I nod. "She's okay. She gets tired when she uses her power too much."
He goes for her hand, putting it over her stomach. "Her fingers..."
I did notice it when she arrived, but it's much worse now. When we found her again, the tips of her fingers were colored dark. Now, the color advances high to the middle of them, as if she stuck them into a bottle of ink.
What does it mean? I have no idea, and I have no idea where to look for answers. It's good I'm not Cassandra's only mate. We'd be screwed if I were.
"Let's get Apollo," is what I tell Tristan because it's the one thing I can think of. He knows much more of the world than us, and he'll know what to do. Between Tristan and I, Cassandra wouldn't have much help in coming up with a plan.
We make our way to where Apollo sits, catching his breath. He raises his eyes to us, and the sun hits him straight-on. Blood coats the front of his shirt, and he covers a point of his stomach with a hand. Dread rushes through my veins. I pick up my pace.
"You alright?"
He waves me off. "Just need a minute and I'll be okay."
"It doesn't look that simple."
He looks up at Cassandra. "She alright?"
I kneel so he can get closer to her. That's what he needs, I can tell. As soon as she's eye-level with him, he reaches out and grips her hand in his. It's a need mates have. That's how I know Tristan's probably her mate too.
"She passed out," I tell both, knowing they need to know she's going to be fine. "Remember how tired she got after using her power, Apollo?"
Apollo nods. "Yeah. It has to be it." He hisses, then slowly gets to his feet. Tristan reaches out, holding him around an elbow. "We need to get out of here."
I peer back at the motel in ruins. I didn’t notice if there were customers. The receptionist was a shifter, so he probably got out, but other customers? Cassandra wouldn't like to know we left them behind, not when this all happened because of us. Because she was being hunted.
"I know what you're thinking," Apollo says in a drawled voice that makes it clear he's hurting. "There were no other guests, just the rat shifter behind the counter, and he’ll be fine. Human cops will be here soon. When they see the fae bodies, they'll call the New Council, and things are gonna get complicated. We can't stay."
I chew on my lower lip but nod him on. Of course he's right. It might be my impression, but I think I can hear the sirens already. The plume rising from the place is a beckon for help.
"Let's get out of here," I agree with him, then make my way to the SUV we stole earlier.
"Wait," Apollo calls out and I stop and whirl around to look at him. He looks pale. That's not good. "Let's get one of the others. The keys to this one were back in the room."
I nod, turning to Tristan. "Tristan, can you see if any of the cars have the keys inside?"
Tristan goes ahead without another word, looking for it. When he finds it, raising his head to nod at us, we make our way to a new car. The dog enters first, then I sit with him in the back, propping Cassandra's unconscious body against mine, her head on my chest. My wolf paces inside me, impatient, telling me to check her breathing over and over. I keep telling him she's alive, but he doesn't care. He needs to make sure again and again.
The prospect of Cassandra dying on me is too painful to even imagine, so I don't.
Apollo opens the passenger's door and drops on the seat like he's halfway to death. The deep grunt he releases doesn't make me any less worried. Tristan pops his head into the car from the driver's seat.
"Uh," he says, looking between Apollo and me. "I don't know how to drive."
"You'll learn," Apollo replies, tapping the seat in an invitation. "I can't drive like this. I'm surprised I managed to walk."
"You shouldn't have," I shoot back at him, covering Cassandra's ear so she won't wake up. She needs her rest. "Why didn't you ask Tristan to help you out?"
"I'm a big boy, I can handle a scratch."
"You just said you're surprised you made it here."
Apollo waves me off like I'm an annoying bug. "Get inside, Tristan. The car's automatic, it'll do the hard work for you."
Tristan enters the car like it's a beast about to devour him. He closes the door as quietly as possible, looking over his shoulder at Cassandra. Then he turns to the wheel and grips it, tightening his hold until his knuckles bleach. I hold back a chuckle. He doesn't need it right now.
Apollo sighs in defeat, leaning forward to turn the engine on. "This almost makes me miss the Ninja Turtle."