djinn wars 03 - fallen Read Online Free PDF Page B

would have been strong enough. Luckily, we found what we were looking for on the loading dock. We were just closing up the truck’s gate when we heard a voice that was halfway between a whisper and a moan.
    “Jessica….”
    As one, Jace and I whirled. I couldn’t help noticing the way he moved forward, placing himself between me and the owner of that voice, even though I was probably in better shape to take on an adversary at the moment than he was. But then when I saw who was speaking, who it was slumped against the wall of the store, I realized we weren’t facing an enemy at all.
    The man speaking was Aidan, one of our missing hunters.

Chapter Three

    Two hideous gashes marred Aidan’s cheeks. Blood still trickled from the wounds, and also stained the camo parka he wore. His long hair had fallen out of its usual ponytail and hung in mud- and blood-spattered strands around his face.
    Jace surged forward first, slipping an arm under one of Aidan’s shoulders, since it was obvious he had trouble standing, even with the wall to support him. A second later, I went to him as well, sliding under his shoulder and feeling his weight settle on my arm as he slumped against me.
    “What happened?” I asked, but even as the words left my mouth, I knew. It had to be the other djinn, the ones whose attack on Taos had been thwarted by Miles Odekirk’s device. How Aidan had managed to survive, I had no idea. And I didn’t even want to know what had happened to the other two in the hunting party, Martine and Clay. Judging by Aidan’s current condition, it couldn’t be anything good.
    “They found us,” he gasped. Above his head, Jace and I exchanged a knowing glance.
    “Yes,” Jace said calmly. “Can you walk at all? Our truck is just out in front.”
    “Yeah.”
    I had my doubts, but we began shuffling over to the fire lane where we’d parked the truck. Aidan did his best to stumble along, although I’d say his forward motion was probably at least ninety percent our doing. I opened the passenger-side door and pushed him inside as best I could, with Jace lending what little strength he had to spare for the operation. At last Aidan was more or less parked in the center of the bench seat, head lolling to one side.
    “I’ll hold him up,” Jace murmured to me, voice carefully neutral. “You drive.”
    “Got it.” I hurried around to the other side of the truck and climbed into the driver’s seat. Obviously, we had to get Aidan back to the resort, but what we’d do with him once we were there, I had no idea. As far as I knew, no one in the Taos community had any sort of medical experience. Yes, I had a few basic first aid skills, thanks to some coaching by my father when I was younger. That didn’t mean I knew the first thing about patching up the sort of horrific wounds Aidan had suffered. I’d just have to hope that they’d heal quickly on their own. After all, he was one of the Chosen. Lilias, his djinn, would have given him accelerated healing, just as Jace had done with me.
    I took a quick glance over at him as I maneuvered the truck down the icy streets. Icy, because the djinn couldn’t keep the roads clear the way they had before the attack. It would be just our luck to be hit by a major snowstorm around now on top of everything else.
    Like things aren’t bad enough without you borrowing trouble, I thought grimly. Worry about that later. Much later.
    We were all silent as I drove. That is, Aidan didn’t seem to be in much shape for any kind of speech; his eyes had shut, and I thought he probably would have fallen over to one side if Jace hadn’t maintained a grip on his arm so he stayed more or less upright.
    I ventured, still not completely used to the mental communication we could share, He’ll be all right, though. I mean, his healing powers should kick in soon enough.
    Jace’s voice in my head sounded grimmer than I’d ever heard it. No, they won’t.
    What do you mean?
    His jaw tightened. I mean