The Touch of Her Hands [The Wind River Pack 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) (17 page)

“You don’t have to prove anything to anybody,” said Maddie.

Zack glared at Lyssa and then turned to Aurelia. “We all know you did your best last night. And, Lyssa, I couldn’t have found a better mate.”

Before Lyssa could answer, Remus walked in with Marianne and Jeremy right behind him.

“Who’s with the girls?” asked Maddie.

“Tehran is looking in on them,” said Marianne. She turned to Aurelia and smiled. “Alpha Remus says you want to try again. Are you sure it’s safe for you?”

“You can’t be serious,” Lyssa cried.

“Who can’t be serious about what?”

Aurelia looked over to see a handsome young man who clearly took after his father, the alpha. He came further into the room and smiled when he saw Aurelia. Holding out his hand, he moved closer. “Hello, we haven’t met. I’m Victor Wind River.” He sniffed the air around her when she took his hand.

“I’m Aurelia Salazar.”

Victor grinned. “Zack’s mate.” He pulled her into a hug and laughed when Zack growled. “Welcome to the family and the pack, Aurelia.” He turned to his father. “What’s going on?”

Lyssa snorted. “I can tell you what’s going on.” She pointed at Aurelia. “This woman is trying to con them again today. She’s trying to make them think she’ll have better luck healing the pups today than she did last night. It’s cruel to let her keep getting their hopes up when she’s just trying to make people think she’s something she’s not.”

“That’s not true, Lyssa,” said Marianne. “I witnessed some of her power last night, and I can assure you, it’s real.”

Lyssa put her hands on her hips. “Did they get better after she put on her show?”

Marianne frowned and glanced at Remus. “No, they haven’t improved yet.”

Lyssa smirked. “I rest my case. She’s a fraud.”

Remus growled loudly. “Lyssa, enough.”

Victor placed his hand on his father’s arm. “Relax, Dad. Let me handle this.” When Remus nodded, Victor walked over and grabbed Lyssa’s arm before she could leave. He held her firmly and turned toward Aurelia. “My apologies, cousin. I can assure you that none of the rest of us is listening to the garbage that spews out of Lyssa’s mouth. You do what you need to, and I’ll take care of everything else.”

Lyssa struggled. “Let go of me, Victor Wind River. Just because you’re the heir apparent doesn’t mean you get to put your hands on me.”

Victor pulled her out the door. “We’ll see.” The door slammed behind them, and for a moment, there was total silence.

Maddie giggled. “Wasn’t that fun?”

Aurelia laughed and let out the breath she was holding. She turned to Marianne. “I need to try again. Something feels different today, and I believe I can make a difference.”

Marianne took her hand. “Please, whatever you can do would be great. Tehran said they’re no better or worse today, so that’s encouraging. Maybe you halted its progress last night.”

Jeremy moved closer. “Tehran said to send you on back if you still want to try.”

Aurelia looked at Zack. “Are you ready?”

He put down his coffee and took her hand. “Let’s do it.”

Aurelia walked into the children’s bedroom and saw an elderly man encouraging the largest girl to drink from a cup. Marianne walked over and took the cup, running her hand over the child’s tangled curls. “Kelly, please take a little for Mommy.” The child obediently swallowed and fell back onto the pillow. “That’s Mommy’s good girl.”

The man walked over and held out his hand. “I’m Tehran Wind River. I’m the pack doctor, and I’m guessing that you’re Aurelia. I can’t tell you how much I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

Aurelia shook his hand. “Why would you be looking forward to meeting me?”

“Are you kidding? With your gift, I must have at least a hundred questions.”

“Can they wait, Doc? She’s really anxious to get started,” said Zack.

Tehran raised his brow. “All of them can wait, but one.”

“What’s your question?” asked Aurelia.

“Can I stay and watch? I’ll stay in the corner and be quiet as a mouse.”

Aurelia giggled and waved her hand. “Sure, just no heckling from the peanut gallery.” He laughed and moved to stand in the corner near the head of the bed.

“Should I do the same as I did last night?” asked Marianne.

Aurelia nodded. “Put her in the exact same position.” She pulled a chair over while Marianne brought Celia to the foot of the bed. Aurelia looked at the other girls and smiled. “I’m going to try and make your sister all better. Can you be really still and quiet for me?”

Kelly frowned. “Are you gonna use needles and hurt her?”

Aurelia shook her head. “No, honey, no needles. I won’t hurt her, I promise.” The child smiled and snuggled back into the covers. Aurelia settled into the chair and rubbed her hands together. She glanced at Zack. “Remember, no touching or talking as long as I have contact unless I specifically ask for something.”

“No problem, love. I’ll be here if you need me.” He moved to the other side of the bed and crossed his arms over his chest. Marianne sat down on the bed next to Kelly and held her hand.

Satisfied that everyone was ready, Aurelia laid her hands on the child’s chest and closed her eyes. She could feel Zack’s worry in her head and had to forcefully push him to the back corner of her brain. She felt her power gathering in her abdomen, stronger than she’d ever felt it before, and gave herself up to the sensations. The power was heat, steady and growing, moving into her arms and down toward her fingers. Behind it was a force she’d not experienced before. It felt magical, and it was trying to blend with her own powers. As the heat moved into fingers, it reached out in a way it never had before. Before she could change her mind, she reached for Kelly’s hand.

* * * *

Zack tensed as the orange glow formed around Aurelia’s fingers. Everything was the same as last night, except the expression of total contentment she had on her face. Then, her eyes opened and she stared down at the sleeping child. Nervously, Zack moved forward to stand by her side when the orange glow began moving up her arms. He jumped when her hand shot out and grabbed Kelly. The young girl squealed and then quieted as the orange glow made its way onto her fingers.

“What’s happening?” whispered Marianne.

Zach shrugged and glanced at Celia. A ten-inch circle on her chest glowed in the bedroom light.

Aurelia looked up. “Bring the other children closer. I need all their hands together.”

Zack frowned but scrambled to do as she asked. He stepped around Marianne and slid Kelly closer, while Tehran lifted Dyane and moved her to lie next to Celia. Aurelia moved Kelly’s hand to lie on top of Celia’s and then reached for Dyane. When all three girls’ hands were on top of each other, Aurelia placed one of hers above them, and one below.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, as Zack watched, the orange glow spread from Aurelia’s hands up into each girl’s arm and gradually moved toward their shoulders. At the same time, it traveled up Aurelia’s arms, over her shoulders, and began to encompass her entire body.

Marianne moved to stand next to Zack, her body trembling violently. Within a couple of minutes, Aurelia and all three children were completely submerged in the unearthly glow. It seemed to hover for a moment and then swelled until a flash of light caused Zack to close his eyes. When he opened them, everything was back to normal.

The children were all awake and trying to sit up, their eyes clear and free from fever. He glanced at Aurelia and swore. He moved to her chair and scooped her into his arms.

“Is she okay?” asked Marianne.

“Put her on the bed,” said Tehran. “Let me take a look at her and make sure she’s okay.” Zack laid her down and moved back. Tehran checked the pulse in her neck and then lifted each of her eyelids briefly. He straightened and smiled. “I think she’s fine. I’d guess that healing a disease as bad as this was probably exhausting considering how much energy I witnessed her expend.”

“She doesn’t think it’s a disease,” said Zack. “She called it some kind of invasion of a foreign substance.”

Tehran nodded. “That would actually explain a lot.”

“Oh my, God,” said Marianne. “Their fever is gone.”

Zack looked at the bed where all three little girls were vying for a place on their mother’s lap.

“Can I have a cookie? I’m hungwy,” said Kelly.

“Jeremy!” yelled Marianne. Jeremy raced through the door, Remus close on his heels. “She wants a cookie because she’s hungry.” Tears ran down the man’s face as he knelt beside the bed and pulled his entire family into his arms.

Remus smiled and moved to stand next to Tehran. “Is our little healer going to be okay?”

Tehran nodded. “I think so. I’ve not really dealt with anything like this, so basically, we’ll have to wait and see.” He laughed. “I had about a hundred questions before. Now I have around a thousand.”

Zack pressed Aurelia’s hand to his lips. “Don’t expect too many answers, Doc. I have a feeling this is the first time one of her healings went this way.”

“Tehran,” Remus said. “Check over the pups carefully. I want to make sure they show no signs of any relapse. And I wanna keep this between us until we can ascertain that they’re truly cured.”

“What about the pups in Alpha Cardston’s pack?” asked Tehran.

Zack smoothed the hair back off Aurelia’s face. “Until I know for sure she hasn’t injured herself, there won’t be any more healings.”

Remus nodded. “Fair enough. The bedroom next door is not occupied at the present. Why don’t you take her and put her in that bed. The sheets are clean. After she’s rested, we can talk.”

Zack nodded and picked Aurelia up, holding her close to his chest. He rubbed his cheek across her hair as he carried her to the other bedroom. Moving inside, he used his foot to close the door and then laid her on the bed, quickly stripping off her clothes. Kicking off his shoes, he stripped and climbed up behind her, spooning himself around her body as much as possible. He’d protect his mate from anybody and anything.

Remus watched Maddie hand Zander a glass of tea and then reached for the one left on her tray.

“Thanks, Maddie,” said Zander. “I appreciate it.”

“Did you come straight here from the airport?” asked Remus.

Zander nodded and took a long drink, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down as he swallowed. He sat down his glass and looked at Remus. “Well? Did it work?” Remus glanced at Maddie and motioned for her to leave them alone.

She scowled but picked up her tray. “I’m expecting you to stay for dinner, Zander.” She walked out the door and then stuck her head back inside. “And that’s not an invitation.”

Zander cut his gaze to Remus. “Your mate is very…formidable.”

Remus laughed. “You have no idea.” He took a drink of his tea, taking his time, trying to decide how much to tell the council representative. “We have every reason to believe it was a success. The pups are fever-free for the first time in a couple of weeks, and they’re getting stronger by the hour. They’ve already had their first meal.”

“How long did it take her to heal all three of them?”

Remus glanced down at his desk. “Not long. It’s my understanding she did them all together.”

Zander settled back in his chair. “Where is she now?”

Remus growled. “Forget it!”

Zander held up his hands as if in surrender. “I’m only asking about her condition.”

“As of about an hour ago, she was still unconscious. Apparently, the process takes her energy and transfers it into her subject. That’s a theory, of course. I haven’t actually talked to her about what happens when she heals someone.”

“I wanna talk to her.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Alpha Remus, don’t make this a council issue. If you don’t cooperate with me, you may force them to take unilateral action. Your pack is not the only one with this problem.”

“This woman is under the protection of my pack. Neither you, nor the council, will interfere with that.”

“You’d go to war over this woman?”

“She’s the mate of one of my pack members who’s also my nephew. You’re damn right I’d go to war to keep her safe and with her mate.”

“The crew I had fly them back said your boy hadn’t claimed his mate yet.”

“Ancient history. She’s been claimed and marked.”

Zander sighed. “That makes a difference. You know we’d never do anything to interfere with a mating. I’d still like to talk with her and see if she’s willing to help us. No pressure involved.”

“If her mate is agreeable, then I’ll set it up when she recovers. I will tell you something she said.”

“What’s that?”

“She says we’re not dealing with a disease. She thinks it’s some kind of contamination of a foreign substance.”

Zander cursed and reached for his glass. “What next?”

* * * *

Aurelia looked at her sleeping mate and snickered. It was time she gave back some of the pleasure she’d been getting. She’d read enough romance books to know that guys loved to be awakened by a horny woman. Moving quietly, she eased off the bed and went over and locked the door. It wouldn’t do for Alpha Remus to come check on them.