THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

intervened, you were actually healing him with me as a conduit between you.”
    Callan glared at me, still angry from our shouting match. I put my hands on my hips and gave him back a glare of equal fury for his part in the confusion. He narrowed his eyes then turned to Jaxxson. “How is the boy now?”
    “Still not stable. Gabby doesn’t have training. I need your help.”
    “I’ll try, but I may not be able to do much for another hour or two.”  Callan’s gaze strayed to me for a moment, letting me know he’d depleted his healing energy on my wounds.
    Gabby butted in. “I’m not sure I can really help you, but now that I know to be careful I’m willing to try again.”
    Jaxxson nodded at a spot on the far side of the boy and waited for Gabby to get settled before he sank down next to her. “You and I will work together.”
    I wasn’t so sure I liked how easily those two seemed to mesh. Just what all had happened while I’d been out fighting croggles? Gone was the girl who normally panicked at the idea of being touched.
    Callan dropped to his knees on this side of the child, eyes on Jaxxson who lifted Gabby’s hands and slowly placed one on the child’s arm and her other palm on the boy’s pale forehead.
    Gabby flinched at first then nodded a few seconds later, acknowledging that she could handle whatever she was feeling through the touch. 
    Callan moved to place his hands on the child when I interjected, “Thought you couldn’t help for another hour?”
    “I can’t heal but I can assess how he is and maybe help that way.”
    I held my tongue, surprised I worried about Callan as I watched him place both of his hands on the little boy’s chest. He let out a guttural groan of misery.
    Kneeling beside him, I asked, “What’s wrong?”
    “This child has a damaged heart. We’ve lost others who had pre-existing physical problems, then reacted to the Sphere once they got here. None of those had as severe damage as this one.”  He closed his eyes, gritting his teeth for several moments then looked over at Jaxxson and shook his head. “His life force is down to a whisper. I tried to reach the heart, but his pain blocks access from me.”
    Gabby raised a desperate gaze to me.
    I was not a healer, but Callan had proven his skill by healing me...after I put my hands over his. What kind of power did I possess? What was the chance I could help him now?
    Or, what was the chance I might do this child harm with uncontrolled power?
    Callan let out a slow breath that carried heavy disappointment, ending my debate.
    I covered his hands again, murmuring. “Don’t give up yet.”
    Heat swelled where our skin connected.
    He looked at me sharply, but didn’t move his hands.
    Jaxxson spoke in an excited whisper. “I felt a pulse in the boy’s life force, but it’s not strong. Everyone keep doing what you’re doing.”
    I closed my eyes and hoped I was doing the right thing when I searched for the power coiled inside me, waiting to be released. What if I released too much?
    This time, I used what I’d learned when Callan healed me. Fearful of endangering the child further, I drew slowly. Energy snaked through my arms and out my hands. When the blur in my mind cleared, I realized I was seeing through Callan’s eyes. I watched, amazed as he began working frantically to repair the child’s heart. With him taking care of the little boy, curiosity pushed me to ease back from watching the organ repair and open myself more to him.
    I saw a warm glow deep inside him that drew me closer.
    Noises faded away until all I could hear was Callan’s rhythmic inhale and exhale. A peaceful place I hadn’t known existed. Was this what home felt like? Safe. Welcoming. Intimate. I wanted to stay.
    Warmth radiated inside him as long as he centered his energy on the boy. Gone was the fierce warrior ready to battle and the hard exterior he’d shown me all day. Here was a heart that beat strong and cared for others.
    The minute he released that focus, I brushed up against grief...heartache...despair that he kept hidden and buried deep.
    “Rayen?”
    Hearing my name from a distance yanked me back toward consciousness. I struggled, not wanting to leave this place I’d found, but the voice insisted. I opened my eyes to find Callan, Gabby and Jaxxson staring at me.
    Their faces were a mixed bag of relief.
    That’s when I glanced down to find the little boy no longer blue around his lips and fingers. He was sleeping soundly