Page 122 of Interion

Great, as if my past wasn’t enough, now I was having nightmares about the book.

Zion pulled me back to him and I welcomed the sense of belonging that flooded through me. There, nestled against his chest and feeling each of his breaths, I almost cried a second time, overwhelmed by his warmth. Soon sleep came and I let myself close my eyes again—no crazy dreams this time.

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When the phone rang, I moved quickly to avoid waking Zion, but as soon as I turned to look for it, I realized he was already awake and alert. Dawn was already spreading across the horizon and I could only see the outline of his face staring at me. I focused on the phone lighting up the room; it was five in the morning and the caller ID showed the hospital. My brain still wasn’t working right—too groggy—but I propped myself up on one elbow and answered.

“Kyller speaking,” I murmured sleepily. Zion seemed agitated beside me.

“Sorry about the hour, Kyller, but the hospital urgently needs you.”

My eyes snapped open and adrenaline chased away the sleep. From the size of his eyes, I knew he’d heard.

“What happened?” I asked, heading to the bathroom and stripping to get in the shower.

“Vinturis sent a rescue helicopter to transport all the wounded from yesterday’s conflict. We have twenty injured men, five in critical condition.”

“Didn’t the soldiers from the confrontation go to the frontier medical base?”

“There were... problems with the frontier doctors. I don’t have time to explain—we need you immediately.”

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” I said, stepping into the water.

“We’ll be waiting.”

I got ready faster than I ever had in my life. Outside, I heard Zion talking to someone on the phone, his heavy footsteps pounding like he wanted to destroy the house. When I came out into the hallway, he was already waiting for me, pale and agitated.

“Your men are here, but isn’t there a medical base at the frontier? Why did they come here?” I asked, confused.

He looked at me with such fury that I shrank against the door.

“There is a medical base, but it was attacked before the helicopter could land. The doctors there were killed.”

“By the Gods,” I exclaimed, startled. “Lamias?”

“No. Lamias attack alone, and their only goal is to feed. What happened at the frontier was a massacre carried out by some kind of animal, something under the Drutes’ command.”

I stared at him, not knowing what to say to ease the situation, because behind all that fury, an ocean of pain churned, ready to overflow. I felt the urge to hug him, but I didn’t have time for that—his soldiers were on the brink of death.

“Damn it,” he cursed. “There were people in critical condition—if they’re still without care, they must already be dead.” The shadows rippled across his shoulders, showing the turmoil within him. “I couldn’t go on the helicopter because there was no room and I would only get in the way of the first responders. I should have found a way to go.”

I held his hands to stop him from pacing.

“I’ll do everything I can for them, Zion, but we need to go now.”

He looked at me as if two hundred pounds of sadness were pressing down on his back.

“I won’t let them die. I promise that any patient they give me will stay alive.” I gently tapped my fist against my chest. “You have my word!”

His eyes softened a little and I saw a gleam pass through them as I held his hands tenderly. I had just discovered Zion’s weak point: his men.

“Shall we?” I asked.

He approached me, picking me up in his arms. My foolish heart, as always, raced at the physical contact.

“Let’s go.”

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