Page 20 of Dragon’s Revenge (Irresistible Dragons #7)

Chapter Nineteen

I ’m trusting that the universe wouldn’t be so cruel as to take me from my mates when we’ve just found each other.

Delton’s eyes filled with tears all over again as his mate’s words kept repeating in his head. Adar had spoken the words with so much conviction. He’d been so certain of himself, of fate, of his future with his mates…and now it all hung in the balance. Had they tempted fate? Had it been hubris, and now the universe was punishing him for being so arrogant? It couldn’t work like that, but the thought was hard to let go of.

Oliver had finally stopped sobbing, but Delton still held the omega, who’d found a safe spot against his chest. They were on the clinic’s waiting room floor, Delton’s back slumped against the wall. His legs were going numb, but he couldn’t make himself move, as if staying in the exact same position would somehow ensure everything would be okay. If he shifted, something might happen.

Nonsense, of course, but what else could he do? His mind spun in circles, processing what Erwan had told them, trying to wrap his mind around what Adar had done. The alpha had fought Dempsey. Knowing Dempsey had powers and abilities Adar didn’t have, he’d still taken him on…and he’d still come out the victor.

He’d killed him, taking revenge for all the pain, all the violence, all the trauma the man had inflicted upon Oliver. Somehow, Adar had found the strength, the sheer willpower to win that fight, even with Dempsey cheating by using magic.

“It’s not worth it,” Oliver whispered, pulling Delton out of his head.

“What isn’t, love?”

“Killing Dempsey. Adar being this hurt wasn’t worth it. I’m not… He shouldn’t have…”

Delton kissed the top of his head. “Adar felt differently. To him, it was a matter of honor and justice. Dempsey had to somehow pay a price for what he did to you, even if that came at Adar’s expense.”

“But what if he…?”

Delton had no trouble finishing that sentence. What if Adar died? Enar had said Adar’s condition was critical. Not serious, but critical. It all depended on how the surgery went—and neither Enar, Maz, nor Quico were surgeons. Did they have the skills to save him?

“He’s not going to die.” The words fell off his lips before he could stop them, but they resonated so deeply inside him, with such truth, that he held on to them like a lifebuoy in stormy waters. His wolf somehow knew, and Delton wouldn’t second guess. “He’ll make it through.”

Oliver leaned back and met Delton’s eyes. The poor omega’s eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, his face all splotchy, and his nose runny, yet he still looked beautiful to Delton. “How do you know?”

“I can’t explain it, but I do. My wolf is certain of it.” A strange unrest tickled inside him, like the sensation of knowing he’d forgotten to do something. Something important.

He closed his eyes and focused, emptying his mind of everything else. His wolf was trying to send him a message, but what? It had to do with…Erwan. The White Dragon.

“He needs you,” Delton said to Erwan, who sat slumped in one of the chairs, looking pale and exhausted. He hadn’t been himself since he’d returned from Sweden without Rhene, and Delton couldn’t even imagine what the man was going through. But right now, none of that mattered.

Erwan looked up. “Excuse me?”

Delton gently moved Oliver until the omega was leaning against the wall, then pushed himself up. His legs stung from sitting for so long, like a thousand needles were pricking him, but he ignored it. “Adar needs you. He needs the White Dragon.”

“I don’t… He’s a wolf. I don’t know what I can do for him.”

Delton shook his head, his voice gaining an urgency that seemed to come from deep inside him. “It doesn’t matter. You and Rhene are one, and so are the pack and the clan. We’re the same, united in power. And he got hurt defending a dragon—Oliver. Your dragon can heal him.”

Erwan rose on shaky legs. “Heal him? Delton, I don’t know if?—”

Delton took a step toward him. “Please, Erwan. He needs you. I can’t explain it, but he does.”

Erwan slowly straightened, squaring his shoulders. “Tell me what to do, what your intuition is telling you.”

Just then, Enar stepped into the waiting room. His surgical scrubs were covered in blood, and his hands shook as he reached up and took off his mask, then removed his surgical cap.

“How is he?” Delton asked as Oliver scrambled to his feet and took Delton’s hand. The omega’s hand was ice cold.

Enar took a deep breath, his face pale and grave. “Quico has done extra surgical training as a pediatrician and knew what to do. When he opened him up, we confirmed what we saw on the scan, that he had severe internal bleeding. We removed his spleen and finally managed to stop the bleeding, but he’s lost a lot of blood. We’re really not equipped to handle these kinds of emergencies, nor are we experienced in this kind of surgery, but of course, we had little choice.”

“Will he make it?” Oliver asked, and even under the circumstances, Delton was so proud of him for using his voice. It wouldn’t have surprised him if Oliver had retreated again into his nonverbal safety, but he hadn’t.

“We don’t know. I wish I had better news, but we honestly don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see how he makes it through the next forty-eight hours. A complicating factor is that he has a rare blood type, AB negative. No one else in either pack or the clan has it, and right now, a blood transfusion with that blood type would really help him.”

Delton swallowed. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for him. C-can Erwan see him?”

Enar looked puzzled. “Erwan?”

“Delton feels strongly that I should see Adar. He thinks I may be able to do something as the White Dragon.” Erwan sounded apologetic, and Delton didn’t like it one bit.

“You have to believe it. You have to believe in the power you’ve been gifted,” he said, and it came out more sharply than he’d intended.

Erwan cringed a little. “I’m sorry. I’m just not sure if…”

Yeah, that wouldn’t do at all. Delton stepped close to him and put both hands on Erwan’s shoulders. “I know you miss Rhene and that you’re worried about him. We all are, and I can’t even imagine what you’re going through, being separated from your mate for so long. And I understand it’s a distraction that weighs on you heavily. But that’s my mate inside there, and he needs you. Right now, there’s nothing you or anyone can do for Rhene, but you can do something for Adar. You can step into that room and be the White Dragon. You can let the power you’ve been gifted fill you and use it to heal him. You can do what Enar and the others can’t.”

With every word he’d spoken, Erwan had stood a little straighter, color filling his cheeks and energy bubbling from his posture as if, somehow, Delton’s words had been the proverbial kick in the pants he’d needed.

“You’re right,” he said, sounding far more confident than before. “You’re absolutely right. Enar, can I see him?”

Enar nodded. “We’ve moved him into a room so you can come in and watch,” he said to Delton and Oliver.

Hand in hand, the two of them followed Enar and Erwan into a small room. Adar lay motionless in a bed, and Delton hadn’t thought it possible, but he looked even worse than before. More bruises had bloomed on his face, which was completely swollen and covered in all colors of the rainbow. His upper body was bare but wrapped with bandages from the surgery, and he was clearly in a lot of pain.

Delton fought back a gasp. He had to be strong for Oliver, or the poor omega would lose it.

“We’ll stand here,” he said softly, positioning himself with his back against the far wall, placing Oliver in front of him with his back against Delton’s chest so he could hold him close.

Erwan took a sharp inhale but then stepped close to the bed. “Can I touch him?” he checked with Enar, who nodded.

“Keep it light, and don’t touch his abdomen.”

Enar stepped back as well, and only Erwan remained, staring at Adar for a long time. “I’m sorry I didn’t see what Dempsey was doing. I should have.” He caressed Adar’s hair almost tenderly. “I’m in your debt, and I will not forget it. And thank you for what you did for Oliver. You exacted revenge and found justice for him, even if it was a small fraction of what Dempsey deserved. He will never inflict pain upon anyone ever again, thanks to you.”

He closed his eyes, his hands now resting on Adar’s forehead, and the alpha let out a soft groan. “The gods have found honor in you, laoch . You have been found worthy of their blessing.”

A breeze drifted through the room, gentle as a feather, yet it sent shivers down Delton’s spine. Something was stirring, moving.

Erwan inhaled deeply. Was he…? Oh gods, his face was changing, glowing, radiating this light as if he were shining from the inside out. “Codladh, laoch. Codladh agus leigheas.”

Adar’s face relaxed, his mouth curling into a smile as the bruises visibly faded and the swelling reduced. His body sank deeper into the mattress as if it had been loosened from the bonds of pain. Tears formed in Delton’s eyes, and his gentle gasp mixed with those of the others. Enar looked stunned, but then a wide smile broke free on his face. His shoulders straightened as if a heavy load had been removed.

Erwan stood motionless for maybe a minute until he finally removed his hands from Adar’s head. He slowly turned around, meeting Delton’s eyes with a gentle smile. His face was pale as a ghost, but his smile was real. “He’s asleep now. He will be well.”

A sob escaped from Oliver’s lips, and he twirled around, burying his face against Delton’s chest. Delton pulled him close, hugging him tightly as his eyes met Erwan’s. “Thank you.”

“No, Delton, thank you. I forgot the power I had in me, and you reminded me of who I am. So thank you.”

Delton merely nodded at him, still holding on to Oliver.

“You can stay with him,” Enar said. “I’ll ask Lucan to place an extra bed in here so you can spend the night. Adar will want you here when he wakes up.”

“Thank you.”

Minutes later, Lucan brought in a second bed. It was a tight fit, but they made it work as they curled up on it together, Delton holding Oliver. “I’ll have some dinner brought for you,” Lucan said.

Delton gave him a smile stuffed with gratitude. “We appreciate it.”

“I’ve never seen magic like that,” Oliver whispered when they were alone again. “I didn’t know Erwan was capable of that.”

“I’m not sure he even knew himself, but somehow, my wolf did. Isn’t it funny how sometimes others have more faith in us than we do ourselves?”

Oliver hummed in agreement. “They say his mom was a mighty healer too, though her husband never knew. And I know his father and uncle are bad to the bone, but they have powerful magic. He has a strong bloodline.”

“He does, but that alone wouldn’t have been enough. He’s found favor with the gods because of his character, and that’s what makes the difference. Just like Lidon is extra powerful because of his heritage and being chosen to be the True Alpha, Erwan is the most powerful dragon on earth right now, fueled by his bloodline and being chosen as the White Dragon. We’ve only seen a fraction of what he’s capable of.”