Eventually, she became aware of a second man in the room, sitting next to her on the bed, murmuring softly to Savage. She shivered violently, continually, her teeth chattering. She recognized those signs. Her body tried to rid itself of the toxic diseases she’d taken on from another party. Steele’s hands were cool on her temples. Then her ankle. He stroked his fingers over her skin. She ignored both men, wishing they’d just go away.
She must have said it aloud.
“I heard you,” Savage said.
Tears blurred her vision. “Please don’t come back.”
He brushed the tears from her face. “You remember what I said. Every word I said, Seychelle. If you come to me, there’s no taking that back.” Savage didn’t leave immediately. He stood there a long time and then framed her face with both hands. “I swear to you, I gave you the best of me.” He brushed a kiss across her lips, and then he was gone, taking her heart and soul with him. Taking everything and leaving her with nothing.
EIGHT
Savage didn’t like one single thing Steele had to say to him about what he found when he examined Seychelle. Steele had psychic talents. He had the ability to heal and the capability to do surgery psychically. He’d saved Player, one of the Torpedo Ink brothers, when no brain surgeon could have done so. He was a powerful doctor, a surgeon, healing both physically or psychically, and yet he didn’t hold out much hope for Seychelle.
“She’s a psychic healer, Savage,” Steele told him with a sigh, pushing a hand through his hair as they walked out the door of the cottage together. “I’m sorry, brother. I wish I had something good to tell you, but I don’t. She doesn’t heal others in the same way I do. She takes on the actual illness or injury, and I don’t do that. It could kill her. It is killing her. Her body is wearing out. She can’t keep it up, not at the rate she’s going.”
Savage’s breath caught in his lungs. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“Her heart is damaged. She doesn’t have heart disease, but she must have tried to heal someone with heart disease, or she took it on. There are signs of all kinds of other illnesses. She has to stop and let her body rest, Savage. Seriously. That girl is worn out.”
Savage hung his head. He should have seen it. All along the signs were there. Seychelle did need him. Physical pain wasn’t the same as taking on disease. He’d been so worried about what he might do to her, what she might think of him, and all along she was killing herself slowly, allowing those around her to kill her because she couldn’t stop herself. That was what she meant by her lack of control. Now it was too late. Torpedo Ink had a code. He couldn’t go back to her until she invited him back. Unless she came to him. In the meantime, he had to find ways to keep her safe.
He had the brothers watch over her the next few days while he thought about the best way to find out about her gift and how to help her. He had heard rumors that Blythe’s cousin Libby Drake was a healer. She was a doctor as well, but she was reputed to have the psychic gift of healing. Libby Drake came from the infamous Drake family, a notorious family in Sea Haven many locals thought of as royalty.
A few years earlier there had been a write-up in a magazine about Libby. Whether it was true or not, only Blythe could tell him. He didn’t ask favors of others, but only Seychelle mattered to him, not his ego. He needed this for his woman. Even if she never let him back into her life, he had to find out how to help. He texted Blythe.
Need you to get in touch with your cousin Libby Drake. Need a sit-down with her.
It took a long time before she answered him. As a rule, Blythe got back to any member of Torpedo Ink immediately. The fact that it was Savage, who never texted her, would make her want to answer even faster.
I don’t like letting you down, but the Drakes are secretive and I’m protective of them just as I’m protective of you. Why do you need Libby?
Blythe was straight-up asking. Either he had to tell her, or she wasn’t going to take any chances with her cousin. He didn’t blame her. In fact, he respected her all the more. It meant she would be equally as fierce protecting Seychelle.
Suspect Seychelle has the same gift. Need to know how it works. Steele examined her, Czar can confirm if need be. Worried. Have to know how to take care of her. I don’t need Libby to heal her. Just need advice. Give favor in return if needed. Word of honor whatever is said between us stays that way. Need way to help Seychelle.
Libby is shy speaking to outsiders about her gift. It isn’t done. Don’t get your hopes up and don’t take it personally if she refuses. Will ask.