Changed by Fire (Phoenix Rising #6) - Harper Wylde Page 0,89
that thought trailed off, and I cleared my suddenly dry throat.
“It’s a stressful time for all of us,” Angela admitted, rubbing her eyes. I studied her in concern. I hadn’t noticed before how tired she must be. There were dark circles under her eyes, her cheekbones stood out more than normal, and her face was pale. I stood, reaching out my hand for hers as I forced my magic through her. Relief hit me when I realized the simplicity of the cause.
“You’re overworking yourself,” I scolded her, releasing her hand. “I want you to take a break.”
“I will in a bit,” she assured me with a smile. “Look at you being all mother hen.”
“I learned from the best,” I teased, straightening my papers. Normally I was very messy, but I’d been making an effort to stay neat and orderly due to the limited and shared space. “I can handle things while you go lie down for a bit. You’re exhausted, Angela.” My words were gentle as I reached out and squeezed her hand.
“You’re as overdue for a nap as I am, so don’t start.” Angela tapped my nose. “Besides, I planned on taking the afternoon off. However, Tao and Phillip are on their way in with a shifter who was found on the borders of the property. They called ahead, she’ll need medical care.”
I stiffened, darting forward. “Has she been vetted? Do we know what’s going on?”
“They’re bringing Damien in,” Angela assured me. “Supposedly she’s in really bad shape. He didn’t want to wait.” That was Damien alright. He couldn’t stand to see anyone hurting, let alone a female.
A commotion from the hallways heralded the arrival of Tao, Phillip, Damien, and a fuming Rune. “I’m telling you, she shouldn’t be here!” Rune snarled at a very pale Damien, while Tao and Phillip carried their burden.
“I told you her mind is clear,” Damien retorted with a growl. “Just because you don’t like her doesn’t mean I’m going to leave her outside in the snow! I’ve been granted leave to allow anyone into the rebellion stronghold if a search of their mind shows they don’t have any nefarious purposes. If you don’t agree, take it up with the faction leaders, though they were the ones who granted me such permission. The ones in residence are in the west hall meeting room, if you need to find them. I was with them when I got the call about the shifter,” Damien challenged.
Rune snorted. “That thing is nothing but nefarious.” He crossed his arms over his chest, his scowl so deep it looked like it was carved into his face. Tao and Phillip settled the female onto a table, and I hurried forward. Shock had me freezing an instant before my hand touched her. “Told ya,” Rune said smugly, chortling in an ugly way. “Even one of your own doesn’t want to touch that.”
I drew a deep breath before reaching out to pour healing energy into the dirty, frostbitten female. “Damien?” I murmured warily, my eyes searching his as I worked on the injured woman. He sighed, pushing his dark hair behind his ears, and shrugged a shoulder.
“She’s clear. Grandfather even searched her. She’s been on the run for a while, I assume trying to find the rebellion,” he explained softly, ignoring Rune. “Tao and Phillip found her. I’m shocked she’s even still alive.”
That made two of us. I looked at the shell of the woman we had feared for years. Zenoah lay bruised, dirty, and emaciated in front of me, her lungs barely taking in air. I pushed my power into her, forcing the frostbite to heal and wincing at what I saw inside of her. “Can you sense that?” I asked Damien in a whisper, keeping my eyes on the dream eater, the Baku. The last time I’d seen her, she’d told us she had been surviving for years on my brother’s dreams. Part of me had assumed that was hyperbole, but getting a chance to heal her? It wasn’t just her body that was starving, it was her mind. Her insides were eaten away, deteriorated so far that I was shocked she had managed the extreme conditions of an Alaskan winter. Her pain had to be intense.
Damien nodded grimly. “She knows it. It’s why she came here. She’s not far from death, Ry.”
Damien had no idea how true that statement was. “I’ll do what I can,” I told him wearily. “I can’t just let her die, but unless she finds another