The Jaguar’s Arranged Mate

“What’s going on?” she asked again. Even her voice sounded strange, weak.

But Lisa and Helen weren’t there. She was floating away. Not even the sound of the dying could reach her.

When she came to from having passed out for the first—or maybe fifth—time, the crying hadn’t stopped any. She struggled to sit up, but her upper chest and her forehead had both been tied to the bed to keep her from moving. Her neck. It wasn’t healing, or at least not fast enough. She still felt faint and dizzy, and tired. So tired. She could sleep for forever.

The crying grew louder. The person didn’t sound like he was in pain, at least not physical pain. No, the were-jaguar had lost someone. A pang filled Miera’s chest. The mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters of the ones they had sent to a fiery grave… would they understand as Beric thought they would? Would she ever be able to forgive herself for what she had done? Yes, war was terrible, and it required sacrifice, but that sacrifice should be freely given. It should have been their choice…

A cough rattled through her, and her body shook as much as the restraints would allow.

Someone approached the bed. Helen. “You’re awake again. Good. Would you like to drink something?”

Miera wanted to nod, but she couldn’t move her head. “Yes,” she croaked out. Her throat was so dry it hurt to talk.

Helen held a straw to her lips, and Miera drank the water greedily.

“What’s happening?” Miera asked. “There’s a… hospital…”

“There is, yes.” Helen stared at the empty cup in her hands. “But none of the Blood Roses are willing to go there. Some on principle and some because a few tried and were turned away.”

“Turned away?” Miera’s hands clenched into fists. “What do you mean turned away? The Teal Warrior doctors and nurses won’t help us?”

Helen looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her up. “Well, they are busy trying to help the wounded—”

“The wounded Teal Warriors,” Miera said bitterly. She closed her eyes. “I understand that the Blood Roses want to be healed by our own doctors, but now isn’t the time to be worrying about Teal or Blood. We are all one now that Beric and I… Beric. Where is he? Is he all right?”

“I’m right here.” Beric was suddenly standing beside her. “I’ve tried talking to them myself, both to your people and to the doctors and nurses. Neither side is bending. I was able to steal a few pills for you—”

“No.” She pursed her lips.

“What do you mean no?” He sounded, and looked, pissed.

She closed her eyes so she wouldn’t have to see his anger. “I’m sure there’s someone worse off than—”

“No, there isn’t. You’re barely hanging on—”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not.” There was rustling, and then he touched her non-injured shoulder. “Open your eyes.”

Reluctantly, she opened them. He was holding up a mirror, and she could see the devastation to her neck. It was even worse than she would have thought possible. “How…”

“How are you still alive? We don’t know. Blood loss alone should’ve killed you. You’ve been unconscious more than conscious from what I’ve been told, and delirious at times, as well. You might seem fine at this second, but you’re not. Your neck isn’t healing, Miera. You’re too weak. You haven’t even healed this.” He lifted her hand so she could see the tiny cut on the back of it. “Food and rest isn’t going to cut it. You’ll die without the medication.”

“But my people…” Hot tears prickled her eyes. She was the reason why some had died, and if she took medicine away from others, more could be lost. Could guilt affect her healing ability?

“One of yours left an hour ago for your home to bring back as many doctors and nurses and medication and anything else they will need.”

“Who?” she asked. Who was the hero of the Blood Roses?

He frowned. “Take the medicine first, and we’ll talk more.”

“Spoken like a true alpha.” She tried to snort but coughed instead.

“Miera, don’t be a martyr.”

“I care about my people,” she snapped.

“And I don’t?” he countered. Fire flashed in his eyes, dark and dangerous. He appeared to have healed most of the way from his wounds. He was strong and solid and ready for another battle.

She wasn’t, so far from being ready, and all of the Blood Roses here in the Teal Warriors’ compound were in the same boat. We’re stuck here, within the fence that was supposed to protect us. We’re going to die here, far from home, surrounded by foes and allies we’re refusing to cooperate with.

But that refusal was on both sides.

And right now, her fighting with Beric was only going to make the matter worse.

Miera accepted the medicine, washed it down with water, and opened her mouth to continue their conversation, only a sudden wave of fatigue washed over her—maybe pill-induced, maybe not—and she gave in to sleep.

When she woke, she felt famished and was overjoyed to realize her restraints had been removed. Her neck didn’t quite feel right, and she was too scared to touch it.

Lisa immediately helped her sit up and then went to get her food. It was only when her friend returned that she realized her friend had been injured too—she was walking with a slight limp. “What happened to you?” Miera asked in between scarfing down a chicken Parmesan.

“The battle. When Kevin saw my injury, he forced me to leave out the back door. I was so pissed at him! Treating me like a child! But then, more and more were-jaguars were leaving, and I didn’t feel so worthless anymore. I tried to direct them back, to the hospital, but only the Teal Warriors listened, and I think that was more because they wanted to be with their people, their healers, than to be with us.” She shrugged.