Alora: The Wander-Jewel (Alora 1)

“How are they?”

“Alora’s lost a lot of blood,” said Dr. Sanders. “Her blood pressure was so low, her heart almost stopped. Another five minutes and we would’ve lost her.”

“I almost flew here in the Suburban.” Brian grimaced. “I was just praying we wouldn’t hit ice and start skidding.”

“She’s not out of the woods yet. Her blood pressure is back up, but her heart rate is too slow.”

“And what about Kaevin?” Jireo asked.

“We can’t find any injuries?” Dr. Sanders scratched his chin. “At least, we can’t find any new injuries. Nothing that would cause him to lose consciousness and decrease his heart rate. We drew blood, but the test results aren’t back yet. Could he have been poisoned?”

“It’s probably just Alora who’s injured. Kaevin’s heart was slowing down because Alora was dying.” Beth made the statement in a matter-of-fact voice, but Dr. Sanders’ mouth gaped open.

“What are you talking about?”

“Didn’t Mr. Whitford tell you about Alora and Kaevin being soulmates?” Beth wrinkled her nose. “I thought you knew about everything.”

“Don’t tell me anything I don’t have to know. I want plausible deniability.”

“But you know they need to be touching, right?” Beth grabbed his arm. “Do you have them together?”

“They’re as close as they can be in the emergency room without being on the same bed. But I don’t—”

“You don’t have them on the same bed?” Beth’s voice rose an octave. She pivoted on one foot and ran toward the double-doors leading to the emergency treatment area. Jireo followed right behind her.

“Hey! You can’t go back there!” Dr. Sanders called. But Beth never even looked over her shoulder, and Jireo stayed on her heels.

Through the doors.

Dodging a wheeled cart piled with strange items.

“Excuse me, I’m sorry.” Beth closed the curtain she’d peeked behind and flew to the next one. “Here! Jireo, in here! We can’t move Alora—she’s hooked up to an IV.”

“I’ve got him.” He hefted Kaevin’s slack form and shuffled around to place him on Alora’s bed. Jireo rolled him onto his side against her.

“Here, let me put this rail up to keep him from falling off. I need to put their hands together. Oh, I forgot about those splints on his fingers.” Beth stretched his arm out and placed Alora’s hands on his forearm.

“What are you doing?” Dr. Sanders demanded from behind them.

Beth put her hands on her hips, and her nostrils flared. “I’m saving their lives if it isn’t too late. Do you want me to explain? Or do you want plausible deniability? Or you can separate them and deal with a couple of dead kids.”

Dr. Sander’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, and his face grew progressively redder. But his gaze moved to Alora’s monitor, and he mumbled something under his breath.

“Fine. Her heart rate is rising. You’d better hope you’re right about this.” He stomped out through the curtain. “Just keep this closed, and I’ll keep the nurses out for now.”

Jireo’s muscles were wound tight. Kaevin and Alora could still die. And even if they survived, they wouldn’t have the strength to transport. How could he communicate with Laegenshire? If only he had a sightstone, Darielle would understand the situation.

Beth slumped into a chair. “This has been a long, stressful day. I don’t know how you’re still standing.”

“I don’t know how you can sit still.”

“Ha. I have no problem resting when I get the chance.” Beth groaned as she stretched. “You know, I thought the soulmate thing was pretty romantic when I first heard about it. But I can see why all the adults say they’re too young for it. It’s kind of hard to keep them alive. Your world is dangerous already, but being soulmates really complicates things. I don’t know how any soulmate couple survives, no matter how old they are.”

Jireo lifted his shoulders. “When we first come into our gifts they seem to drain the energy from our bodies. But my father can use his gift all day without getting tired. Nordamen says it has something to do with how we channel the energy from the Stone. I think perhaps an older soulmate couple wouldn’t use the energy from their bond.”

“Whatever.” She blew a strand of hair off her face. “But it would be safer if they both stayed here until they figure out how to get rid of the soulmate bond.”

“Kaevin couldn’t remain here. He would never shirk his duty.” Jireo wanted to believe his own words, but Kaevin had chang