d experienced, it was nothing next to the loss of Abbie on the mountain that day. If he had to face the same type of torment again, he’d not survive it. Hell, he wouldn’t want to.
“Okay, that’s got it,” Evie announced. “Now, to stitch him up. I don’t need you fellas for this. Go bring our girl home.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jonas dropped to one knee and twisted his torso so Wilder could see him. “I won’t rest until she’s safe. You have my word.”
“Thank you,” he said gruffly. “If you leave me a horse, I’ll follow as soon as I can.”
Castor pressed a hand to his shoulder. “You can be sure I’ll do what’s necessary to find my daughter.”
“Rest up. We intend to have her home before dawn,” the sheriff promised.
In a flash, they were gone, leaving Wilder alone with his great-great-grandmother.
“I can’t thank you enough, Evie.”
“There’s no need, though I do admire your pretty manners. Nathanial would be especially proud if he were here.”
She laid a hand on the back of his head, and he’d have sworn he could feel her love flow through him. The urge to cry was strong, and he barely suppressed a sob.
“Trust Jonas and Draven, my dear. They won’t let you down. And Abbie’s father has added incentive to find her.”
“I know, but I despise feeling helpless.”
