“It will be okay.” He offered hope to them. But Cody’s eyes were dark with the fear they dare not name. And Ryan was almost panting from the combination of his own pain and worry.
Only one person could help his sister. Kade turned and walked into the dining room.
Zach lay on the table, still as death, half of his face covered in blood. Kade could tell by his breathing that he was sleeping, but not comatose. The best thing would be to leave Zach alone. Let him rest. And finish any healing that Cara couldn’t achieve.
The best thing, yes. But no one had the luxury of time. Least of all Kitani.
Kade returned to the kitchen.
“Is he still under?” Cody asked. He was hunched over Ryan, sitting in a chair.
“We need him,” Ryan hissed, one hand pressed to a bleeding wound in his thigh. “Kitani needs him.”
Kade’s stomach clenched. Zach’s ability seemed so nebulous compared to tooth and claw. But it had proven itself more than once. It had pushed back Braden’s crew and saved his Sabres.
And now, it was needed again.
Kade filled a pot with cold water. Then he returned to the dining room and tossed it over Zach’s head.
Zach shot up to a sitting position, spluttering and blinking and gasping. He squinted at Kade.
“Kade? Bloody hell.” He raised a shaking hand to his face. “My head feels like it is going to explode.”
“Sorry, mate. If I could, I’d let you sleep for hours. But your little pulse of panic has set off my sister’s twins. And she needs your help.”
Zach stared at him. “My what?”
“You don’t remember chasing off the Dires?”
The Empath’s mouth opened. And closed. “What?”
Kade growled. “Never mind. Kitani needs your help.”
Zach swung his legs over the edge of the table and tried to stand. He swayed, and Kade had to catch him to stop him from falling.
Zach pushed at Kade’s hands. “Keep your paws off me.”
“Can you stand?”
“Uh, yeah. Sort of.”
A blatant lie. Kade kept his paws on. He and Zach wobbled into the kitchen.
Cody looked up from Ryan. “Zach! Thank God.”
“Kitani needs you,” Ryan said.
“So I hear. What the hell happened to you guys?”
Everyone stared at him.
“Uh... the Dires. They attacked.” Ryan glanced at Kade and back to Zach.
Zach scanned them. “Dires? Why can’t I remember?”
“You got blown up.” Cody took his turn chiming in.
Zach wobbled. “I got what?”
