Origins Read Online Free PDF Page B

felt the pain of his injuries any less. Just one more thing to add to the growing list of wrongs. Zareb knew the group who had taken Ive and Dji would still be lurking around, hedging their bets. Who knew if they’d found out Dmitri was no more.
    “He has a pulse.”
    “Yes, but there are no good medical facilities anywhere nearby. It has been so long that I do not even know if there is a local shaman around to help heal him.”
    “Give me your hand, Zareb.”
    He looked at Joy and wondered what she was about. He reached for her, trusting in her as she had in him. Joy entwined their fingers and placed them over the seeping wound in Kir’s side and Zareb opened his powers to Joy. It felt different from in the past. Their souls merged. Peace, home—everything.
    This time Zareb let Joy take control of their combined forces. He had no healing knowledge and was out of his depth. The skin under his hand began to warm, his flesh tingling.
    By letting Joy take the lead, he was able to keep watch and make sure none of the men who attacked circled back, they had to be the ones who had Dji. Zareb had to hope his friend and Ive were still okay. He knew they weren’t completely gone because he could sense their presence and they still had a day, maybe two, before they got to the site where they would destroy the Vessel.
    “There, I’ve done all I can.” Joy slumped down.
    “We still have a couple of days until we reach our destination. We should stay here one more night. I cannot leave Kir here and I do not think I could carry him far.”
    “I agree, we should stay.”
    “Not”—Kir coughed—“on my account.”
    “You live.” Zareb closed his eyes. Maybe one more death would not be his to accept. The bloodshed needed to end.
    “You should have some water and a little food. The healing took a lot out of all of us and we need to be on top of our game. They’ll be back and both you and Zareb know that, but this time we’ll be prepared and kick their asses all over the jungle.”
    They got Kir as comfortable as they could, giving him some of their precious water and a protein bar. Zareb just hoped this trip was not doomed to failure. Nothing was going as it should, starting with the crash of their plane and the death of the pilot. He still did not know what had happened there. The plane had been fine when they’d left.
    Joy had moved to the outskirts of the camp. Lost in thought, she didn’t hear him approach. He paused to watch her. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Not as long as he had breath in his body. She was his other half, part of his very soul, and he would die protecting her if necessary. For the first time he felt—whole. Like his place in the universe was finally being revealed to him.
    “My siel, are you all right?” he asked quietly.
    He’d startled her, but she pulled herself together.
    “I’ve never killed before. But those assholes got what was coming to them. I refuse to feel bad. Refuse I tell you!” Her tears belied her statement.
    “Oh, joyous one, do not cry. It breaks me in two seeing you like this.”
    “I value my ability to control what happens to me. My life has been ripped out from under me, starting with finding out who my father was—and not only was he magical, but I also have a brother. A real, honest-to-God blood relative who was kept from me. I would have never known about Max if the rat who donated his sperm hadn’t died when trying to take out the Masters pack. After that—nothing was the same, as you know. Now the woman I grew up with as a sister is mated to my blood brother, so I deal with it. Finding out I have a destined mate and will end up becoming a shifter, yeah, big fucking changes. But I deal. I figured I’d have time. But guess what, that was taken from me too. I’m ready for this to be over now.” Joy crawled over to him and snuggled into his lap.
    “My liefie, my love, it will be okay. I promise.” Zareb rocked her back and forth, soothing her