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Since they were taking James to the hospital, Gio insisted that all the humans were checked in and given a full examination. Bec had taken a nasty blow to her head. She said it wasn’t a bad concussion, but the doctor ordered a CT scan anyway. When she’d tried to fight being treated, Mila simply gave her those big, scared eyes and Bec crumbled.

Carter was pretty sure Mila didn’t even realize she was doing it. The woman was just so sincerely concerned, you couldn’t help but do anything to reassure her.

“Yes?” Gio said, giving the nurse his full attention. They were in a small hospital in Chula Vista that specialized in caring for human mates. It was the only place Gio trusted to care for Milaand her family. Although by the time they’d arrived, Mila only had some red patches on her face.

No one believed that she’d been black and blue only a few hours earlier. Her rate of healing was chimera-speed and unheard of for a human. They’d run tests on her anyway, but everything came up clear.

“We’re still waiting for the radiologist to read the CT, but I asked the tech, and he didn’t see anything bad,” Shelly said, then gave them a little grin. “But don’t tell the doctor I told you that! Now don’t forget that Mila promised me boxes of her cheesecake cookies.”

Was there anyone Mila couldn’t bribe with her sweets?

Probably not. Even Gio was susceptible to her “sweet nectar.”

That thought made Carter snort.

“Thank you, Shelly,” Gio said, ignoring Carter.

Shelly glanced at the bed where James was sleeping. Barb had fallen asleep in a chair next to the bed, her hand intertwined with her husband’s. It was nice to know that Barb truly did care about her family, even if she’d been blind where Mila was concerned.

“Dr. Michaels will be in soon, but I read that he expects that everyone will be discharged tomorrow night,” Shelly continued, then stifled a laugh. “Bec finally stopped arguing with Danzig long enough to fall asleep.”

Carter gave the woman a big grin. “Amazing!”

Shelly nodded. “I’ve never heard someone talk so fast and use so many big words without taking a breath as that woman.” She pointed at Mila in Carter’s arms. “I can have a cot brought in for Mila.”

Carter shook his head at the same time Gio spoke up. “Mila’s fine where she is, unless that cot is big enough for three.”

“Afraid not, although we should invest in something like that,’ Shelly said as she checked a few things on the machinesmonitoring James. “Everything looks good. Hit the remote if you need me. This room and Bec next door are my only assignments tonight.”

Carter leaned his head back against the wall behind him as the door closed softly when Shelly left. He was tired but was afraid to fall asleep and relax. What if Mila disappeared while he slept?

“It’s going to be a long time before we let Mila even go to the bathroom alone,” Gio observed.

Carter grunted in agreement. Mila wasn’t going to be happy about it, but maybe Carter would be able to relax again in a few decades.

Maybe.

Chapter 30

Mila

“I can hear a car pulling into the driveway,” Carter said, obviously unhappy. Getting out of bed, he peeked through the curtain. Mila enjoyed the view his naked body presented. “I don’t recognize the car.”

It was late afternoon and Mila, Carter, and Gio were all snuggled in their bed. It’d been two days after the kidnapping. James wasn’t severely injured, but his lungs were in bad shape. The doctor didn’t want to say anything definitive but urged James to see a pulmonologist.

Everyone had been released from the hospital at five in the morning. That had given them just enough time to drop Barb and James at the hotel and rush back home before sunrise.

Gio had already bought them tickets to return home and gave them strict instructions not to miss their flight. Mila could tell her parents were taking his instructions seriously, even though he wasn’t using thrall.

Things hadn’t gone smoothly when they’d gotten home. There’d been a confrontation in the driveway because of Danzig.He’d followed them from the hospital and wanted to stay at the house. Bec said absolutely not. Gio and Carter were forced to make Danzig leave, but Mila suspected he was lurking close by.

When they’d walked in the house, Bec had mumbled something none of them could understand and shut herself in the first-floor bathroom. Mila, Gio, and Carter had gone to bed. They’d talked for a long time before Mila drifted off to sleep. Carter’s announcement about the car’s arrival woke her up.

“Is it Danzig?” Mila asked.

“I’m sure he didn’t leave,” Gio grumbled, confirming Mila’s guess. “But it might be Marduk. If Bec is serious about keeping the twins away, then I’m going to have to buy some powerful wards. There aren’t many that can hold up against world serpents.”

“No,” Carter moaned, still looking through a slit in the curtain. “Not them.”