Savage paced up and down all night waiting for Blythe’s answer to his request. His brothers Storm and Keys, the two watching over Seychelle, said she hadn’t moved from her bed, other than to use the bathroom. She wasn’t even taking her normal walks on the headlands. He detested that he wasn’t there to take care of her. It took three days before the answer came. Three long days and nights. Savage was afraid he might lose his fucking mind.
It turned out Libby was pulling her shift at the hospital and doing volunteer work as well. She also had to think his request over very carefully, and Tyson Derrick, her husband, wanted to investigate him—meaning talk to Jonas Harrington and Jackson Deveau. Both men were her brothers-in-law. Savage couldn’t blame Tyson. He would have done the same thing to protect his woman. But that was three more nights without much in the way of sleep.
He’d taken the ride to Sea Haven all three nights and sat outside Seychelle’s bedroom window, his ass on the ground, back to the wall, eyes closed, hoping she knew he was close. Two of those nights the fog rolled in, turning the world into a deep gray mist, and he turned his face up like a sacrifice. The fourth day he got a text that Libby would meet him at Czar’s residence while the kids were away at Maxim and Airiana’s home. Maxim was one of Czar’s birth brothers, who owned the large farm with him.
Savage wasn’t happy that they were meeting at Czar’s home, but he’d take the meet anywhere. He was just grateful he’d get one. The Drake family consisted of seven sisters, all with tremendous psychic talents. The small village of Sea Haven tended to attract those with gifts, or hidden talents. The Drake sisters were considered to be the most powerful of all those living in the area, but who really knew?
Jonas Harrington, the local sheriff, was married to Hannah Drake. She owned a tea and bath and body shop in town. Jackson Deveau, a deputy sheriff, was married to the youngest Drake sister, Elle. Savage knew very little about her, other than that she was considered to be the most powerful of all the Drake sisters. He hoped so. He hoped she gave Jackson hell as often as possible.
Libby Drake Derrick had the body of a ballet dancer. She wore her thick, jet-black hair short, curving around the chin of her delicate face. The color of her hair really showed off the intensity of her vivid green eyes. Tyson Derrick, her husband, a brilliant biochemist, was an unexpectedly muscular man with wavy black hair and piercing blue eyes. He gave off a protective vibe as he sat beside his wife, although his handshake was direct and without any stupid manly games.
Savage could feel the subtle power coming off of Libby Drake the moment she walked into the room. He had grown up with psychic talent, and there was no mistaking the energy. With Libby, that energy was so strong it could barely be contained. She was a woman it would be impossible to withhold secrets from. She would be stripping him raw in seconds, seeing inside him, straight to the monster, if he sat in the same room with her for very long.
He didn’t hesitate. This wasn’t about him. This was about Seychelle and finding a way to save her life. If Libby Drake saw that he needed to wield a whip to be aroused and she was disgusted by him, he would take that. The information she had was too important for him to be worried about what anyone thought of him. They stared at each other, each sizing the other up. She was very aware he knew she could see inside of him and didn’t care.
“Thank you for seeing me, Mrs. Derrick.” He was formal. Polite. He didn’t know how to be with her. He wasn’t a man used to moving in her circles. He stayed in the shadows and came out when someone needed to disappear.
“Please call me Libby. I much prefer that we’re not formal.” She flashed him a gentle but very real smile. “Blythe is my cousin, and it’s been very nice getting to know Czar and her family. I’m happy that I can finally start to meet some of Czar’s family.”
Savage wasn’t certain he was the best one of the Torpedo Ink members for her to start with, but he forced himself to meet her eyes and nod. “Czar’s got a lot of family members, but I’ve heard you do as well.”
Libby acknowledged the truth of his statement with a small smile. “Blythe told me your friend has a talent similar to mine and you’re looking for information on how best to help her.”
Savage nodded. “Seychelle is extraordinary. She isn’t a doctor, and she hasn’t had any medical training. Both of her parents had long-term illnesses: her mother, a form of blood cancer, and her father, heart disease. She didn’t even realize she was taking that on herself to prolong their lives. She doesn’t seem to be able to stop herself from doing it, and she’s wearing herself out. I don’t understand how it works, and I don’t know how to help her. I’m afraid I’m going to lose her.”