Page 105 of Dragon Charmed

“No. According to Eric, Ben had Lily in his arms and then he handed her to Eric and grabbed his head and started moaning. I need to get back.” Marcus launched into the air before anyone could reply.

Lily sniffled and Tessa held her tighter.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. Let’s get you inside and get you taken care of so that Dr. Murphy can examine Ben when he gets here.”

Sienna rushed over to the door and opened it for them. “I’m going to wait for them out here.”

“Okay,” Tessa said even though she felt far from it. Why couldn’t they catch a break? It was like Fate wanted to pile more and more on their shoulders. Had Ben finally collapsed from the guilt and worry he was carrying?

Megan followed them inside with Bella, and Ian and Evelyn met them in the living room.

“Can you check Lily? Ben collapsed and they’re bringing him back from the cave.”

Ian nodded and sat on the couch so that he wasn’t towering over Lily. Tessa sat with Lily in her lap, and Ian started to examine her, getting out his stethoscope and penlight. He kept nodding, which Tessa took as a good sign. He also checked her quickly for cuts and bruises and made sure nothing was wrong with her arms or legs.

“She looks good. Scared obviously, but otherwise, she’s good.” He smiled at Lily.

Evelyn blew out a breath. “Thank God.”

Lily’s hair had partially come out of its braids. Tessa pushed back the tendrils and tucked them behind her ear. “I think someone needs a nice warm bath and a snack. Can Evelyn help you with that, sweetheart?”

Lily nodded and Evelyn held out her hand. Lily started across the room and then turned, ran back to Tessa, and gave her a fierce hug before taking Evelyn’s hand and heading for the foyer. Tessa blinked back tears.

“I’ll be right back. I’m going to put Bella down in her crib,” Megan said, following Evelyn and Lily out of the room.

When they were out of earshot, Ian turned to her. “Do we know what happened to Ben?”

“All Marcus said was that he was in the cave and he grabbed his head and went down.”

“The cave he was attacked in?”

She nodded.

“Okay. I’m going to go grab some more things out of my van. I’ll meet you on the back deck. How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.” Tessa stood and walked on wobbly legs to the deck. She had been keeping it together for Lily, but now her adrenaline was kicking into overdrive. She grabbed Sienna’s hand and they waited.

“Here they come!” Sienna said.

There were several dragons huddled together. As they got closer, Tessa could see that Ben’s wings were not out. Instead Eric and a guard were holding Ben between them as they flew. Marcus and another dragon flew below them with one in front and one behind. Tessa assumed they were flying that pattern to be there if there was an issue. Ben appeared to be deadweight, and her heart tried to take up residence in her throat.

“Land softly and someone support his head and neck,” Ian called out.

She flinched at the voice. She hadn’t heard Ian come outside.

They landed and the men picked up Ben so that he was being carried horizontally. Eric held his head so it didn’t flop down.

Tessa and Sienna followed them inside, and Megan met the group of men in the foyer as they transported Ben upstairs like he was made of glass.

They followed them up the stairs and waited in the hall as the men laid him on the bed. The guards filed out. Ian started to examine him. There were several bags in the room that Ian must have brought in earlier when he went to his car.

He directed Marcus to help him and had Eric repeat what happened. It was the same story Marcus had told them and she had in turn told Ian.

Tessa walked over to the other side of the bed and rested her hand on Ben’s arm. His eyelashes fluttered and she leaned closer. “Ben?”

He opened his eyes and looked at her, but not in the way she was used to. He stared at her like she was a stranger.

“Ben?” she said.