Ian’s jaw ridged with tension, and to his credit, he looked more pissed than scared. “You are a clueless idiot, Malachi. If I didn’t know it would upset her, I’d have caught you upside the head with a bat ages ago.” He bunched his fists in Malachi’s shirt. “And if she dies, you can count on it. I don’t care how long it takes me to catch you off guard. It’s going to happen, asshole.”

Malachi pushed him away, and Ian stumbled back, only to be caught by Levi. Malachi’s breaths were sawing in and out, and he looked like Ian had caught him upside the head with a bat. A choked sound bubbled from my mouth, and Malachi was on his knees again instantly, blocking out everything else.

“Henry is picking us up,” he said in my ear. “He’ll be here any minute. You’re going to be fine.” His voice was soft. And laced with fear.

“Tegan,” I whispered.

His eyes searched my face. “Jim is going after her. He’s called Henry to find out where the nest is, and he’ll do reconnaissance, but he promised not to go in alone. I’ll join him as soon as I know you’re going to be all right.”

Jim must have been going crazy, knowing what might happen to her. “Go … now.”

Malachi’s expression twisted with pain. “Lela, please. Don’t make me leave you.”

I couldn’t argue. In that moment, I was relatively sure his presence was the only thing that kept me from letting go, from drifting away. I tried to thank him, but all that came out was a wheezing breath.

“Shhh,” he soothed, lightly caressing my cheeks with his warm fingers. Over his head, I watched the red and blue lights flashing, signaling the arrival of the police. Malachi ignored them. He touched his nose to mine, and I was amazed to see tears glittering in his eyes. “Don’t leave. I know it hurts. Just don’t leave.”

Actually, it didn’t hurt at all. I felt like I was encased in a block of ice, immobile and frozen, nothing working except my brain, which couldn’t quite make it past the pain on Malachi’s face, past the lump in my throat as he whispered to me, telling me to stay with him.

I love you, I wanted to say. I would never leave you.

Darkness licked at the edges of my consciousness, tugging my thoughts away and drowning them. Raphael’s face appeared in front of mine. “I’ll get her to the car,” he said quietly as his gaze shifted to Malachi’s. “No one will notice us leaving. And I’ll start working on her immediately.”

I fought very hard to bring one word to my lips, to push it off my tongue. “Awake.”