Santa Soldier Bear - Meg Ripley Page 0,34

she’d put into the fight, but the blood that rimmed the bear’s mouth showed that he’d fought back before she’d killed him. Her silvery fur was contaminated with the blood of her enemy, staining it a dingy red around her paws and mouth. The parallel slashes from the bear’s claws seeped fresher blood in a brilliant crimson that made him sick to his stomach.

Slowly, tenderly, Roman began licking her wounds. His heart wrenched seeing her lying there like that on the grass, panting and shivering. The light hadn’t gone out of her eyes, though, and the wounds appeared to be superficial. Shifters healed far faster than humans did, and he had no doubt she would recover. That didn’t make it any easier to see her like this.

Damn it! How could he have let this happen? He’d insisted on accompanying her to the zoo because he wanted to protect her. He’d even been enough of an asshole to insinuate that she couldn’t protect the children herself outside of headquarters. This fight had certainly proven that Melody knew how to hold her own, and that no place was truly safe.

“We need to get her inside,” Amar said. Since Roman had arrived, Amar had mostly spoken to him as a friend, but now, he spoke as an Alpha. His orders were ones to be followed, not questioned in any manner. “I’m taking the children inside. You stay here with her, and I’ll send someone out to help you carry her in.”

As the dragon headed for the house, Roman sucked in a staggered breath and let his polar bear go. His muscles, strength, and size could only do so much. He also couldn’t risk reaching for that link that they’d both tried to use now. “I’ve let you down,” he said to the snow leopard as he gently scooped his hands underneath her warm body. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am, Melody.”

She lifted her head slightly, her eyes closing in pain as he pulled her into his arms. Roman wasn’t going to wait for anyone else to come and help him. Melody needed to stay in her animal form as long as possible to make the wounds heal more quickly.

He’d made so many mistakes, and there was no way he was ever going to make it all up to her.

10

Melody opened her eyes. She was in her room, tucked snugly into her bed. The miniature Christmas tree she’d set up on the dresser twinkled happily at her, though she didn’t remember turning it on. The base of her spine hurt, and her head throbbed. Actually, every part of her hurt. She turned her head to look when the door opened, but that hurt, too.

“Emersyn,” she said when she saw her best friend. “I need to talk to you.”

“Yes, and there’s plenty I need to talk to you about, too.” Her face was all business as she set her medical bag on the bench at the foot of the bed and opened it. “But first, I need to see how those wounds are coming along. Bear claws can be a real bitch.”

Melody cooperated as Emersyn whisked back the covers and examined the wounds on her sides. She sucked in air through her teeth as Emersyn poked and prodded with her cool fingers. The injury felt hot and swollen.

“There’s a small amount of infection, but it’s already working its way out of your body,” Emersyn said. She pulled a thermometer from her bag and pressed it to Melody’s forehead. “You don’t have a fever, so I think you’re just about in the clear.”

“Other than how much it hurts, I guess,” Melody groaned as she got back under the sheets. “Those bears were pretty determined.”

“Yes, but thanks to you, they’re no longer a threat. Also, thanks to you, the children are safe.” Emersyn took Melody’s hand in her own and looked into her eyes. “I can’t tell you what it means to me that you’ve put your life on the line—twice now—for my son. You’re incredible, Melody.”

“I didn’t do it alone.” Melody said it to remind both Emersyn and herself that she’d had help. There’d been Amar, but also Roman. She’d seen him streaking across the yard, his white coat shining in the sun as he came to her aid. She’d felt him, too, inside her head. He’d reached out to her in the same way she’d done to him, but his effort had been far more powerful. Melody wasn’t sure whether she should regret