Kenzie saw it all. Well, in a dream-like haze she witnessed what happened. Or maybe she was just dreaming and her Vampire didn’t rescue her after all.

Maybe she was not in his arms right at this moment, and instead the other filthy brute was doing disgusting things to her and her mind had fractured and this was her way of dealing with it. Hell, she hoped not. If that beast violated her then she was certain she’d fall apart . . . or worse. She’d explode with fury and she wasn’t sure what would happen then. That’s if she ever woke up. She was hurt pretty bad. She knew that. She could feel it as sure as if she knew her own name.

Her brain hurt. Physically hurt and that was definitely not a good sign.

His arms around her felt good though. So good. His fingers trailing over her face as he moved her hair . . . oh that was magical. It felt so much better in real life than anything she’d experienced in her dreams. And boy! That was saying something.

There was another voice and it called him . . . Flint. His name was Flint! It suited him, she thought as she tried to listen in but she couldn’t. Dropping in and out as she fought to heal herself . . . and failed. She wondered if she’d stay alive long enough to open her eyes, see him properly and feel his lips cover hers. She hoped so. Craved to feel him against her as she told him that she’d been dreaming of him and known about him for weeks now. She wanted to whisper his name and hear hers on his lips. Would he like it as much as she loved his?

In and out she drifted . . . aware one moment and then darkness would sweep her away only to jolt her back again. This time she heard that magical word: Healer. Wonderful. Maybe she stood a chance after all. If they got hold of someone worth their salt . . . and knew anything about her kind, then maybe she stood a chance. His arms tightened around her, anchoring her to him and tethering her to his heart . . . how? She wasn’t aware of the how. The why. But she felt it, flowing from him . . . his power vast, so strong that it held her firmly here and stopped her slipping away into nothingness. If she could hold on, just for a little while longer until the Healer . . . maybe she had a chance.

“I’ll try, Flint, I’ll try.”

* * *

Talon pulled to a stop right at the door to the cottage, jumping out to open the door. “You got her? If so I’ll go check that the Healer’s here and ready.”

“I’m fine. Go,” Flint urged him. “Make sure she knows what happened.”

“Sure.” Talon turned and sprinted toward the house.

Flint got out, taking great care with his cargo. “I’ve got you, baby. The Healer will help you now.”

Dougie and his men were already setting up, the Alpha ordering his wolves to set up a perimeter around the house before he and his Beta walked in behind Flint. “Flint, I’ll stay in side with Gus. We won’t let anyone get near your mate.”

“Thanks,” Flint replied as he entered, finding Talon talking to a small, elderly woman who turned to greet them.

What he didn’t expect was her face to turn ashen and her hand to shoot to her chest, a scream to tear from her throat. “Kenzie! Oh my lord! What’s happened to my granddaughter? What’ve you done?”

She tore toward them, her speed shocking him as she slid to a stop, her hands flying over his Bloodmate. Flint couldn’t stop his lip curling up and the snarl ripping free. “Back off, old woman. This is my Bloodmate and nobody, and I mean no-fucking-body touches her unless I say so. If you want to keep those hands attached to your body, I suggest you step away . . . now!”

Talon rushed forward, his hands up placatingly before him. “Flint, stop! This is Moira McBride, the Healer I was telling you about.”

Flint didn’t relax, glaring down at the diminutive woman who was glaring right back up at him angrily. Her eyes flashed at him before she snapped, “You! You’re her Vampire? The one she’s been dreaming about? And this is how you bring her back? She’s severely injured, you great big numbskull! How did this happen and tell me . . . why did you allow this to happen?”

Her words hit him like physical blows. Each and every one landing on him like silver daggers thrown by a worthy opponent and sinking deep inside him. His insides churning as he pushed past and strode toward his bedroom. His voice cold as steel as he threw back icily, “I am definitely hers and she is mine, although I’ve no idea what you’re talking about . . . she dreamt of me? And I didn’t allow this to happen. We came upon her in an alley and she’d been accosted by a group who were in the act of kidnapping her. We rescued her but she’d been hurt before we could get her away. Talon here contacted a Healer . . . you! We had no idea you were related, so, if you’re done with the accusations, can you get to work and help her? I’m about at the end of my tether and my patience is worn through right now. All I care about is her.”

His jaw ached, his muscles tensed, his head fucking pounded at the thought this woman believed he had anything to do with hurting the woman in his arms. How fucking dare she. She was so damn close to getting her throat ripped out. If it weren’t for the fact she was the Healer and his Bloodmate’s only chance for help . . . Kenzie. Fuck. He knew her name now and suddenly he seemed to calm down a little as he kicked open his bedroom door and entered. Hurrying to place Kenzie on the bed gently and covering her with the bedspread before turning to face her grandmother.

“Can you help her? If so then get to work instead of arguing with me because the people who did this to her . . . well, they’re not done.”

Moira’s eyes opened as she sat on the bed, examining his unconscious Bloodmate, talking as she worked. “What does that mean? Is she still in danger?”

“According to Talon, she is. The men responsible are going to come after her and we’re setting up for a fight. I’ve got a pack of wolves here, including an Alpha and a Beta, as her personal guard. They’ll stay right here with you and Kenzie, at the cottage while I go with Talon and the rest of the army that’s being assembled to take out these fuckers. I’ll promise you this . . . they won’t survive because I plan on killing them myself. The one that did that to her, he’s mine. I’m going to make him pay for that. He’ll suffer for touching her, for hurting her, and for what he’d planned on doing to her before I got there to stop him.”

Moira glanced back at him, her eyes locking with his and he saw an age-old wisdom there, but that wasn’t all he saw. He saw a fury burning brightly and something else. Something that was boiling hot inside him too: an ardent need for revenge. “Make sure you do,” she fired back at him coldly.

“I will. You don’t have to worry about that.” He came closer, kneeling at the side of the bed to gently run his finger down the side of Kenzie’s face. “Can you help her?”

He saw the pallor of her face; how pale it was and it scared the shit out of him. Her skin was cold to the touch too and that just ratcheted up his concern. He leaned over, caressing her cheek with his lips in a brief ghost of a kiss as Moira answered.

“Aye, I can, but if you’d been much longer it might’ve been a different answer I’d be giving you. Now go and give me peace to work. This is going to test my skills, Flint, and I’ll need all my strength and I’ll be needing a good drink afterward and a long nap.”

Flint canted his head, exhaling loudly. “Thank you. You’ve no idea what she means to me. She’s my Bloodmate and that’s, well, it’s amazing is what it is. I wouldn’t be able to carry on without her. I’m sorry if we started off on the wrong foot, but I’m very protective of her.”

“I understand.” Moira patted his shoulder. “She’s my only family now so I’m protective of her too. You better take care of her, Flint, or you’ll have me to deal with.”

“I will. Do you have a phone?” he asked.

Moira grabbed her bag, rummaging around inside and pulling out an old model. “Yes.”

“Give me your number.” He got his own out, input her number then called her, letting it ring before hanging up. “That’s mine, save it and keep me updated if there’s any change.”

“I will.” Moira nodded.

“Thanks.” Flint rose, turning to leave. “There’s a good Glenmorangie in the kitchen . . . help yourself. I’ll see you later.”

He took one last look at his Bloodmate, still, pale and bloodied, lying in his bed . . . red-hot fury igniting deep inside his soul and a growl rumbling up unbidden from his chest. He spun away, marching down the hallway to find Dougie standing guard, his imposing figure giving him a sense of composure with the knowledge that Kenzie would be well defended in his absence.

“I’ll no be moving until this is over.” Dougie tipped his head. “Have no fear about your mate while you’re taking care of business.”

“Thanks.” Flint gave the Alpha a nod as he passed, waving for Talon. “Come on, we’ve got business to take care of.”

Talon jumped up from the sofa, falling in behind him. “Right there with you. Mister Alexander is waiting for us.”

“Wonderful,” Flint replied sarcastically, knowing he needed the guy’s help and he should at least try and play nice.

Hell, he was on the edge and it wasn’t going to take much to tip him right on over, so he hoped that Quinn Alexander didn’t do anything that set him off.