Page 199 of The Lost Ones

“Levi, it was an accident.” I say through gritted teeth.

“He hurt you.” He bites out and the two guys share a wary look.

“I know but they thought we stole the girls.”

Levi just growls in reply but stays where he is which I take as a good thing.

“We’re honestly so sorry. Thank you so much for rescuing my little sister.” The guy who shot me says wincing as he looks at my shoulder.

“No worries.” I say and watch as they load up the girls and make a hasty retreat.

“Fuck.” Kai growls.

“How the fuck are you not screaming like a fucking banshee?” Kysen asks curiously as he walks around me to inspect the wound. “Well it’s gone straight through.” He says.

“I have a high pain threshold.” I reply.

Understatement of the century. The guys look at me worriedly.

“Little Star?” Jax says softly.

“I’m still here I’ve just muted it that’s all.” I try to reassure them I know they’re worried that I’ve completely turned it all off again and won’t be able to turn it back on. “Can someone get it out of me?”

“Fuck. I don’t know how to deal with arrows! We got trained how to take care of bullet and knife wounds but not fucking arrows.” Maverick says starting to panic.

“Hey!” I say loudly cutting through his panic. “It’s ok Mav, I’m ok.”

He frowns but the panic recedes slightly from his eyes.

“Can your friend the one with medical knowledge help?” He asks Kysen suddenly.

“I’ll check.” His eyes glaze. “He says you need to cut the tip off of it. Pull it through then immediately apply pressure on either side. He recommends that you bite down on a leather belt or something.” Kysen winces.

Jax

I wince as Kysen explains what needs to be done but like usual Sage just steels herself and nods.

“Alright lets get this done then. It hurts like a bitch even though I’ve gotit dampened.” She says trying to lighten the mood.

I don’t think any of us are going to completely relax until she’s switched her emotions or feelings or whatever it is that she does completely back on. I’m not too man enough to admit that it absolutely terrifies the shit out of me when she does it. I’ve had nightmares about what could’ve happened if she hadn’t been able to turn it all back on after the Brent thing.

She didn’t feel anything, she could’ve easily walked away from us all.

I stay lost in my thoughts as Maverick and Kai prepare to get the arrow out of Sage’s shoulder I can’t watch properly. I hate seeing her hurt. Levi’s not the only one that nearly lost his damn temper. I was ready to call my water and drown the mother fucker who shot her. Speaking of tempers I don’t think I’ll forget the shock that ran through me when I realised that she was the one that threw the knife that killed the vile green fucker. She’s an intriguing mix of incredibly strong and capable but also vulnerable at the same time. It’s because of that vulnerability that we’re all trying to hold back on saying I love you to her.

Apart from Kai of course, the look on her face when he said it earlier was absolutely priceless and it gives me hope that she’s finally getting used to being truly cared for something that has been severely lacking in her life. It seems to be when we do something that shows her just how much we care about her she starts to freak out. She didn’t look like she was freaking out earlier though.

I want to tell her I love her.

“Ready Beautiful. On the count of three I’m going to cut the end off of the arrow. It’s going to jar the wound.” Kai says seriously.

All of the usual mischief is missing from his handsome features and although I love that spark of mischief he normally carries with him there’s just something about his serious façade that I find incredibly attractive. Realising where my thoughts have taken me I force myself to focus again.

Ever since our supernatural sides were released feelings that I have been successfully burying for years now are suddenly resurfacing and refusing to go back down. Sage is facing me and I try to offer her a reassuring smile. I want to comfort her, get her to squeeze my hand as hard as she can whilst Kai the end off but Maverick’s positioned in front her. My gaze drifts over Sage’s shoulder to Kai, completely uncontrollable. My eyes are drawn to him as often as they’re drawn to Sage.

Kai’s already looking my way though and instead of darting my gaze away like I have been doing I refuse to this time. His eyes heat and he smirks winking at me and shocking the hell out of me.

It’s times like this that I could almost be tricked into thinking that he is interested in me too. He drops his gaze falling serious again as he focus’s on the arrow. Kysen hands him a tool that looks similar to garden shears but not quite so big. I seriously hope that they cut through the wooden arrow easily because if he has to saw or force it it’s going to hurt like hell.