Zev half sat, blood running down his face and chest in steady streams. Fen shifted back to completely human form as he bent over Dimitri. His brother was in bad shape. He'd had the brunt of the attack, the pack pouring out of the forest straight at Fen. Fen had gone after the Sange rau while Dimitri and Zev had drawn the others to him to give Fen his chance at destroying the ultimate threat.
Tatijana. See to Zev. Dimitri is close to passing.
He would save his brother first, no matter how valiant the Lycan had been. He had told Dimitri of his fear that there was such a powerful predator closing in on their homeland, and it was Dimitri who had paid the price because he believed his brother's suspicion in spite of the lack of proof.
Tatijana might have healing skills, but he couldn't take the chance. Better that she practice on the Lycan than Dimitri.
Hang on, ekam-my brother, Fen whispered telepathically. He had to maintain his link with Dimitri at all times so that the light of life would not leave his body. Tatijana, I have need of you now. Shield us from Zev's sight. He cannot see what I do.
There was so much blood lost. Far too much. He felt her presence almost immediately. Tatijana. His own private miracle. She brushed her hand along his shoulders as she moved toward Zev.
Mist stands between you and the Lycan.
Thank you, my lady.
Fen didn't hesitate, but plunged his hands into the jagged opening of Dimitri's belly, searching for the main source of the blood pumping from his brother's body.
I will not be aware of my surroundings. You are our only protection, he warned Tatijana.
I've got your back.
Believing her, he didn't wait for her reply. He didn't have time. He had to trust that she would be alert for the return of the pack. He doubted if the rogues would return, their alpha was nursing his own wounds and would need to heal himself before he could kill again, but it was always possible.
He shed his body fast, becoming healing light, pure spirit to sink into his brother. I am with you. My soul calls to yours, he whispered.
He traveled through Dimitri's body to the mass of destruction in his belly. The werewolves had clawed and bitten, tearing great chunks from his body. The first thing he had to do was repair the damage to arteries and veins and stop the flow of blood. It seemed Dimitri's entire belly was filled with blood and nothing else.
Ot ekam ainajanak hany, jama-My brother's body is a lump of earth, close to death.
It had been long since he'd used the great healing chant, but this was no small wound. If he was to succeed he would need time, patience and blood. Powerful blood.
That light in Dimitri was very dim, moving down the tree of life, far away from Fen. Fen redoubled his efforts. Time was running out fast. He found the places where teeth had bitten through the lifelines in Dimitri's body-so many places-the damage far worse than he'd seen in centuries. Dimitri had given much to give him the time to keep Tatijana from the Sange rau.
He resisted the urge to hurry, taking his time to repair each severed or torn artery or major organ with great care. As he performed the task he continued to chant softly in his mind.
"We, the clan of my brother encircle him with care and compassion. Our healing energies, ancient words of magic and healing herbs bless my brother's body, keep it alive."
When he was certain he had done enough of the repairs that Dimitri's body would hold blood, he tore at his own wrist with his teeth and pressed the wound to Dimitri's mouth. Dimitri made no attempt, even when Fen dripped the blood into his mouth, to take it in. Often times, a warrior so badly wounded, when he'd lived long centuries holding darkness at bay, preferred to slip away, but Dimitri had someone to live for. He'd told Fen of his lifemate, too young to claim, surviving a horrendous childhood. Fen had no compunctions against using the information Dimitri had confided.
Drink for your life and the life of the girl you told me about. Young Skyler who has suffered so much and deserves happiness. Do not let that happiness end here, my brother.
The light had retreated so far Fen feared he was too late. You are strong, my brother. Think only of your unclaimed lifemate. She will live out her days sad and lonely without you. Come back.
The dim light halted. Faltered. Stayed still. He felt the smallest movement at his wrist and instantly aided his brother in swallowing the liquid of life. Even as Dimitri took in blood, Fen knew it wouldn't be enough. He was weak himself from blood loss. Healing took tremendous energy. He would have to feed quickly and return to draw his brother's life light back. He gave Dimitri as much blood as he dared before returning to his own body.
The act of being in two places at one time, feeding his brother and healing him, aiding him in sending the blood through his body took a tremendous toll. Normally, with a wound so grievous, there were many Carpathians participating in the healing ritual. Fen had to remain a Lycan in Zev's eyes. There was no controlling Zev's mind. Tatijana could shield them using the mist, but at all times, Zev had to believe that Fen was Lycan, not a mixture of wolf and Carpathian.
He rose quickly, staggered, regained his footing and, after making certain the mist remained thick enough to hide his actions, took to the trees where the two drunken humans were cocooned in the shield Tatijana had provided for them. Before using them to replenish the blood he'd given his brother, he drove as much alcohol from their systems as possible through their pores. As a rule, Carpathians rarely touched tainted blood, but this was an emergency and he'd take anything he could get.
He took even more than he needed, knowing Dimitri would need much more. Tatijana, how long before you can aid me?
I put him into a healing sleep with his permission, but he won't be in it long.
Bring down the lightning and burn the bodies. Make certain you get every last bit of fur and hair. Do not remove the silver spikes from their hearts otherwise they can regenerate. Let the fire burn everything and we'll recover the stakes after that. Once that's done, come help me. I need to find my brother in the other world and guide him back. He's stuck between two places.
He caught Tatijana's shocked gasp. Both knew it was difficult to bring someone back when they were so close to death. The only thing that had stopped Dimitri was knowing what his unclaimed lifemate would suffer without him.
Fen hurried back to his brother and knelt down, this time mixing his saliva with dirt, rich with Lycan blood, and packing it into the worst of Dimitri's wounds. He took a deep breath and once more left his body behind to become pure light.