Enemy Mine by Katie Reus Read Free Book Online

him
    to leave too, Kiernan shook his head. All
    his territorial instincts roared to the
    surface at the thought of leaving Melina,
    even for only a moment. “I go where she
    goes.”
    Melina shot him an exasperated look
    over her shoulder. “You need to wait
    outside . . . please.” She tacked on the
    please as if it pained her.
    Kiernan just raised an eyebrow and
    tapped his wrist, as if he had a watch on.
    “Time’s wasting. You can argue with me
    or . . .” He shrugged, knowing it would
    drive her crazy, but he wasn’t leaving her
    side.
    She opened her mouth once as if to
    argue then growled at him. For the first
    time since they’d met he could tell she
    was truly annoyed with him. “Damn it,
    Kiernan—”
    “I am not leaving.” There must have
    been something in his voice that
    convinced her he was serious because
    after a few seconds ticked by she sighed
    and turned back to the young boy who’d
    finally passed out.
    Kiernan blinked as a soft blue glow
    seemed to completely encompass the
    teenager. It spread out from his hands
    where Melina grasped him, moving to his
    arms, across his torso, spreading
    everywhere. It seemed to come from
    inside him, pushing out warmth like a dim
    nightlight.
    Melina’s eyes were closed, her
    expression serene, her body
    preternaturally still. If he couldn’t hear her
    heartbeat and see the soft rise and fall of
    her chest he’d be worried about her.
    Kiernan was silent as he stared at the
    two of them, finally understanding why
    Melina had been so drained earlier. She
    was a healer, a being so rare they were
    revered among all supernatural species. It
    wasn’t in his coven’s file on her family—
    though that hadn’t been updated in over a
    decade—so he surmised this was a
    guarded secret. Healers were treated with
    respect across all species. It was an
    unwritten rule. They were never targeted
    or harmed even if factions were battling
    each other.
    After ten long minutes she drew her
    hands back, looking pale and drawn and
    ready to collapse. “He should be fine
    now. It wasn’t a bad wound to begin
    with.”
    The wound was now almost completely
    healed. A red puckered mark about an
    inch in diameter remained on his shoulder.
    She carefully placed a couple steri-strips
    across the raw skin, but he doubted they
    were even necessary.
    Kiernan left the weapons on one of the
    counters, deciding to let Irene do what she
    wanted with them. The second Melina
    finished he sidled up next to her, wrapping
    his arm around her shoulders. He liked
    touching her, being able to support her
    even in a small way. To his surprise she
    didn’t fight him. Instead she turned into
    him and slid her arm around his waist
    using him for support.
    “Thank you so much, Melina,” Irene
    said. “I’ll clean up everything and make
    sure the boys don’t mention your presence
    here to anyone.”
    Kiernan bit back an angry retort. This
    was the last place Melina should be,
    especially without her pack’s protection
    or knowledge. If there was one thing he
    respected about shifters, it was that they
    took care of their own.
    But if she did this kind of thing without
    her pack’s approval, he knew he was the
    last person she’d listen to. He was just
    glad he’d been able to go with her. She
    was in no condition to drive right now and
    if she’d been alone . . . He shoved that
    thought away and they left.
    Gently, he helped her into the passenger
    seat, ready to get as far away from the
    shelter as possible. He wanted her under
    lockdown.
    “How would you have gotten home if I
    hadn’t been here to drive you?” he
    snapped, the words coming out harsher
    than he’d intended. He wanted to tell her
    how amazing she was, how much he
    respected what she was doing, but it
    scared him knowing she could have been
    out on her own in such a weakened state.
    Sighing, she turned in her seat to face
    him, her eyes heavy-lidded. “Irene would
    have taken me or one of my female
    cousins would