Undying Hope. Emma Weylin

head. The wolves were lying on either side of him while Memphis stood off to the side, gritting his teeth together. “Donovan!”

      “I’ve got this.” He crouched down next to Bastian and placed a hand on the boy’s head. His treòir stretched out and easily suppressed the less powerful one. “It’s all right, young one,” the treòir said to Bastian. “The Storm will not hurt you or the lifebond. He is here at my behest to aid your power should danger befall us.”

      Bastian’s treòir settled, and Donovan took the opportunity to take a cursory look inside Bastian’s head, only to have his worst fears confirmed. He pulled his mind back from Bastian’s as he sat on his heels. “Stay down for a few more minutes,” Donovan murmured. “That’s right. Just breathe in and out slowly.”

      Memphis let out a breath. “Holy hell. What happened to him?”

      “Mason Earthshaker,” Donovan said. “I am going to need to take him to Riordan and also have Haven checked out.” He scooped Bastian up as he contacted his brother. “Bastian has scarring from where he ripped out several compulsions on his own. I need for you to look at him now.”

      “Bring him,” Riordan replied.

      “Memphis, I need a portal to Riordan’s house.”

      “Quinn?” Haven’s voice shuddered.

      “It’s all right,” he said. “Bastian is fine. I just want some things checked out. Memphis will take you through if you’re afraid.” He ground his teeth together to suppress a growl. While he knew Bastian needed him more in this moment, he wanted to be there for Haven as she experienced all the newness of his world.

      “Put me down,” Bastian said weekly. “I can walk.”

      “I’ll take him through the portal,” Memphis said. “You should focus on your lifebond.”

      “I don’t need anyone to take me through,” Haven said, but she nervously picked at her pinky.

      He carefully set Bastian down and waited to make sure he was stable before turning to his mate. “I’d rather you’re with me if you’re worried.”

      “But Bastian…”

      His brow shot up. “You have people capable and willing to help both of you.”

      She waited for Bastian to nod. He leaned against Memphis while rubbing the back of his head. “I will be all right. They don’t feel the same way Mason did.”

      She drew in a deep breath. “All right. Let’s go. If Riordan can fix his headaches that would be wonderful.”

      He wrapped his arm around her more for his comfort than for hers. He didn’t want to think about the sentence that had to be carried out for the Denmark Cadfael. There were only limited ways for an Undying to be killed. He preferred the one that involved a sword to the one he had to do by hand. With practiced techniques, he shoved aside the horrors of the day and focused on helping Haven through her first portal jump.

      “The wolves!” she said when they got into the small room made entirely of tile.

      “They are fine alone, and they will guard our home while I am not there,” he said.

      “You’re sure?”

      “Absolutely,” he said. “Are you ready?”

      “No, but Bastian needs a doctor who can actually help him.” Her hand curled in a death grip around his. “Let’s do this.”

      Donovan nodded to Memphis.

      Haven’s mouth dropped open as she watched a tiny tornado form on Memphis’s hand. The vortex grew and stretched until Memphis stood it on end. Sparks of violet and silver lightning streaked across the opening large enough to fit a man.

      “It’s safe,” Donovan said. “Memphis, take the boy.”

      Haven lurched forward when man and boy vanished into the portal. “Quinn!”

      “They are safe on the other side. Do you want to walk through or would you prefer a lift?”

      She canted her head as she glared up at him. “I’m not sure.”

      He looped an arm around her bottom and lifted her up, clamping her tight to his body with one arm so they were face to face. “Close your eyes and you’ll never know it’s happening.”

      She wrapped her arms around his neck and ducked her face against his cotton-clad chest. “Just go.”

      Donovan stepped through to the other side. “We’re here.”

      Her eyes popped open as she turned to peek at her new surroundings. “We didn’t leave.”

      “Look at the door.”

      She did. “Oh. That’s not the same.”

      “No. Everyone has their own symbol. That makes it easier for the Storm warriors to get to where they are going.” He set her on her feet. The portal rooms also allowed for lifebonds and children to travel between dwellings without needing a Storm Warrior in the case of danger, but Donovan didn’t tell Haven. She was already dealing with a lot. He’d save the lesson for later.

      “Right. So, we’ll have Riordan look at Bastian, and then we need to talk about things we’re going to need.”

      “You’re getting a check-up as well,” Donovan said.

      “Wait…what? I’m fine,” she snapped at him.

      “Humor me, woman,” Donovan said as Memphis opened the door and led them into Riordan’s healing den. The room was washed in calming blues and had Nadia’s touch for soft fabrics and comfortable furniture. A set of stairs went up to the main house, and a hall on the other side headed to private examination rooms.

      “Where are we?” Haven asked.

      “Riordan’s healing den. Most of his visitors are more likely to need him in his healer capacity than anything else.”

      Her hand wrapped tightly around his. “I still don’t need a doctor.”

      “What is causing the worst of Bastian’s headaches isn’t his treòir.”

      “What? How do you know that?” She moved in front of him and planted her fists on her hips.

      He leaned down and kissed her nose. “I was in his head with him to control the treòir. There is scarring there from a compulsion Mason had given him at one point. I want you checked for the same thing.”

      Her eyes went huge. “Oh.”

      “Exactly,” he said, turning around to lead her back into a more private exam area. “Don’t fight me, woman.”

      She snorted at him. “If you say so, man.”

      Even after the day’s traumas, Donovan couldn’t help the slight smile curving his mouth. Haven was already making an interesting addition to his long life.