The Progeny (The Progeny Series) (28 page)

They soared over the guard wall as explosions rocked the night sky
, sending plumes of dark smoke and fire flying from the structure. “Quinn and his dramatic dynamite riggings—what an adrenaline junkie,” Ascher mumbled then snickered.

Ursula’s shrieking cries billowed out of the fiery madness
, vowing revenge.

Ascher and Gabe ran through the foliage towards the cottage. Neither of them said a word, or even looked at one another. Ascher looked down at Shauna, his eyes sweeping over her body, his mind channeling her thoughts. “How much does it hurt?”

“Not so much, now.”

“Olivia will check you o
ut when we get to the cottage.”

Her face saddened.

“What’s wrong, love? Why are you so sad?”

Sh
auna sniffled. “I feel bad for Ursula. I know she’s evil and that she’s done bad things, but she lost her father. I know it could’ve been you burning in that hall. While I’m grateful that it isn’t—I’m still sad for her.”

“You
’re mad, do you know that? Someone tries to kill you and you cry tears for their loss. I don’t understand your capacity for forgiveness and compassion. If it makes you feel any better, we only did what the covenants prescribed. We avenged Katy’s kidnapping. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“The crampi
ng is gone. I feel better, but I’m so afraid Katy’s not going to make it.”

“If she gets any worse, she may have to be changed. It may be the only way to save her life.”

“The only way?”

“
Don’t worry so much about that. We’ll cross that bridge when, and if, we get to it. Just close your eyes.” He planted a gentle kiss on her lips. “You need your rest to gather your strength

“Maybe just a little nap
.”

Ascher
held her tightly in his arms while relishing the exquisite scent of her. He didn’t know if Katy would make it, but he was grateful she was alive. As he glanced over at his brother, he hissed the tiniest bit. He wasn’t sure what Gabe was up to, but he’d keep him far away from Shauna and his child.

Twenty-Three ~ M
ortal Problems with Immortal Solutions

Langley, Massachusetts

Ascher carried Shauna down the long hall to his room
in Bonheur. Her expression was serene just now, though her caramel complexion looked pale and anemic. She’d been in and out of sleep the whole trip home. With Shauna lying silent in his arms, he knew that there would be more bloodshed, lives lost and more hatred spewed between the two clans—so much for their peaceful period.

Removing her
shoes, he laid her in the bed before cuddling up beside her to sleep. He was
mortally
tired. The ride home was long and arduous. Quinn and Tristan displayed cordial attitudes towards Gabe, but Ascher had too many questions to buy into Gabe’s act. The bright morning sun morphed into dusk as they slept. Ascher woke to a clammy and shivering Shauna. Rolling her to make her more comfortable, he noticed the bright blood staining her jeans.

The bleeding had worsened.

“No!” Ascher shouted. “Olivia, come quick—she’s hemorrhaging!”

Olivia and Quinn tore into the room.

“What is it?” Olivia shouted with worry creasing her youthful face.

“Where are the others?” Ascher questioned.

“Tristan is scolding Kara about what happened in the cottage. They’ll be in seclusion for a couple of days. He doesn’t trust her to come out. Father is out getting more blood, because Katy and Shauna may need what we have left in the cellar.”

Ascher felt for her doubled pulse
, but it was faint and sluggish. “Will the baby make it?”

“
Her bleeding has picked up,” Olivia stated while internally examining her. “I’m more worried about the impact of the blow to her abdomen. All we can do is wait it out and see what happens.”

Ascher growled. “Ursula will pay for this. I promise you that!”

“I know you’re angry,” Quinn snarled. “I’m furious too, Ascher, and I’ll be more than happy to help give Ursula everything she deserves. Let’s save Shauna first, then we can hatch a plan to get back at that bitch. Olivia, what can I do to help?”

Olivia
reached down and caressed Shauna's pale face. “Blood, she needs blood.”

“I’ll get her some from the cellar.” Quinn
floated swift like out of the room, heading downstairs.

“I’ll meet you i
n the infirmary,” Ascher assured Olivia, grabbing Shauna into his arms. Once in the infirmary, he laid her cold body across the bed, cuddling her in his warm and protective arms. The blood now gushed from beneath her, shock infusing her body with tremors.

Olivia flashed through the room, sterilizing and gathering instruments, setting up equipment
to ready her workstation.

Ascher held his breath.

The smell of Shauna’s blood drove him crazy, sending vibrations through his mouth, tightening his muscles while churning his stomach.
Not right now, she’s losing your baby. Get control of yourself.

His internal monologue did nothing to ease his discomfort.

Again, Ascher sucked a quick breath. Shauna wasn’t a trinity anymore, but her blood still summoned the wild-eyed demon inside him. The metallic perfume smacked his nose, taunting him, mocking his control.
Do it. Bite her. She’s dying, so it doesn’t matter what you do.
The red-eyed monster emerged in his mind
. Satiate your thirst and be satisfied.

The man
who loved her fought back.
You love her. Save her. Don’t hurt her.

Shauna’s eyes rolled
in pain

Immediately, Ascher assumed
control of himself and pulled her closer. “Hold on, love. Please hold on,” he begged, holding her face to his to gauge her breathing. “Don’t leave me, Shauna. I love you. Olivia’s here and Quinn’s on the way with the blood. Just hold on. You can have anything you want. Just please don’t leave me.” He held her tighter. “I can’t live without you.”

There was another
remedy for her condition. Ascher considered this dreaded solution, as he rocked her back and forth. It was a crapshoot, at best. He could change her before her injuries stole the last breaths from her precious body. If she ingested his blood, she’d surely survive, but he couldn’t do that to her.

It had to be
her
choice.

Quinn rushed into the room with six bottles of
type O blood then set up an I.V. to administer fluids. Like most of the Rousseaus, Quinn held several medical degrees. Ascher held two of his own, but couldn’t emotionally detach himself to treat Shauna as a patient.

“Sit her up for me
,” Olivia demanded. “We have to stop the internal bleeding first. Does Quinn need to take over, or can you handle this?”

Ascher sighed. “I’m fine
and I’m
not
leaving her. Tell me what you need me to do.”

“Prop her head up
,” Olivia ordered, pressing on Shauna's stomach. More blood gushed from beneath her. “She’s miscarrying for sure.”

Ascher
saw red as he growled, “No!”

“Quinn
!” Olivia shouted. “I need you to grab my bag and give her some Pitocin to stop the bleeding. Ascher.” Olivia turned to him now. “Put her legs in the stirrups.” Gloving her hands, Olivia quickly checked her and surmised, “She’s going to need a D&C tomorrow morning.”

With the bleeding under control
and Shauna floating on a morphine cloud, Ascher decided to occupy his mind by cleaning the blood-splattered mess in the infirmary. He transferred Shauna to another bed to clear the soiled sheets.

Quinn
appeared, immediately grabbing a sponge to help disinfect the surfaces. He looked up and caught his brother’s anguished stare. “I just came back from Gabe’s room. Katy seems to be doing a little better.”

Ascher continued mopping the same spot on the floor.

“Ash, are you okay?”

Devastated, mentally exhausted and barely holding on to his sanity,
Ascher stopped mopping. “If she dies, I’ll die, too. Simple as that.”

“She isn’t going to die
, but you still have a dilemma. What are you going to do about Ursula? She’s not going to stop coming for her. She nearly killed her this time. Next time, Shauna might not be so lucky. Why didn’t you kill that bitch when you had the chance?”

Ascher’s
vision blurred bright red. “Ursula’s days are numbered. I only let her live, so she can feel the pain of having to grieve for her father. If she comes at us again, there’s a silver spike with her name on it. For what she did to Katy, she deserves to die. For what she’s done to Shauna and my child, she will surely suffer—before she dies!”

Two days passed. In those two days, Ascher and Olivia kept vigilant watches. Each day
, Shauna’s complexion warmed, the flush in her cheeks attesting to her growing strength. Worried about his human love, Ascher’s family visited from all over the world to check on Shauna’s recovery.

Olivia assured
him that Shauna would conceive again. Each member of the family was livid and agreed that Ursula should pay for what she did, pledging their full support when the time came. Considered innocents, the covenants protected Shauna and the baby.

On the evening of the second day, Ascher sat in the lone chair by his bed—writing and watching Shauna’s peaceful slumber. H
e focused in on her as she stirred, rousing from her deep sleep. Cupping her face with his hand, he whispered, “Hey,” as a wide smile brightened his exhausted face. “Welcome back, sweetheart. How do you feel?”

* * * *

“Like a truck hit me, and then dragged me for miles,” she replied. Every muscle, bone and joint in her body ached. She lifted herself and groaned. “Ascher, where am I?”

“You’re at Bonheur. We’re home.”

It was the first time he’d called the manor her home. “What happened to me?” A ripple of pain seized her stomach and she asked, “Is the baby okay?”

“You passed out. Don’t you remember?”

“I don’t think so.” Disorientation clouded her memory. “I only remember seeing Katy. She was weak and frail, but she was alive. I told her to run from Ursula. Where is my sister? I want to see her.” She attempted to raise herself up. “Is Katy okay?”

Ascher
pressed her back against the pillow. “We’ll talk about it when you’ve rested.”

Shauna regarded him suspiciously. “What are you hiding from me?”

Ascher’s eyes evaded her inquisitive stare. “I don’t want to upset you.”

“I thought we were going to be truthful and keep no secrets.” Shauna arched her brow at him. “You’re
not
keeping up your end of the bargain.”

His quivering hands held hers, his eyes
cautiously searching. “Katy is awake, but she’s medicated for her pain. She lost a lot of blood and was pretty battered and bruised. Gabe and Quinn are taking great care of her. Do you trust me?”

Shauna nodded.

“Then trust me to know what’s best for you right now. I promise you that she’s fine. Everyone is more worried about
you
right now.” His eyes creased as an uneasy expression arose from the concern.

Shauna didn’t like that look. Her heart hammered in her tightened chest as a
swell of pain concentrated below. She gripped her tummy. “I feel so weak. Why am I so weak, Ash?” Her eyes shifted downward. “Why do I hurt down there?”

“You lost a lot of blood
, too. Olivia transfused you four times.” Ascher squeezed her hand. “Sweetheart, the baby passed. I’m so sorry, Shauna. Olivia says not to worry, because you are perfectly healthy and we can have more kids. Quinn even helped to save your life in the infirmary.”

“No!” she shouted
at the top of her lungs, as her picture of the Eiffel Tower fell to the ground. “I don’t believe you! Why would you say something so awful to me? He isn’t gone—he can’t be!” The windows rattled. “Tell me, it isn’t true.”

Ascher
lowered his head.

“No!
She
doesn’t get to take anything else from me—I want my baby. He can’t be gone!” Her vision tinted gray as she balled her fists, punching him until her arms hurt and her eyes flooded with tears. “I hate her! That bitch, I’ll see her dead!” Her body drooped, as her hysterical rants became anguished sobs.

He sat in the bed, next to her, cuddling her against his chest. “I’m so sorry. I’ve had some time to let it sink in. I put on a brave face,
but I’ve been so miserable, worrying I’d lose you and wondering if I could’ve saved the baby. I’ve wanted you to wake up just as much as I’ve dreaded it—I didn’t want to tell you.”

“I’m sorry, Ash. If I was stronger…” She
traced her hand down along his face. “That baby was our future.”

“No, Shauna. Don’t
go blaming yourself.
You
didn’t do this!” He smoothed his hand along her face. “The baby was an extension of our love. As long as we have each other, we have our future. We’ll try again in a few months...when you’re better. At least we know that it’s possible.”

“I can’t believe
Quinn
helped save me.”

Quinn appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
“It’s true. You were very cooperative, too. Not at all how I expected you to be. How are you feeling?”

She stared up at
him, forcing a small smile. “I still feel weak, but I’m so grateful. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for saving my life so many times.”

“
We
don’t keep score around here, but in case you do, know that you’ve saved a couple of lives yourself.”

“Me? I haven’t done
anything
. What do you mean?”

“It was the combination of your potent blood inside of Ascher’s that saved Tristan. We know he bit you right before I knocked on the door that day.
So, no more of that repaying us crap, because you’ve done your fair share of saving.” Quinn smiled at her as he lightly smoothed a cool hand over her forehead. “If you need anything else, let me know.” He turned to Ascher. “I’m going down to the gardens. There’s a bit of a situation down there.”

* * * *

Ascher’s blood boiled as a low growl slipped from his lips. After a second, he evened out his expression and turned back to Shauna. He channeled Quinn as he left.
I’ll let you handle that. I’m not leaving her side.

“What do you think is happening in the gardens?” Shauna asked.

Ascher grinned, the rage hidden underneath. “It’s nothing to lose sleep over. My family will take care of it. I only want you to concentrate on getting better. Are you hungry or thirsty? I’ll bring you something up.”

“Okay
.” She stared into his eyes and looked as if she would drift off again.

Stroking her arm,
he watched as her eyes closed. Kissing her, he whispered, “Sleep now, love. You’ll grow stronger in your slumber. Never forget that I love you.”