“Blown up.” Kade led Zach through the press of Were bodies to the living room. “A drone blew up your barn.”
“My barn?” Zach stopped dead and Kade got the pulse of frantic worry. “Willow? Spike?”
“They are fine. So is the damned cat.” Kade pushed him forward. “You need to tell Kitani’s babies to calm the hell down.”
“Kitani? Right.” Zach’s brows lowered, and he blinked rapidly as they hobbled into the living room.
The relief on Jessie’s face when she saw Zach twisted something deep inside Kade.
“Zach.” Cara scanned his wet hair and dripping shirt . “Are you okay?”
“I got blown up.” Zach pulled his arm away from Kade. “And I’m getting pawed by a werewolf. So no, I’m not.” His gaze fell on Kitani. The Were lay on the couch, both hands on her swollen belly.
Kade froze at the sight. His sister’s belly writhed and bulged as the twins rolled and kicked. It was just like it had been with Isa.
But Isa hadn’t had access to an Empath. “Zach,” he pleaded. “Help her.”
* * *
Beyond the shattered living room windows, the storm had darkened midday to almost dusk status. Lightning flashed, and thunder rolled.
As Kade escorted Zach in, Jessie stared in shock. Zach looked like absolute hell. His feverish green eyes were stark within dark, sunken circles. Bloodied water dripped down his face. Why was he wet?
Cara grabbed Zach’s hand and pulled him to the pregnant Were. “Talk to them, Zach. I can’t get through, even with Jessie’s help.” She turned to Jessie. “Help him.”
Jessie met Zach’s gaze. For just a second, she caught a glimpse of something that made her hesitate, but then Cara placed his hand on the writhing belly. He closed his eyes. And Jessie folded her hand around his arm.
Confusion. Fear. Pain.From Zach. It was nothing compared to the terror from the fully formed Were babies within Kitani. They were half shifted to their animal form, and at risk of doing horrible damage to both themselves, and her.
She sensed him shove back, hard, on his own emotions. And dredge up, from somewhere deep inside, reassurance.
He murmured to himself as he did so, as though the babies could hear him. “It’s okay, little ones. You are safe. There is nothing to fear. Everything is fine.”
Jessie’s power amplified his calming projection. The frantic movement in Kitani’s belly slowed.
Cara had her hands on Kitani too. Trying to spread her healing energy over the Were and her unborn children. But Zach’s ability worked on a deeper level, connecting with them as individuals, and yet pulling them into the whole.
He kept murmuring to them, moving his hands over the smooth skin as they quieted, and moved back into sync with their mother.
Beneath Jessie’s hand, Zach was shivering. She sensed the moment when he pulled away from both Kitani, and herself.
Jessie let him go and opened her eyes.
Kitani was staring at Zach with something akin to awe. “That was amazing,” she whispered. “They’re so quiet.”
“Seriously, Kitten.” Cody leaned on the doorway. “Are you okay?”
Kitani reached for him, and Ryan came too. The two men vied for space as they clung to her.
“Thank you, dude.” Ryan put a hand to Zach’s arm and squeezed. “I don’t have the right words—”
“They’re tired.” Zach’s voice was hoarse. “They should rest for a while.”
Jessie shot Zach a look as he pushed himself away from Kitani. Just in time to see him wipe blood from his nose.
She didn’t like what she sensed from him. “Zach...” She started.
Cara switched her grip from Kitani to Zach. “Onto the cot with you.”
