Between Shadow & Ruin (Fangs & Fae Saga Book 2)

fifty-three.

The twins each took showers and climbed into bed. We took a little extra time tucking them in as they didn't want to let us go. Eventually they passed out and glowed faintly. Ray and Aria were happy to see us and we filled them in on everything that happened, and they told us the school stayed safe the entire time. They headed back home shortly after.

Odie refused to leave Ella until she transformed back. Zane and Chris showered while Val and I sat on the couch while Odie sat on the floor next to Ella's body. He was running his hand down her body and face, his hand glowing lightly. I walked over to him with a wet towel to at least clean the dried blood off his ears and face.

"Odie... I know you want to help her," I said, handing him the towel. "But you're exhausted. You heard Poppa... She will heal herself, but it will take some time. Why don't you clean up? If anything changes, we will let you know. I promise."

"No... I'm not leaving until she's back!" he said again. I put my hands in the air and nodded. I walked to the kitchen to grab a glass of water as Val followed behind me.

"Should we go shower? Do you think he'll be okay by himself?" she asked.

"I can watch them from the kitchen..." Zane said. "You two should go clean up." I nodded as I put the glass in the sink. We headed upstairs to our room. I turned the water on in the shower and we began to undress. Both of our clothes were ripped and dirty, covered in dirt, blood, and tears. Val stepped in the shower first and I gave her a minute alone before stepping in myself. I pulled the shower curtain back and stepped in.

Val had the water at a warm enough temperature that it made me feel almost human again. The water running off our bodies was dark as the dirt and blood washed off our skin. We cleaned ourselves off with soap and washed our hair. Before stepping out and shutting the water off, she wrapped her arms around me, and we embraced as the water rained down around us.

"Are you feeling okay?" she asked me.

"Yeah... I'm okay. You?" She nodded against my chest. "Baby feels fine, if you're wondering." I heard her sniffle a bit.

"I was... But this is over now, right? We can go back to our normal lives now." I didn't know what that darkness was that left, and I wasn't sure how to even say I saw it, so I didn't. I just wanted everyone to rest.

"Whatever that is..." She laughed. We shut the water off and stepped out, getting into our pajamas. Val grabbed an extra set of clothes for Ella, and we walked downstairs, the smell of coffee filling my nostrils. Chris handed me a cup as Zane poured Val's.

"He still hasn't left her side..." Chris said, quietly.

"She sound any better?" I asked.

"She's made a couple whimpers and moved a bit in his lap... but she's still a wolf."

"She can't get stuck that way, can she?" I asked Val.

"Not without a specific spell," she said.

"She just needs to heal before she can break all her bones to become human again..." Zane said.

"That's so fucked..." Chris said.

"Yeah, I know. But I can't know what's wrong until she can speak to me. I'm not a wolf doctor. And I don't think we want to get one involved. Her parents are going to ask questions that none of us are prepared to answer..."

"Should we ask Dylan?" I asked. "Vampire blood can't heal wolves who've triggered their curse... but what about the blood of a hybrid?"

"I don't know enough about a hybrid to say for sure," Zane said.

"Neither do I," Val said. "But I guess it couldn't hurt, right?" I nodded, grabbing my phone. It was nearly six thirty AM. I dialed Dylan's number, hoping he was awake. He answered the phone, and I could hear him breathing heavily.