Page 42 of Unclaimed Bonds

He flinches at her words. His eyes glass over and shift over to meet mine. Without saying anything, he asks if he can trust her. I nod. He hovers his hands over Jessica’s abdomen and her heart, infusing her body with his healing magic. Emily gasps.

As the minutes pass and nothing happens, our hope dwindles further. With a heavy sigh, Sodie drops back into his chair. Despair grows heavy in the room.

Emily rests a hand on Jessica’s leg. “I read somewhere that magic healers can pull energy from other magic wielders to strengthen their magic. I’m not a magic wielder, but some generations back, we are rumored to carry white wolf shifter blood. Maybe if you pull from my energy and tap into Liam’s, we could help.”

Sodie scoffs. “You read that somewhere, like from one of those damn romance novels girls like to read.”

Emily glares. “If you must know, asshole, I read it in a journal of my great-grandfather’s, who happens to be the son of theoriginal head guard. And for the record, I don’t read romance novels.”

Sodie’s eyes widen. Right, he had no idea that Emily is Elias’s daughter.

“Just do it, numb nuts, before everyone returns,” Emily sneers, leaning over the bed and placing a hand on my shoulder. I rest my hand over Jessica’s heart. With a tilt of my head, I encourage Sodie, who eventually places one hand over mine and another on Jessica’s torso.

Together, we give Jessica everything we have.

When Shakti and Chris’s mate, Tater, return, we are exhausted. But there is still no change. Sensing the weariness deep in our bones, Shakti forces the three of us out of the room.

“You three need a break. We’ll take over and call if… anything happens.” Shakti promises with a break in her voice. Tater rubs her arm, turning her own head away to wipe at the moisture around her eyes. Tater, like Emily, hasn’t met Jessica officially. And yet she already mourns her.

My gut twists at the sorrow on both of their faces. Both Chris and Elias’s family have been in and out to support Shakti and the twins. They are a tight-knit family and why solidarity and unity are instilled among the guards.

We all nod. Sodie is the first to stand. I give Jessica’s hand a final squeeze and reluctantly walk toward the door.

Chapter 23

Nine Lives

JESSICA

PRESENT DAY:

March 31, 2025

Carmen gawks at me with wide eyes. “How the hell are you alive?”

I smirk. “I ask myself that same question all the time. At this point, I should have died twice.”

She shakes her head. “On top of the trauma you already suffered, you survived internal bleeding, anaphylaxis, sepsis, and organ failure. I mean, the list goes on. How?”

I laugh softly. “Dr. York couldn’t figure it out either. He called in specialists, and they didn’t understand it. No one really knows how it happened in the first place. I mean, there were theories.” I lift my hands and shrug.

“So just like that, you got better and woke up.”

“Not exactly. After they took me off life support, I didn’t die, as the medical team and specialist predicted. I spontaneously started breathing on my own, and my heart rate remained slowbut steady. After about twenty-four hours, maybe… Sorry. This is all secondhand information. My timeline could be wrong. My vital signs improved, and I began to heal. Apparently, there was only one donor from which I could receive without a negative reaction, so they gave that a try, monitoring closely for any signs of rejection. When there were none, they moved forward and gradually incorporated other treatments. It was very limited because my body just healed on its own, like a normal, nontransitioned shifter should. It took about a week or so before I woke up.”

Carmen purses her lips. “Did you experience other medical emergencies?”

“Yeah. Near-death experiences seem to be my forte.” Licking my lips, I gaze around the room. “My brothers and I have a running joke, you know, because I’m adopted without any recollection of where I came from. They used to tease me that I was part feline.”

“Feline?”

Christian and I bark with laughter at Carmen’s question. Clearly, she doesn’t understand.

“You know, cats have nine lives. I think I’m down to my last one.”

Chapter 24

Shadows And Light