Chapter 79 – Healing – Alaric's POV

There was no way I could have heard him correctly! But the look on his face assured me I had. I hissed angrily, "Why the fuck did you not tell me before?!"

General Raed's expression was fierce as he replied pointedly, "She was protecting you, and you know it wouldn't have changed his decision."

Angry growls erupted from my throat.

This couldn't be happening!

I had only agreed because I thought her pain would be limited to just a few minutes. Now, I knew she had days of unbearable agony ahead! I hastily pulled out my cell phone, and arranged for our strongest pain medication to be delivered to my home, as well as bandages and supplies for her back.

I couldn't look at her back right now.

The guilt was overwhelming.

I  had done this to her.

And I wasn't quite sure how I was going to be able to live with myself. I had failed her today. Utterly and completely failed her. If I had just been by her side when Marku was here, none of this would have happened!

It was a damn good thing my father wasn't still in the room, because I didn't think I could stop myself from trying to kill him. His response hadn't surprised me, but once again, it illustrated the vast difference in the way we chose to rule. I would never disregard the circumstances  surrounding an offense!

And I was confused as hell over his questioning with Felaern and her tattoo. When Raine was capable, I would ask her about it. But right now, she didn't need my questions. Right now, she just needed me to get her back to our home so that I could care for her. I crouched down next to her limp form on the floor. She was  whimpering, but I wasn't sure if she was even fully conscious. I needed to get her away from here quickly, but moving her was a problem.

The General interrupted my thoughts when he added, "She does heal faster than a normal human, so we can anticipate she will again now."

His words offered me a little hope, but not much. Her back was ravaged severely. A normal human would take weeks to experience a reduction in their suffering. Crushing guilt washed over and suffocated me in its grip again.

"How am I even going to be able to get her home?!" I hissed in frustration. "There is no way for me to carry her that wouldn't cause her even more excruciating pain!"

"Put her on the animal. He will carry her wherever needed," the General replied.

My attention cut to Loki. The General was right. It was the best solution we had. If she lay on his back, it would keep her back from being bent. I crouched by Raine's head and promised softly, "I am going to get you home soon, love. I have to move you now. I am sorry."

Her eyelashes fluttered and tears continued to stream freely down her face. I gritted my teeth and slid my hands beneath her. The instant I moved her just a little, she let out a terrifying scream of pain. But I couldn't stop. The faster I had her positioned, the better.

Gut wrenching sobs tore through her chest and scream after scream released from her lips, as I laid her gently on Loki's back. The big cat held perfectly still. He knew the importance of his responsibility. As I set her in place, an almost constant stream of vibration released from his chest. He wasn't purring, but he was definitely communicating to her in some way. And whatever he was doing seemed to help. She still whimpered and cried, but to my immense relief, her screams quieted.

General Raed, Loki and I walked slowly across the compound. Without a word of command from me, Loki stayed exactly by my side. I was hugely thankful for his connection to her. I thought the cool night air also soothed her a tiny bit as well, because I knew her back had to feel like it was on fire.

As we walked, I strategized over the details, rolling through various scenarios in my head. I pulled out my phone and gave orders for Talon to be there as well. Above anything else, she needed me to manage her pain. My eyebrows pulled together. The supplies I had requested had damn well better be there when we arrived, or someone was going to lose their life.

When we approached, I didn't hesitate to walk straight into the building with the big cat next to me. I had determined on the way there that she needed Loki by her side at all times, not only for transportation but also for comfort; which meant he had just effectively become a giant house cat.

We walked through the halls at a steady pace. The few vampires present all stared at us in shock. I was certain our procession was indeed startling, but I truly didn't give a shit what anyone thought.

When we entered our residence, a room full of people, were ready and waiting to assist me. All of them were deathly quiet, except for Talia. She couldn't contain her shocked gasp and then tears flowed silently down her cheeks as she watched Loki carry Raine into the center of the room.

I had had them prepare a bed for her on this floor because there was no way I was going to attempt moving her up the stairs. When we reached it, I cringed hard at the thought of moving her again. I motioned to the Healers and ordered, "Administer the first dose before we transfer her. Also, inspect her back and advise what needs to be done."

Instantly, they were in motion. One was already holding a syringe of morphine ready and immediately sunk it deep into Raine's thigh. After a brief moment looking at Raine's back, our most advanced Healer, Rachel, stepped forward. She murmured quietly, "Her wounds need to be cleaned to avoid her biggest risk, which is infection. After, we will determine treatment for the lacerations, and we need to control her bleeding. Once accomplished, we will apply ointment to further soothe her pain and promote healing."

I considered her words for a moment and then said tightly, "Follow me." I walked purposefully toward the large, luxury bathroom on this level. As expected, Loki immediately moved with me and followed me into the huge walk-in shower.

Rachel advised, "It would be best to remove her clothing first."

"Of course," I replied. I didn't bother with trying to undo her jeans. Instead, I tore the fabric smoothly, and then slid it out from beneath her. I removed her underwear as well. I would figure out what to dress her in once we completed the next few steps.

Now that her clothing was out of the way, I could see that not only had Raine's blood saturated Loki's fur, she has also lost control of her bladder. Guilt crashed through me again, and I prayed with everything inside of me, that she would have no memory of these details.

The healers stepped inside of the shower, carrying large gallon containers of sterile antiseptic iodine. They began to methodically apply the solution to flush out her wounds. Raine screamed in response. I crouched next to her head and whispered through gritted teeth, "I am so sorry! It won't be long and they will be done, I promise!" I wanted to hold her hand, but I was afraid any movement would cause her further torment.

When they were finished, they inspected the wounds carefully. Rachel murmured, "She has already experienced some healing."

I could see what she meant. I was hugely grateful to find the deep lacerations had already knitted themselves back together, thus eliminating the need for stitches or surgical care. However, her back remained damaged with multiple raw and angry-looking stripes, some of which still oozed blood.

Rachel continued, "We can transfer her now and finish the rest of her care on her bed."

I nodded grimly, already knowing the pain Raine would endure by the movement. I prayed the morphine had time to take some of the edge off. However when I lifted her carefully, her entire body spasmed and more screams ripped from her throat. I laid her down as quickly as I could. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably, and she took gasping breaths as she cried.

The Healers gathered around her to apply ointment and Telfa pads. As they worked, Rachel explained the pads would help control her remaining bleeding without sticking to her wounds.

I nodded in understanding, and then looked around the room to see what other details I needed to attend to. My gaze rested on Loki. I glanced to the nearest vampire and ordered, "Take Loki out. Clean his back thoroughly. Make sure he has plenty to eat and drink, and then return him to me."

I was surprised when Talon interjected, "Please Your Highness, allow me to care for the cat."

I studied him. His words were calm but his expression was murderous. I had no doubt he was ready to kill who ever had assaulted her in such a manner. I wondered how we would react when he found out it was me. I knew Raine cared about him as well, so I most certainly did not want her to wake up to find Loki had killed him. I replied, "Thank you, Talon, for the offer, however you are human..."

He interrupted me and insisted, "The animal will not hurt me." His expression was adamant and without doubt. I nodded my agreement. Immediately, he approached Loki and tutted under his breath. I watched in amazement as Loki followed him out the door. I had half expected Loki to refuse to leave her side.

..........

Less than an hour later, the healers had completed their work, Loki had returned, and everyone else left. Only General Raed and Talia remained.

We sat by Raine's side and waited.

The minutes ticked by excruciatingly slow.

The Healer had administered the highest pain dose possible. Anything more and we risked killing her, but it did not seem to alleviate her suffering. She still cried and whimpered without stopping, and would let out feral screams of raw pain intermittently.

I hadn't unclenched my fists in hours as I hovered, whispering useless words of comfort. With each cry, I hated myself more and more.

And when Raine began to beg me for death, I thought I was going to lose my mind right there. Talia had to physically turn away. Her shoulders shook as she tried to get her silent sobs back under control, so that Raine wouldn't see her crying. Although I doubted Raine could see anything past her own agony right now. Fuck, I hadn't cried in hundreds of years, but I was damn close now.

Abruptly, Loki nudged me hard with his head. I looked at him questioningly. He didn't speak, but it was clear he wanted something. I rubbed his head and asked hoarsely, trying to get the words past the lump in my throat, "What is it, boy...Please tell me what she needs."

I had no idea if he understood me, but he positioned himself next to her bed, and looked back at me as if he were waiting for something. I realized with a start, that he wanted me to transfer her to his back! I hesitated. Raine experienced excruciating agony whenever she moved. But given their connection, I wondered if he could provide her some sort of relief, that medicine and I could not.

I stood and gritted my teeth. I moved her as quickly as possible off of the bed and onto his back. As expected, Raine howled in pain during the transition, and then whimpered as she tried to recover.

Once again, Loki's chest began to emit a thrumming vibration. It was the same noise he had made when I first placed her on his back. I knew he wasn't purring, but had no idea what the sound meant. However, my heart leapt with hope when Raine abruptly quieted down.

..........

The next twenty-four hours went by painfully slowly. Raine remained on Loki's back. She was never touched or moved, except for her wound treatment and when Talia assisted her to the bathroom. And each time, Raine would wail in pain.

I knew Talia was struggling. She flinched every time Raine cried out. And each time she assisted her to the bathroom, an event which caused Raine to release nonstop screams, Talia couldn't hold back her own tears. She tried to swipe them away before we noticed, however it was impossible to miss. Her devastation, that Raine had to endure this torment, was obvious. But even in her devastation, she had fiercely refused my suggestion that she take a break, insisting she remain by Raine's side.

General Raed kept a watchful vigil as well. He had explained Raine's prior accelerated healing to me, and the exception of Armand's blood to heal her. It had been obvious that Raine had already healed much faster than a human, so we both held out hope that she would show significant improvement over the next few hours.

But by that night, I wasn't willing to wait any longer. Not only had she not exhibited the vast improvement we had hoped for, her symptoms took a dramatic turn for the worse. Her heartbeat  slowed to a dangerous pace and she floated in and out of consciousness. I could tell the General agreed because he watched her intently with a grim expression.

She didn't have much time left.

I needed to get her to Armand.

And I needed to get her there now!

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I really liked the interaction with Loki in this chapter.  The pieces seemed to fall smoothly into place as I was planning the events. Your thoughts? Can you guess what happens next...?