but he heard a heartbeat close to where he sat amidst the detritus. He followed the sound and began moving debris out of the way. The heartbeat became louder, but it wasn’t stronger. “Hang on, my love. I’m going to get your out of here.” Rafe was torn between pulling Kaya out of the wreckage and going in search of his son.
Can you feel Sebastian?
Yes. It’s faint, but he’s alive.
And Priscilla?”
She is alive as well, but she’s panicking.
Fuck! What about the Unholy? Or Drago? Can you detect them?
They are no longer here.
At least he didn’t have to worry about fighting while he searched for Kaya. Rafael knew his family would be on their way. He’d let Dane worry about what to tell the news crew he had no doubt would be right behind the police. One by one, Rafe moved pieces of stone and wood until he saw a bloodied hand. He continued working until he got his mate uncovered. Kaya’s beautiful face was badly cut, and bruises were already forming under the skin. He wanted to gather her in his arms, but he was afraid to move her.
Tears streamed down his cheeks as he pushed her dirty hair off her face. “Oh, my love. My love,” he muttered over and over. “I don’t want to leave you, but I need to find Sebastian. I promise I’ll be right back.” Rafael placed a kiss on his mate’s cut lips, tears dripping onto her face.
“Rafael!” Priscilla yelled from somewhere outside, and then the most glorious sound in the world followed – Sebastian crying. Rafael moved as swiftly as possible over the fallen structure. The middle of the house where the gathering rooms were located was decimated as was the kitchen. The walls surrounding Sebastian’s nursery were standing, but the roof was partially missing. It would have been quicker to phase and fly to where Priscilla was still calling for him, but he didn’t know how long he had until emergency personnel showed.
“Priscilla, I’m here,” he called out as soon as he was close enough for the older human to hear. When he made it to the patio, he ran to where she was holding his son. Priscilla handed Sebastian over, and Rafe cradled his son to his chest. “Shh, Papa’s here. Everything’s going to be okay.” Rafael twisted back and forth slowly, doing his best to quiet his baby boy.
“Where’s Kaya?” Priscilla asked, looking behind Rafael.
“She’s still in the house. She’s alive, but she’s badly injured.” Sirens sounded in the distance. “Help is on the way. Where were you?”
“In the garden. I took Sebastian for a walk to tell Jonathan what was going on before we left for Samoa.”
“And I thank the gods you still talk to your love. I’d hate to think…” Rafael choked back a sob. Priscilla stepped closer and placed her hand on Rafe’s cheek. Her emotions were there in her watery eyes. She’d been with his family long enough to know how their world worked.
The sadness on her face morphed into anger. “You find that bastard, Rafael. And when you do, I want his head. Nobody comes after our family and lives. You hear me?”
“Loud and clear. I’ll tear this city apart until I find Drago Costas.” When the sirens got closer, Rafael handed Sebastian back to his beloved housekeeper. “I need to go open the gate. The threat is gone, so you wait here with Bas until I get back.”
“Go. We’ll be fine.”
Rafael took off running, using his shifter speed to get to the gate in seconds. When he approached the gate, it didn’t automatically open, so he climbed over and punched in the numerical code. Thankfully, that worked, and Rafael sped back toward the house. Firetrucks, ambulances, and police cars sped down the long driveway, stopping well away from the house.
“Help me, please. My wife is alive, but she’s been hurt badly.” Rafael led a team of first responders through to what used to be the living room. “She’s over here,” he said, climbing over the debris he’d moved from Kaya’s body.
“Sir, you need to step back and let us assess your wife.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Mr. Stone, please—”
“Rafael!” Frey yelled. It wasn’t necessary, but Frey was frantic.
Rafael waited until the EMTs reached his mate before turning to his cousin. “Kaya’s alive, but I don’t know the extent of the damages.”
When Rafael started back toward Kaya, Frey grabbed his arm. “You have to let them do their job, Brother. This is what they’re trained for.”
Rafael knew