woman in a stunning black gown who was helping to tie someone up. She had the freezing ability, able to suspend a person in motion—essentially put them on ice.
Tyler rushed over to her, spoke hurriedly, and ushered her to my side in seconds. She looked nervous, her wide brown eyes darting from mine to his, but she took my hand when I held it out. I was fading, and I needed the contact to transfer to her.
I could see Tyler’s lips moving as he spoke to her, hear his voice, but his words weren’t registering. I turned and led the way back to the reception desk. Halfway around it, I stumbled, but a firm, warm hand steadied me. Mr. Takata was still by my side. As soon as it was clear I wasn’t going to face-plant, he released me, tipping his head forward in a little bow.
By the time I turned back, Tyler and the woman were already kneeling beside Alec, nudging Jamie out of the way.
I lowered myself to my knees on his other side. Taking his hand in mine again—it was sticky now, not slippery—I kept pushing Light at him, but there was no point anymore. No amount of Light could help him now. And I had nothing left to give.
I had nothing left.
My eyes drooped, and my head felt heavy. Even as my mind fought to the last second for consciousness, my muscles ultimately gave in. My vision faded, and I fell in a heap next to Alec, our limp hands stuck together with his drying blood.
I came to just as the paramedics were taking Alec away and discussing having me taken to the hospital in another ambulance. I refused, demanding to stay with Alec. They were stubborn, but so was I, and in the end we tailed Alec’s ambulance to the hospital.
Lucian was already there. Josh and Ethan rushed forward as soon as we stepped inside, hugging me tight despite the gore clinging to me. They fired off questions, demanded I see a doctor, spoke over each other while frantically running their hands over me.
During the surgery to remove Alec’s bullet, I was checked over by a doctor—not even a concussion, thank you very much—and despite my protests, everyone insisted I should go home, clean up, have something to eat. Alec was stable, but they were keeping him sedated so his body could have some time to heal.
“I won’t leave this room, and Olivia is on her way,” Lucian reassured me.
Tyler had to go back to the scene and do some damage control, make sure his guys were doing what needed to be done. He ran his hands through his hair, his worried gaze darting to Alec, then me. He pulled me into a hug and held me for a long time. I gripped his filthy suit jacket, my eyes closed.
“Please, Eve. Please go home. I need to know at least one of you is safe and warm.” He spoke into the top of my head, his chest reverberating under my cheek.
Grudgingly, I realized he was right. I couldn’t do anything more for Alec—he had all the Light he needed and then some. The hospital, under medical supervision, was the best place for him. But I could do something to ease Tyler’s worry.
I nodded against his chest.
We peeled apart—the front of my dress had stuck to his suit jacket. That’s how much drying blood I was coated in.
I looked down at myself and really took it in for the first time. My arms were smeared with blood. It covered my chest, my shoulders, even my hair. My beautiful dress was ruined, but not in the fun way Ethan and Alec had both hinted at. It felt as if the dress itself were blood, soaking into my skin.
“OK.” I lifted my eyes. “I, uh . . . I need to get out of this blood . . . the dress . . .”
Tyler leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. “Kid, Josh, take our girl home. I’ll send two teams to meet you in the underground parking garage in the north wing. Uncle Luce . . .” He ran his hand through his hair again as he eyed Alec lying helpless in the hospital bed.
“I’m here.” Lucian’s tone was calm and firm. “I won’t leave his side, and I’ll call if there are any changes. Go. All of you, get out of here.”
The finality of his words pushed us into action. Knowing he was