CHAPTER 17
Stracey
The last three days have been torture. I don’t know how I’m still sitting here, watching over a comatose Jasper. He’s barely moved an inch since we arrived back at Lelland and Lavina’s house. We have Jasper in this room and Karina in the room next door. Kevin hasn’t moved from her bedside, and I haven’t moved from Jasper’s. I just can’t bring myself to believe that he won’t wake up. I can’t.
I lift his hand to my lips and place soft, gentle kisses over his knuckles. “Come on, Jazz. I need you to come back to me, baby. We all need you.”
While I’ve sat here, I’ve gone through every situation Jasper and I have found ourselves in. His tone of voice when we shared many peaceful nights together. The way he held my hand when I was upset. He’s always loved me, it was just his head that had to catch up with his heart.
“Where is he?” I hear shouting from the hall outside. Before I can move, our door barges open and in walk Markus, Lisa, and Joel. They stop in the doorway as they see Jasper’s lifeless body on the bed. Lisa lifts her hand to her mouth to stifle a sob. Markus makes his way into the room and takes up his place at the opposite side of Jasper’s bed. Thankfully, the bed is there, because Markus’s legs give out and he sits on the side of the bed. He lifts Jasper’s hand in his and tears slide down his cheeks. Lisa and Joel keep back and gave him his space, but I can’t sit here and watch him shatter. I round the bed and place my hands over Markus’s shoulders and squeeze them softly.
“Why hasn’t he woken up?” he sobs.
“He’s stable. I’m not going to lie, if it wasn’t for another witch we rescued, he wouldn’t be here now. He was nearly…”
“No. Don’t say it. He can’t. He needs to wake up.”
“He will. I have faith that he will. He’s got too much to lose, Markus. Kevin got him to me, and I did all I could, but it wasn’t enough. All I can do now is send him my healing power, let him rest, and hopefully he’ll wake up soon. His wound has healed nicely. We were concerned at first, but his shifting ability helped him.”
“Where is Kevin?” Lisa asks from Joel’s arms.
“He’s next door.”
“Why? Why isn’t he here?” She straightens her back and looks out of the door she just walked in.
“You haven’t heard, have you?”
“Heard what? Is he hurt? Oh God, not him too.”
“No. He’s fine. He’s…” I sigh. “He’s found his mate. She was one of the girls in the cave. She was in grave danger when he brought her out. Her name is Karina, but she too hasn’t woken up yet…”
I’m not quite finished but Lisa is already heading to Kevin’s room. Joel and I follow her because we can both see she’s upset.
When we reach the bedroom, Kevin has Lisa in his arms. She’s saying something but I can’t make it out.
“How is she doing, Darcy?” I step up to the bed and place my hand on Darcy’s shoulder.
“Just the same,” she says softly.
“Darcy, this is Lisa, Kevin’s sister, and Joel, a member of our pack. Remember I told you that Jasper helps people in your situation? Well, Kevin, Lisa, Joel, and Markus, who you’ll meet later when you come next door, they were all in your position.”
“Hi.” Lisa holds her hand out to Darcy, and she accepts it.
“Nice to meet you. You’re Jasper’s son?” She looks past Lisa to Joel, but he hasn’t moved or taken his eyes off Darcy.
“Aye. No. Well, not biologically. He saved me when I was a bairn. He’s as good as a dad.” Darcy nods and Joel remains still. “Kev, it’s good to see you, brother. I… I… I’m glad you found your mate, but I need to be next door with Markus. I’ll come back later.”
Joel races out of the room before Kevin can speak. We all look at one another and I frown at the empty door frame. What was that all about? Joel is one of the kindest shifters I know. He usually welcomes any paranormal being into the pack, but he’s yet to welcome Darcy.
I shake my head. “Joel’s just preoccupied. I’m sure he’ll speak more with you later. Jasper means a great deal to him and Markus. I better go to them.”
I leave Lisa and Kevin with Darcy, but when I get outside the room, Joel is sitting on the floor with his hands in his hair. I close the door and sit down beside him. I know I should be with Jasper, but Jasper wouldn’t forgive me if I left any of his sidekicks without the motherly figure they clearly need at the moment.
“He’ll be okay, pal. I know it’s hard keeping a vigil at his bedside, but he’ll be glad to see you all here.”
“Who is the witch, Strace?”
I tilt my head to the side so I can see his face clearly. He looks like he has a war going on inside his head. He looks like he’s in pain.
“I don’t know much. She helped save Jasper’s life. It was her that put the spell on the wolf that bit Jasper…”
“What? Why the fuck is she here then?” He jumps up to re-enter the room, but I stop him.
“It isn’t what you think. She was seriously messed up in there, Joel. She was violated, abused, tortured, all to do their dirty work. She had no choice until the bastards were killed. As soon as she was unlocked from her cell, she came to my aid. Are you okay?”
“No. Yes. I’m fucking peachy.”
“Joel. What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” He backs away from me, enters Jasper’s room, and takes up my seat opposite Markus. They both sit tight at his bedside and I sit on the chair at the bottom of his bed. None of us are planning on moving until he’s awake.