Im taking over the team. Gage sighed. Temporarily. Helena, youre covered in blood. Youve burned yourself out handling that much power at once. I dont even know what the hell you just did, but it had to have fried your circuits. He said the last very quietly and Faine realized he wasnt the only one whod been amazed at what Helena had done.
In case you havent noticed, a riot is brewing. We need to get Molly out of here, along with the rest of the group. We need to be sure Tosh, Delilah and Parrish Carroll are all okay, along with all the Others who work here at the capitol.
Caspar has already gotten on making sure Sato and everyone else is all right. You are not all right.
Ive called to have a car sent over immediately. Before Helena could argue with Gage any further, Cade Warden stepped forward. Ms. Jaansen, Im in your debt for what you just did. I can see the physical toll as well. How about we get you back to the house where you can rest? Then you can have your needs tended by Others instead of humans.
Thats probably best. Gage nodded.
Faine held her tighter. Unless she needs a hospital, in which case, your need for privacy can be hanged. Youre not going to sacrifice her for that. I wont allow it.
Things got very still for long moments. Even Helena stopped trying to move. Cades brow rose, but a smile fought at the corner of his mouth. Yes, yes, Faine knew hed made a declaration on several levels, but he didnt care. There was no way hed allow Helenas needs to be shunted to the side.
Id never allow that either. Gage put an arm around Mollys shoulders. Shes my friend and my boss. But shell be more comfortable in private, and treated by our own people. If it turns out she needs more care, well get it for her. I swear to you.
Agent Anderson came jogging over along with several other FBI agents and cops. The rest fanned out, immediately getting to work. Jesus. Is everyone all right?
Helena coughed on the poisonous black smoke from the wreckage and Faine stepped away so she could breathe easier, Anderson following as he did.
Put me down, Helena ordered. But he heard the pain in her words and ignored her.
Agent Anderson, as you can see, Ms. Jaansen was injured while she protected the crowd from the explosion. She needs to be back at the home were staying in so she can rest. We need to get all our people out of here. Faines jaw was clenched so tight he was sure it creaked when he spoke.
Anderson nodded, paling as he took Helena in. Come on. Well talk to you all while we drive you over. Do we need to stop at the hospital?
I dont need a doctor.
Faine didnt know if he agreed with that point, but for the time being he let it go because he wanted her out of there and that was happening.
Molly and Gage first. Helena gave him a look that dared him to argue. Be sure she doesnt need to go to the hospital. Shes still healing from the last time.
Shes fine and she will be very cross with you if you dont get your butt into that car right now. Molly gave Helena a stern look and Helena snorted.
Its my job to protect you.
And you did. Emotion bled into Mollys voice. You did. Please. For me?
That seemed to do the trick and she allowed herself to be loaded into one of the SUVs Cade Warden had brought to the curb.
Anderson spoke to one of the officers on the scene and he loaded in with them, one of his cars following the group.
You can wait until shes resting before you question her.
Anderson sent him a look but Faine just ignored it. Hed done all the order taking he was going to for the time being. Helena was fragile in his arms, bloody, trembling, the glass shimmering in her hair, and he had to clamp down the urge to let his beast take over and rampage through that crowd back there to find who did this.
Helena started speaking. I dont know much. We came out from the hearing. Id called about ten minutes before to have the cars brought around. Her face changed. Goddess, the drivers. Someone needs to check to see if theyre
Anderson interrupted. My people are on the scene now. Ill let you know what we find. But you cant do anything about it. Just relax and keep talking.
The protesters were yelling, shoving. I was focused on that. I missed the signs until I was too close. Until we were all too close.
Faine saw that she took it personally. As if it were her fault.
Christ, Helena. Youre one person. You were dealing with the most emergent threat, all those people shoving around. Gage held Mollys hand like he planned to never let her go.
I should have seen it. Its my job. Helenas words were lost in a flurry of hacking coughs. Anderson handed her a moistened handkerchief. She continued coughing until Faines ribs hurt just listening to it.
The smoke is toxic. Its better out than inside you. Anderson shrugged at Faines look. Ive worked more than my fair share of bomb scenes.
She took a drink from a bottle of cold water. I saw something off. Felt it. But then the air sort of sucked away. I think the bomb was under the passenger side, front. Thats where the blast seemed to come from.
You should have died, being that close. Your, um, powers protected you?
Gage interrupted. Her powers protected everyone all around us. She . . . Witches have reservoirs of power, she pulled hers up too fast, she did it to shove as much as she could back at the blast to protect everyone. Not just our people, but the humans on those steps. That sort of thing is harmful. Shes bleeding because she burst capillaries with the exertion. She needs to rest. To restore her magick and let her body heal itself.
Faine wanted to kiss Gage for that defense of Helena.
Thank you. For what you did. You may not hear it from humans, though its clear you were a hero today. But youll hear it from me. Anderson leaned forward to touch Helenas knee and before he knew it, Faine found himself cutting off a possessive growl at the human male.
Helena raised a brow even in her exhausted state. Hed have to talk with her. Later, when she wasnt on the verge of collapse.
* * *
ONCE Anderson had gone, Molly tutted and fussed while Gage looked on, amused. You need to get cleaned up. Ive laid out a robe in the bathroom. Are you sure you dont want to go to the hospital? They have Others on staff. I know this from the last time we were bombed here. Molly handed her the glass of juice Helena had already half drained. She obediently finished it.
She returned in less than a minute with more juice and pushed it Helenas way.
Molly, you know I adore you, but girl, back up or I am going to lose my mind. Helena waved her away.
Fine. But Im calling your mother to see who we can speak to around here who will help you get yourself recharged. Molly sniffed and before Helena could argue, she left the room.
What did you do? Gage hefted himself up onto the bathroom counter as Helena attempted to clean her face.
Faine sighed and took the cloth from her, washing the soot away and getting it wet again. He gently pushed her hands back. Hush and let me work. Ive been dressing field wounds longer than witches have been in the New World.
She rolled her eyes, but held still as he dabbed at her skin.
What do you mean? I protected you all, thats my job.
Gage blew out a breath. I have never seen a spell like that, Helena. Ever.
Oh. That. Well, all right, I suppose youve experienced your magick building, growing, since the Magister, right?
Gage nodded.
Since I was young, a big part of my power has been sort of intuitive. I havent had to learn spells the same way others do. I just sort of knew what I needed and then I did it. Since the Magister, my magick has . . . leapt to me in a wholly new way. Its easier to call it no matter the place. But there are less filters so it comes hard and fast unless I regulate it. I knew I needed a lot to hold that energy from the blast back. Theres no Font here like there is in Gennessee or Owen territory and I was worried about siphoning from any witches around me. So I yanked it hard from the air and the earth. It was so much.
Faine grimaced. Are you going to be all right? Did you do permanent damage?
No, Ill be fine. Im crispy and if I had to do any major magick just now Id be fucked. But rest will restore me.
More than that, how did you do it? Sure, you can call more power, but that spell was awe-inspiring. You . . . what?
I just . . . I knew I needed to block the blast somehow. I didnt have a physical shield or a wall to hide behind. It occurred to me that it was physics, thats all magick is anyway. I just used energy to push back at the energy of the blast. The opposite of the wave from the explosion so it repelled. I dont know if I could do it again in the same way, only that if I had to do something similar in the future, I could.
Can you teach me? Do you think it could stop a bullet?
I dont know about a bullet. But I think I can help you visualize a wall of energy. I dont know your gifts that well and like I said, its not spellwork, not completely. I knitted something together on the fly but that was to focus my power in one spot and keep it from feeding back and harming me.
You mean like bleeding from the nose and mouth? Faine wanted to shake her and order her to never, ever do such a thing again. But he knew she would. And that she could was apparently a big deal. She was a warrior like he was. Just a few days ago he accepted it, but now the stakes were higher, and his feelings? Well, theyd adjusted and deepened, which made it far more difficult to accept that shed put herself in danger.
When I was young I got nosebleeds all the time. My dad says its because I have a poor sense of moderation. Her smile was wry and he sighed, charmed.
I think I can teach you to spool the power better. Still quickly, but with more control. Gage nodded. As for my gifts? Theyve been growing, as yours seem to have. I can sense intent. I knew there was danger in that crowd. Mortal danger. But I couldnt see it as the cars.
You both chose the obvious dangers and focused, which is the way it should be. There are so many things to constantly be aware of, you can only examine so many at once. Faine shrugged. It was true. Yes, theyd missed the cars being a possible threat, but in their place hed have done the same. He had done the same.
I need to check in with the people at the garage here. I instituted a policy and its been in place for months now. All vehicles are monitored in the garage and theyre examined on entry and exit for physical issues as well as spellwork that isnt mine or anyone elses from my team.
Faine sighed; the female was flat-out insane. Why dont you take a shower first? Then you can eat out in the garden and sleep. You can call and bark orders at people and have them brought here while you eat. She started to argue and he held a hand up. Im saying youre the leader of this team. You will be needed again, as will your magick. Youre depleted right now, you said so yourself. So get back to 100 percent first and then get back out there. You can deal with the car and your people while you handle getting yourself taken care of.
Gage nodded. Hes right. Dont make me go over your head and have The Gennessee overrule you.
Molly has to stay in for the rest of the day then. And I need you to call Toshs office to be sure hes all right, as well as any Others who work at the capitol.
Gage nodded. We can do that. He hopped down and headed for the door. You amazed me today. Ive seen some amazing magickafter all, I was there watching Meriel and her mother stop the Magister. What you did today ranks up there.
Helena blushed as he left the room.
Do you need help showering? Faine asked.
One of her brows went up. You offering?
Dont poke at me right now. Im not all right. My beast is more agitated than the man.
She paused, he could tell, trying to figure out what to say. Im fine, thank you for offering. I can stand long enough to take a shower. But if you would ask the chef to make me something high in protein and green vegetables, Id appreciate that.
He sucked in a breath but didnt stop himself from pressing a kiss to her forehead. When she asked for his help it always did things to his system. Ill be listening for you. Just yell if you need help. I mean it.
She nodded and he left before he could say or do anything else.
Chapter 9
SHE knew Lark would call. The only surprise was how long it took. Shed showered, spoken with her team about the car, mourned two whod been killed, eaten, been fussed over by Faine and Molly and escaped finally by going to sit out in the middle of the raised beds in the garden to recharge.
Shed scowled everyone away and finally had returned inside, finding a small sitting room and settling on a couch with a blanket, reading her mail and taking calls.
Helena answered her sisters call with, Im all right.
The only reason I am not on a plane to you right now is because of that. Gage has been keeping me updated but I figured youd had long enough and I needed to hear your voice.
Helena smiled, touched at that.
Christ, Hellie, what the hell? Car bombs? Do you think we should pull the plug and bring people home?
Im going to take the next few hours to think on that. I ate some lunch and sat in the garden for an hour. My nose isnt bleeding anymore and my teeth havent fallen out, so Im counting that as a win.
Dont joke. This is serious. You could have died. Larks voice was stern, but the fear bled through.
Yeah, like when you got shot. Twice. Saving the world.