My One and Only (Bewitched and Bewildered #10)(55)

Vivi launched herself at Meryn wrapping her arms around the woman's neck. "I love you!" she peppered Meryn's face with kisses. "When this is over, come work for me!"

Aiden look dumbfounded. "Hold on, is she right?"

Vivi smiled and nodded. "There's no guarantee, but it's our best shot." She threw her head back and laughed. "DeLaFontaine thought he'd infect Magnus and get rid of him, but he effectively gave us the cure!"

"Wait! What about the children? Vampires are universal donors already for shifters, but what about bonding?" Ellie asked.

Magnus shook his head. "I do not care. I will watch over them all if I have to," he said emphatically.

"Vaccine, antibodies, old vampire blood but not from a vampire..." Meryn murmured looking up at the ceiling. Her head came down. "Colton! He's a wolf-shifter who received the vaccine, so he has the antibodies, but he also has Gavriel's blood running through him from when he got chomped on by the feral. So, he also has the boost of older vampire blood, but because he's a shifter you don't have to worry about bonding or the transition markers." She looked at Vivi. "He got Gavriel's blood about three months ago, do you think it would work?"

Vivi simply ran from the room. "Colton! Magnus! Hurry!" she screeched. Both men simply ran to catch up.

Adriel rose from his chair and walked over to stand in front of Meryn. Without saying a word, he practically bent in half bowing low to her. Grinning, Declan and Etain stepped up to bow to her on either side of Adriel.

Micah stood, leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. Silently he took a step back until he was beside Etain and he bowed low.

"Aiden they're doing that thing," Meryn said to her mate sounding upset.

"It's because you deserve it," Aiden said, his voice thick with emotion.

"Well tell them to stop. If they want to make me happy they can get me some meat kebobs or something," Meryn definitely sounded flustered.

As one, Micah straightened with his unit. Adriel knelt down on one knee in front of her. "Will you forgive me? I did not mean to discount the value of your input. My heart and mind were distracted by my concern for Micah. It is not an excuse, but I hope you understand."

Meryn just blinked. "So, am I getting meat kebobs or not?"

Adriel chuckled and stood to ruffle her hair. She tried ducking from under his hand. "Cut it out!"

"I will fetch your meat kebobs whenever you like," he promised.

Meryn rubbed her swollen belly. "Maybe after some Magic Pudding."

"I will get some immediately," Sebastian said and disappeared from the room.

Ellie stood and helped Rheia up. "We're heading to the hospital. Knowing Vivi, she will take the injectors straight up there." Grant and Micah stepped next to the women. Micah looked back at Meryn. "If this works, I will owe you more than you know."

Meryn held up two fingers. "Two words. Meat. Kebobs."

"Absolutely," he said. "Anyone else coming?"

Kendrick and Anne stepped next to them. Kendrick met his eyes. "Us for sure. Anne can help with the children and I'll do everything I can to free Serenity of the spell."

Feeling impatient Micah turned toward the door. "Let's go."





*****





It felt like centuries as they waited for Vivi to arrive with the different injectors, in all actuality, it was less than ten minutes. Micah stood next to his mate who was frozen in place in the center of the room, faintly glowing silver. Laelia and Radclyffe were on either side of the room helping the children. When they saw them enter, their hands dropped, and they rushed over to him.

"How can we get Serenity back?" Laelia asked.

"Meryn and the ladies think they have a workable cure. They'll be up here soon and the second the children are cured we'll be able to pull Serenity from the spell." He swallowed hard looking at his mate. Her skin had no color and a bright white streak of hair had appeared at her right temple. He reached out and touched it gently.

Fear gripped him as he turned to Kendrick. "She's out of time. There's hardly any magic left."

"Marjoram!" Vivi yelled, running into the hospital.

"We're here!" Marjoram met her in the middle of the room and divided up the injectors between herself, Rheia, Ellie and Anne. They ran to the little beds and started treating the children.

They had made it halfway down the row, when the first set of children began to have a reaction. Violent convulsions lifted their bodies off the bed and ripped them from their parents' hands as they tried to hold them down.

Suddenly the faint glow around Serenity disappeared and she fell forward into his arms. He knew before he lowered his head to her chest that her heart had stopped. "She's not breathing!"

Behind them the children continued to thrash, but his focus was on his mate. He would not allow her to go into the unknown alone. Heedless of the duties he was leaving behind he thrust his magic into her body, so he could follow her, where ever she was going.

"Micah! Pull your magic back! She'll take you with her," Kendrick yelled.

Micah tightened his arms around his mate and sighed happily. He could smell the sweetness of her skin, familiar and tantalizing. He threw open every channel of magic he had and was mildly surprised when earth magic responded. He had long ago given up on the ability. Without coaxing the green tendrils sunk deep into the floor. Through his magic he could feel it branching out, tiny roots fanning out over miles. Feeling sufficiently anchored he threw caution to the wind and rested his cheek against hers. Gods willing he'd see her again soon.