Page 91 of Unbroken Magic

He looked at her. She just shook her head. “Oh, Virtus. It doesn’t matter if we couldn’t do anything to help. We’re your family. We would have made things easier for you.”

I slid closer and gently petted his silky ear, careful to stay away from his wing. He nuzzled my hand. Eldan looked up.

“This will be the worst part, but it won’t last long.”

“You’ve got this,” I murmured in Virtus’s ear. To my left, Kyla nuzzled into the griffin. Danica held his gaze, while Nathaniel began a low hum that caused more than one wolf in the room to turn heavy-lidded.

Ryker and Hunter held Virtus still.

I couldn’t look. All I could do was close my eyes and shudder as he let out a roar.

“Almost done.” Eldan’s voice was tight. “Beginning the healing now.”

I felt Virtus go limp and opened my eyes as he was guided down. His wing was bloody in places, and I could see several parts where he was missing bone—particularly near the joint connecting it to his back. But it was straight.

“I’ll need to see him first thing in the morning, for more healing and to check that the bone has begun to regrow,” Eldan said.

“Stay the night,” Nathaniel offered. “We have more than enough room, and you must be exhausted.”

Eldan hesitated, but Tobias stepped closer from where he’d been leaning against the wall. “It’s Mexican night,” he told him. “I’ll show you to your room.”

There were very few people who could argue successfully with Tobias—especially when he mentioned his food. Eldan caved, and a few minutes later, Nathaniel had placed a blanket over the griffin, who’d fallen into a healing sleep.

“Do you have another healer here?” Vas asked Nathaniel.

“Yes.” Nathaniel glanced at him. “You need to see her?”

“Meredith does.”

Mere pinned him with a look from where she’d been gently running her hand over Virtus’s head. “Vassago,” she said warningly, and I couldn’t help but grin.

“You’re losing weight, baby. Please.”

Nathaniel angled his head. “Is something wrong?”

“Morning sickness,” I said.

Tobias beamed at Mere. “Congratulations. We have something that could help.”

Surprise flickered across her face. “You do?”

“Our people distrusted magic for a long time. It is only recently that Nathaniel has begun using fae healers. But we are creatures of the forest, and the forest has long provided.”

“Uh, what does that mean?”

“He means we have a tea that suppresses nausea. Totally safe for pregnancy.” Naomi had stepped into the room, and she gave Virtus a guilty, pitying look. She’d disappeared once he started roaring. I didn’t judge her for it. I had a feeling she’d done it so she wouldn’t slit Eldan’s throat when he caused Virtus that much pain. “The human mates have all used it for decades.”

Hope danced in Mere’s eyes. “I’d love to try it.”

“The meeting is officially happening. We need to get to the tower,” Danica said, glancing up from her phone. “Why don’t you guys meet us there?”

Within a few minutes, we were all piling into separate cars. Kyla and Danica rode with us. “It’s cute seeing Vas fuss over Mere,” Danica said. “I haven’t been here enough. I hadn’t even known she was struggling with the morning sickness.”

“Neither had I, and I live here.” Guilt twisted in my stomach, and Nathaniel took one hand off the steering wheel and reached for mine, bringing my palm to his mouth.

“You’ve been a little busy,” he reminded me. “Do you think our kids would get your curls?”

I momentarily lost the ability to speak. Behind us, Danica chortled. “Way to distract her from feeling guilty.”

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