Slade's Desire (White River Wolves Series, #2) (5 page)

Continuing on, Gypsy passed three more rooms before she finally found what she was looking for.  Opening the door to the very last room at the end of the hallway, she quietly slipped inside.  Lying on the bed was a young man, no more than twenty-five or twenty-six years old.  A white sheet covered the lower half of his body, while a stark white bandage was wrapped around his chest. 

Stopping by the bed, Gypsy reached out and slowly smoothed a lock of light brown hair back from his forehead.  He was so still, almost as if he was dead, but she knew he wasn’t.  It was strange, but she could sense the blood flowing through his veins and the slow thud of his heart beating weakly.  This must be the enforcer Slade was talking about earlier.  Xavier.  Unsure why she was there, of exactly what had drawn her to him, Gypsy moved a chair that was sitting in the corner of the room next to the bed and sat down.  Cautiously, she reached out and covered his hand with one of hers, shivering at the coldness she felt.  That was definitely not right.  She knew the man was alive, she could
feel
it. 

Placing her other hand on his arm, Gypsy lowered her head and prayed.  Something had guided her to this room, showing her this man needed her help; help she was unsure how to give.  Why was she here?  What was her purpose? 

Gypsy stiffened when the low thump of Xavier’s heartbeat began to beat loudly in her ears.  She shivered when she felt something stir deep within her; seeming to come alive and send an energy flowing through her.  Her brow furrowed as her vision began to waiver, and she moaned softly as tremors coursed through her body.  Gypsy moaned, clutching Xavier’s hand desperately as pain slammed into her, and she felt utter terror.  She knew she was dying and wasn’t ready to go.  She had so much to live for.  Someone was out there who needed her.  She had to protect her above all else. 

Gasping, Gypsy tried to catch her breath as she suddenly realized what was happening.  She had done this before.  She
knew
she had.  She wasn’t the one in so much pain that it felt like her chest was on fire.  It was Xavier.  He was hurting, suffering horribly, terrified he would never wake up again.  He could feel himself slowly leaving this world, and he refused to go without a fight.  This was why she was here.  She needed to help him.  She had to bring him back to the land of the living.  Taking several deep breaths, Gypsy closed her eyes and tried to remember what to do.  She refused to let him die, not when she
knew
she could save him.  Before she knew what was happening, she found herself somehow merging and connecting fully with the enforcer.  It was almost as if they were one.

Xavier felt like he was drowning, the pain almost too much to bear.  There was fear and confusion, and he felt so alone.  He didn’t fully understand what was happening to him.  He wanted to just drift away, to let all of the misery and agony go, but somehow he knew if he did, he might never see the people he cared about again.  And there was one woman he needed to be with.  One he loved with all of his heart, even though she had no idea; his mate.

Xavier,
Gypsy said, her voice a soft whisper in his mind,
listen to me.  It is time to come back now.  You are needed here.
  When there was no response, Gypsy started to worry.  It was like he had not heard her at all.  He should have heard her.  She knew she was doing this right.  She remembered, dammit.  She knew how to save him.  He just needed to hear her voice.  If he listened, she could connect with him and guide him back to the living. 
Xavier, you will come back now,
she demanded. 
Your mate needs you.  You must come back to protect her.

At first there was no response, then she heard,
Mate. 
His voice was faint, almost nonexistent, but he had responded.  That was what mattered. 

Suddenly, there was the sound of a loud, blaring noise in the background followed by several voices, but Gypsy ignored them. 
Yes, your mate.  She needs you.  Mates can’t live without one another, Xavier.  You know that.  She is the other half of your soul.  You need each other.
  It would seem she remembered what a mate was now too. 
You can’t leave her alone. 
 

Sweat beaded up on Gypsy’s forehead and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.  It was a fight to stay connected with the enforcer, but she refused to let go, because if she did, she knew he would be lost forever. 

“Get her the hell away from him,” Gypsy heard Doc Josie order.  “Nurse, get me the paddles!”

“No!” Jade yelled forcefully.  “Do not move her!”

“Jade, he is going to die,” the doctor argued fervently.  “I have to get near Xavier to save him, and I can’t do that with Gypsy holding onto him.”

“You can’t save him now, Josie,” Jade replied woodenly.  “Only Gypsy can.  And if you tear them apart, you may lose them both.”

It was true.  What Gypsy was doing was very dangerous.  She was now deep inside Xavier’s mind.  If something happened to him, if he died, she could very well die with him.  Blocking out the sound of the doctor swearing and the sudden sound of Chase Montgomery’s voice demanding to know what the hell was going on, Gypsy concentrated solely on Xavier.

Tell me about your mate, Xavier,
she whispered. 
Tell me what she’s like.  What’s her favorite color?  What does she like to do?
  She had to get him talking so she could deepen their connection. 

There was silence and then
Beautiful...she’s beautiful.
  It was hard for him to get the words out, but he did.  Resisting the urge to push him for more, Gypsy waited. 
Must protect her.  In danger.

Do you think whoever shot you will go after your mate?
Gypsy asked.  If that was the case, they would need to keep a close eye on her.

Always in danger,
Xavier rasped. 
The General wants her back.

Gypsy had no idea who the General was, but she could feel Xavier fighting.  The pain was engulfing him, but the thought of his mate was making him push on. 
Then you need to come back with me so you can help us protect her, Xavier.  I know it’s hard, but you can do this.  For her.

Tell my brother he must keep her safe.
Xavier breathed. 
Tell Aiden to watch over her for me.

Get your ass back here and tell him yourself,
Gypsy growled.  Screw this, she had never been known for her patience, and she refused to sit back and let Xavier give up. 
I’m going to give you a little kick start, and then you need to fight like hell.  You hear me, Xavier?  You fight!  Your mate needs you! 
Moving one of her hands to his chest, Gypsy placed it over his heart, ignoring a deep growl that filled the room.  Squeezing her eyes shut tightly, she concentrated on the flow of energy running throughout Xavier’s body.  Right now it was weak and unstable.  She needed to give it a little boost; kind of like what the doctor was going to do with the defibrillator, but using some of her own energy instead.  It would be much more effective. 

Gypsy felt the magic rising in her, collecting in her body and rolling around until it grew into one large mass.  Sparks flew from her fingertips when she kicked it out of herself and into Xavier, crying out at the jolt of lightening that raced through her and then into him.  There was a collective gasp of shock in the room, and then complete silence except for a long loud beep that sounded from the monitor beside the bed, before it began to beat in a steady rhythm. 

Gypsy moaned as she collapsed onto Xavier’s chest too weak to move.  “Gypsy!” she heard Slade yell.  He was there.  Her mate was there.  Oh shit, Slade was her mate.  She knew exactly what that meant now.

As Slade leaned down and gathered her up into his arms, Gypsy struggled to get out what she needed to say before she passed out.  “Aiden,” she gasped.  “Xavier needs him.”

“What the hell is she talking about,” a voice roared.  “What did she do to my brother?”

Her eyes fluttering open, Gypsy gazed into a face that matched the one in the bed next to her.  They were almost identical twins.  Letting her head fall weakly against Slade’s shoulder, she whispered, “Xavier wants you to watch over his mate.  He said she is in danger.”

“Xavier doesn’t have a fucking mate,” Aiden growled, his dark eyes glittering in anger.

Gypsy’s brow furrowed in confusion.  “He does.  He told me.”

“I think I would know if my brother had a mate,” Aiden sneered, pushing past her to stand near Xavier.  Slade growled in warning, pulling Gypsy closer to him.  “What the hell did you do to Xavier?”

“She saved his life,” Jade said calmly, stepping forward to stand near Gypsy.  “If she hadn’t done what she just did, your brother would be dead now.”

“I think he’s going to make it,” Doc Josie said in awe from where she stood on the other side of Xavier’s bed checking his vitals.  “Whatever Gypsy did, it’s working.”

Clutching tightly to Slade’s shirt, Gypsy insisted, “Aiden, you must listen to me.”  When the man turned her way, she went on before he could respond, “Your brother said someone called the General is after her.  That he wants her back.”  At the collective gasp in the room, she said, “I don’t know who that is.  Do you?”

Aiden’s eyes narrowed dangerously.  “Slade,” he growled lowly, “Is she messing with me?”

“Gypsy would have no idea who the General is,” Slade snarled.  “She’s been locked in a fucking cell in the basement of a drug lord and tortured for months.  She was rescued just over a week ago.”  When Aiden’s eyes widened in horror, Slade finished, “And if you ever disrespect my mate like that again, pup, I will tear your fucking throat out.”

“Gypsy,” the calm voice of the alpha floated throughout the room, a slight push of power following it.  Slade backed away slightly from Aiden, his threat still hanging in the air, before turning to face Chase.  “Did Xavier tell you who she is?  Several women were rescued from a number of different facilities the General had last year, and many of them live with us now.  None of us were aware that one of them is his mate.”

Shaking her head, Gypsy whispered, “No, I’m sorry.  He never said her name.”  Pain sliced through her head, and she fought to remain conscious as she continued softly, “I saw her in his mind, though. Blonde hair.  Beautiful.” 

“Show me,” Jade said, placing a hand gently on Gypsy’s arm.

Unsure exactly what to do, Gypsy brought up an image in her mind of the woman Xavier was thinking of, before she finally allowed herself to slump against Slade in exhaustion. 

“Janie,” Jade whispered in shock.

A loud roar filled Gypsy’s ears, and she whimpered in agony, her body beginning to shake uncontrollably.  “Slade.”  His name was torn from her, a plea for help.  Without another word, Slade walked past his alpha and through the door, quickly taking Gypsy back to her room.  She sighed when he placed her down on the cool sheets, closing her eyes and snuggling deep into the covers.  Her fatigue was outweighing her pain, and she was out within seconds.

G
ypsy slept steadily through the night, waking up to the early morning light streaming in through the blinds on the window the next day.  Bringing Xavier back from the dead had taken a lot out of her and it was a struggle to keep her eyes open.  She almost allowed herself to fall back asleep, but she wanted to check on her sister and the enforcer. 

After several failed attempts, Gypsy was finally out of bed and making her way to the bathroom when there was a light knock on the door.  One of the nurses entered the room, smiling widely when she saw Gypsy on her feet.  “Good morning!  We’ve been waiting for you to wake up.  How are you feeling?”

Resting a hand on the doorframe to the bathroom, Gypsy returned the nurse’s smile with a small one of her own.  “Like I’ve been ran over by a semi,” she responded with a short, humorless laugh.  “I’m sorry, what is your name?”  She really needed to make more of an effort to get to know the people in this small community, especially if she was going to be here for a while.  Her eyes narrowed as she realized the White River Wolves compound may become her home permanently.  If she really was Slade’s mate, their destinies were intertwined.

“My name is Becca,” the other woman replied with a sweet, gentle smile.  “And I’m not really a nurse.  I’m actually a scientist.  I just help out here sometimes when they need me.  From what I’ve been told, this is the first time in a long time that we have had this many patients staying here at once. You have all definitely kept the nurses on their toes.”

Gypsy felt her heart skip a beat at the mention of scientists.  A memory from years ago came to her, and she swayed slightly on her feet.  They had gone out to dinner, which was a rare treat since money was always so tight.  While her mother was ordering their food, Gypsy had accidentally slipped into their waitresses mind and learned the woman feared death was near for her.  She had been to the doctor just the day before to have a biopsy done on a lump she had found in her breast, and was waiting to hear back on the results.  Gypsy had touched the waitress lightly with her small hand and closed her eyes, concentrating on the one thing she knew when it came for someone...death.  After a few moments of silence, she opened her eyes and smiled softly, telling the terrified lady that she had nothing to worry about, death was not coming for her.  At the waitress’s stunned gaze, her mother had stood quickly, grabbing Gypsy’s arm and swiftly leaving the restaurant.  Now w
e have to move again, Gypsy.  You know you aren’t supposed to use your gifts in public.  No one can ever find out about them.  The government will want to take you away from me.  They will have their scientists run test after test on you to try and figure out why you can do what you do.  Your father said it happened to his brother.  And if the government doesn’t find us, the witch hunters will track you down and try to kill you like they did your father.  I have no idea if anyone saw what you did today, so we have to leave, now! 
She and her mother had run for years, danger always lurking just around the corner.  At least, that was what her mother had thought after her father’s death.  They had never actually encountered anyone who was a threat to them until Philip Perez came into their lives.