enough.”
“Oh yeah. She’s strong all right.” Xeon looked back at Mara. “I’m so proud of you sis, you did help, a lot, apparently.” He paused. “She’s something to behold.” Pride coursed through him, thinking of what Mara and Trina had to overcome, how they did whatever they had to.
“Man, I didn’t want to miss it. I couldn’t help it, though. She needed more blood.” Trina’s disappointment was etched on her face.
“Thank you for helping her. I wish it didn’t come at such a cost to you.” Xeon could see how weak she was.
“I need a hot bubble bath and a good, thick, juicy, rare steak. That should make it all better.” Trina smiled. “Now, please get me the hell out of this cage.”
“I need to find the keys. Give me a minute.” Xeon walked over to the doctor’s body.
If anyone had a key, it would be him. By the time he found the keys in the doctor’s bloody pocket, a loud crash sounded behind him, causing him to jump. Mara had gone to Trina’s cage and ripped the door off. Mara looked around the room.
“Hey, Channing, you want some karma points?” Mara called out.
“What do you need?” he asked, still not stepping close to her.
“I need some bags of blood. Dr. Phenix must have had some around here somewhere.”
“Sure, I think there’s some in a refrigerator in his office.” Channing turned toward the door to leave.
“I need at least three,” she said before he walked out.
“I think you’ve had enough blood for now,” Xeon commented. If she drank more, she would probably tear the whole manor down.
“It’s not for me.” She broke the doors free on all the cages except for the one in the back.
Every shifter came out of their cages. Each one stayed in animal form. The hyena came over and stood in front of Xeon. Trina explained to them that the hyena was their pack mate, Benny. She went through the other shifters, explaining who they were then and now.
“Why haven’t they shifted back like you?” Kyro asked her.
“They will, it just takes time. The medicine affects us all differently.”
“Hey, look who I found.” Raul came into the basement with Raveena right behind him. “Alex is upstairs. Said he didn’t want to come down in the basement again.”
“I don’t blame him,” Trina said.
“Kyro, will you take all the shifters outside? I think the cool air will do them good.” Mara turned to Xeon.
Channing came back in with three bags of blood. Xeon watched Mara take the blood to the man lying on the floor of the last cage. Xeon immediately knew the man had to be a vampire. He’d been deprived of blood in order to keep him weak and under control. He thanked Mara for the blood and took all three packets. Once he’d downed a bag and a half, Mara pulled the door of the cage. It took her two tries to get the door off. Her strength must’ve been dwindling.
“Here, let me help you up.” Xeon held his hand out for the weakened vampire.
They escorted the vamp out. Mara whispered to Xeon that she still needed to do something inside the manor. She kissed his cheek and ran back inside. Xeon waited for her in the front yard.
“What’s she doing?” Kyro asked, and clapped Xeon on the shoulder.
“I’m not sure. If I had to guess, I would say she’s going through the doctor’s office. How’s everyone else doing?” he asked Kyro.
“We have the alphas coming from each pack. For the time being, everyone is going home to their original packs. Later they can decide what’s best for them, whether it be a new pack or staying with their original ones,” Kyro said.
Five minutes later, they heard crackling noises. Flames rose from the second story. Smoke drifted from every crack near the ground. When the flames grew in the first story, Xeon panicked.
“Should we go get her?” Kyro asked.
Getting nervous, they headed for the mansion. They took only a couple of steps when Mara walked out the front door, a stack of file folders in her arms. Flames behind her silhouetted her body, a picture to behold. She had a determined attitude, which Xeon admired. He admired everything about her. The fact that she could take charge in a time that should have broken her impressed them both. She proved she had the strength and worth of a leader. She was his equal.
“What do you have there?” Kyro asked when she drew near.
“Patient records,” she