“I don't care what you have to do, you will make her fucking better. I don't care if you have to grab every fucking healer in this camp, you will do whatever it takes,” I snap at the doctor who has been monitoring Kenzie. I haven't left her side since she passed out again half an hour ago. I'd debated going to get Kelly, but I didn't want to go against her wishes. Not unless I have to. If the other healers can't do the job, she will. Miss Crowe’s wishes be damned.

“We are doing everything possible to ensure Miss Crowe's wellbeing, we just need some more time so we can heal her. We won't let anything happen to her,” he says.

“Bullshit,” I say, grinding it out between my clenched teeth. They won't let anything happen to her? They already have. I knew we should have left yesterday, but no, we planned for tonight. Looking at Kenzie lying comatose on the bed, I know we won't be leaving tonight as planned. Fuck. I need to call the council. And now I know I need to get Verity out of here first. My body tenses as I think of my sister. She did this. She caused Kenzie this pain. Maybe what Kenzie saw at the school was true, but I don't want to believe my sister is completely gone. The good in her has to be there still. I would get her away from here, and in time, she would realise her mistakes. I just have to hope that Kenzie will forgive me for needing to save Verity too. My sister is all that is left of my family, and I don't intend to lose her too. Stroking a hand down the side of Kenzie’s sleeping face, I’m lost in my thoughts.

Kenzie doesn't understand Verity like I do, she doesn't know what she has gone through, what happened to her as a child. I hold Kenzie's sleeping hand tighter as I remember what one of my fathers did, how he used the pain mark on her when she was only a toddler. I wish I could kill him, but my other dad did that for me, for all of us. I know she isn't evil inside, she was so sweet before it happened, but ever since then, the trauma changed her, the magic changed her. She manifested her pain mark before ever stepping into the waters at the academy, not that we ever revealed that to anyone outside of our family. The kind of attention that marked anomalies give you is always the bad kind.

A hand rests on my shoulder and I shrug it off. “Fuck off,” I mutter.

“Cut the shit, Daniels. We're all worried about her,” Enzo says, and then he leans down to whisper. “Get your crap together and play your part properly. He can't know how deeply you care for her, not for this to work,” he whispers harshly, but I know he's right. Letting go of her hand, I swallow and stand up, heading for the doctor.

“You know we need her alive for what her mark does; if she dies, we have nothing. You fucking have her awake and healed by morning, or you'll never wake again. Do you understand me?” I snap. He nods frantically, and I swear I hear one of the twins chuckle. “Do you think this is funny?” I turn around, snapping at Locke. He points at Logan next to him. “You then, asshole, do you think this is funny?” I growl.

He narrows his eyes on me. “Of course it isn't funny, I'm worried as shit. What made me chuckle was Locke's comment about the doctor looking like he just shit his pants. You're a scary fucker, Daniels, to most people anyway,” he replies. I let out a breath and grunt. Maybe I did take it too far with the doctor?

Looking at Kenzie one last time before I leave the room, I decide there isn't a ‘too far’ here. I would do anything for her. I send off a silent prayer to whatever gods may be listening. Please let her be okay.

* * *

Once I am far enough away from the compound, I pull over on the side of the road and pull my burner phone out. I dial my contact at the council.

“I need to speak to Mrs Curwood, now. It's important,” I snap as soon as he answers.

“Nice to talk to you too, Daniels,” Miles' voice responds sarcastically.

“No fucking time, transfer me now,” I snap.

“You're always such a pleasure,” he snaps back, and then before I can reply, I hear the transfer hold music. Who fucking thought people waiting on hold would want to listen to this crap? I almost smash my phone to escape the awkward 90s music. Like anyone wants a reminder of that.

“You have news?” Mrs Curwood's voice comes down the phone.

“Kenzie and Kelly are injured. They’re with healers and should be okay, but we cannot do the move tonight. It's off. Call it all off,” I say quickly.

“Call it all off? Our team is already in position, and ready to go on your signal. We have been planning this since she was taken, and now you are telling me we have to put this off?” she replies. I grip my steering wheel with my free hand tightly.

“Did you miss the part where I said both Kenzie, and your daughter Kelly are injured?” I say, hoping she meant to say something

“Surely we can pull this off, even if they are injured,” she says plainly.

“They’re not in a fit state to travel. I'm telling you it can't be done,” I growl. “Are you not the least concerned about your daughter?” I snap.

“I'm sure Kelly will be fine, as you said, she is being looked after by healers, is she not?” she replies, and I grit my teeth to keep in the reply. That woman is an emotionless robot. I've hated her from the moment I'd met her at the council building in London last year. She cares only about results, never what it takes to achieve those results. I wasn't surprised when she had so easily agreed to allow her untrained daughter to take part in such a dangerous mission, but this is a whole new level of low. How can someone be so uncaring towards their family? Does she not realise how lucky she is?

“Daniels, are you still there?” she asks.

“Here, but I'm going. Don't send them in under any circumstances. Trust me, if you attack without my help from inside, you will fail. I'll call tomorrow.” I hang up the phone before she can reply, and then I roughly throw it at the windscreen. I cringe when I see the chip it's caused there. Fuck, that's gonna spread. I'll be avoiding potholes like my life depends on it.

I get out of the car, slamming the door behind me and just walk for a bit, stretching my legs. So much adrenaline is coursing through me, I need an outlet, I need to do something. I call my protection mark, and then I call forth my wolf, shifting easily. A quick run in this form should do the trick nicely.