She looked even worse up close.
Shit.
How the fuck was I supposed to take two girls to the infirmary when I could barely walk under my own weight?
Eleanor squirmed as I bent over and gently placed her next to Jealousy. With my hands free, I checked Jealousy’s pulse.
It was weak and erratic, her lips tinged blue and her skin clammy.
Ripping off my shirt, I slipped it around her frail form. “It’s okay, Jess. I’ve got you.”
Her lips twitched as I stroked her cheek.
The men surrounded me, their guns by their sides and eyes wide with disbelief that they permitted me to do my own thing instead of shooing me back into a cage.
That was the thing with authority. Display it correctly, own it completely, and weaker men slipped into line.
Electricity shot over my body as Eleanor opened her eyes, activating our bond as she blinked away her fatigue. She winced and tried to sit up, shaking her head. “Sully…”
No matter where we were or what we were doing, our chemistry and connection would never fail to reach into my chest and electrocute my heart.
Her lips formed the sweetest, caring smile, then vanished as her gaze locked on Jealousy. “Oh, no.” Swallowing hard, flinching in pain from her own run-in with elixir, she crawled to Jess and ran her hand over her head. She ripped her touch away, her gaze connecting with mine in panic. “She’s ice cold.”
I nodded. “I need to get her to Campbell.”
“Let’s go.” With gritted teeth, Eleanor forced her body to obey. Digging fingers into the tile, she clambered to her feet, only to fall back down again.
“Don’t.” I reached for her.
“We need to…go.” Her eyes snapped closed, her head hanging with a tiredness she couldn’t shed.
Fuck.
Tucking her close, I held her while she tumbled into exhaustion and clawed her way back in the same heartbeat. She pushed feebly against my arms. “Let me go…we need—” She yawned, making my heart fist.
Forcing her eyes open, her attention skipped over the men guarding us and fell to Drake still snoring on the floor. Pika swooped from the ceiling and landed on her shoulder, his feathers bristling.
“I’m okay, Sully. I can…I can do this.” She sucked in a huge breath and raked both hands over her face, scrubbing away sleep, clinging to comprehension. “I have to do this.”
Once again, she stunned me fucking stupid.
How strong was she to be able to stay awake after the dance with death she’d had? How fucking brave was she to immediately shove aside her own maladies and put Jess first?
Her grey gaze met mine. “Help me stand?”
I cursed the men watching us. I’d had my fill of goddamn audiences. But I also couldn’t stop worshipping this woman, in awe of this girl, in love with every inch of her. “I’ll carry you to Campbell and come back for Jess.”
“No, you’re fading too.”
“I can manage.”
“You can’t carry both of us.”
“That’s why I said I’ll take you first—”
“No.” Her eyes flashed silver spirit. “She needs to see him, immediately.”
My temper met hers. “I agree, but I’m not leaving you here alone. Not with him.” My glare fell on Drake. Fuck, I wanted to kill him.
“And I’m not letting you push yourself so hard that you die on me.” Her tone fell to a harsh whisper. “What did you tell me last night? You wouldn’t let me die? Well…same goes for you.”
“I’m not going to die, Eleanor.”
She flinched. “We don’t know that. Those side-effects you mentioned—”
“Won’t happen to me.” I pinched my nose, squeezing back nightmares, headaches, and agony. “Look, just let me—”
“Stop arguing. You carry Jess and I’ll…” She pushed against me again, one hand rubbing at the spot above her heart as if palpitations still plagued her. “I’ll…walk.”
My eyebrows flew up. “Walk? You can’t walk. Not after last night.”
She gritted her teeth. “I’ll walk.” Pushing me away, she scanned my naked chest, seeing the stress and strain I did my best to ignore. “I’ll help you carry her.”
“No way.” I snorted. “There is no way I’d let you do that. You’re weak—”
“And you’re hurt.” She struggled to her feet again, the canary yellow shirt fluttering around her Bambi legs. Her attention split between me and the mercenaries. Her knees wobbled, her balance screwed from a night of mania. “We’re all hurt, so we’ll all help each other.” Padding unsteadily, tripping to one knee and somehow standing again, she ducked by Jealousy and shook her shoulder. “Jess…wake up. Just wake up for a little bit and then you can sleep, okay?”
Jealousy groaned, her eyelids flickering but unable to open. Violent shivers wracked her as I moved to the two girls and tried to trust in Eleanor’s strength.
Could she walk?
Could I seriously ask such a strenuous task of her?
My stomach clenched with possession. I wanted to take care of her the way she deserved, not demand she drain herself more, but…I wouldn’t belittle her by commanding an alternative to the one she offered.