Read Online Altered Souls by Karice Bolton - Free Book Online Page B

replacing it with tea tree oil. The pungent smell started to arouse a little movement from Logan. His brows furrowed slightly and excitement filled me. I wiped quicker and placed the open container of the liquid by his head, hoping it would add the extra oomph he needed.
    “Your blood and mind will be so pure after this episode, I won’t know what to do with you,” I whispered, but my voice caught, and I pushed down the tears that threatened to make an appearance.
    Grabbing the salve made from Red Oak bark, I began smearing it on his wound. Not that I was trying to hurt him, but I wanted some sort of sign as I applied the pressure that he was still with me. I wasn’t getting one. The fear that the infection was too rampant, and the blood loss too severe, frightened me to an almost paralyzed state. I couldn’t allow myself the luxury of a meltdown.
    My work stopped the infection, at least temporarily, from creeping up to the newly produced openings, which only created a small amount of gratification. I needed him to wake up. We needed to purge this spell. That’s the only thing that would completely stop it.
    The mixture on the stove was ready to use. The entire shop smelled like a sickening root beer float. I placed the pot on the next table over and shoved the gauze compresses into the pot.  Watching the steam rise worried me a little, but I wanted to shock him. Using tongs, I grabbed the long pieces of white material out of the liquid and placed them on top of Logan’s abdomen. His back arched up, and his eyes flashed open in agony as the heat dove and swirled deep into his abdomen.
    “Please tell me how to be brave like you, Logan,” I whispered.
    He hollered in agony, but at least he hollered. He grabbed my hand and wouldn’t release it.
    “I love you, Logan. Please stay with me. Tell me how to reverse the spell,” I begged. “I don’t know how much time we have left.”
    Holding onto his fingers tightly with one hand, I tried comforting him with my other. Surprised by how much dried blood managed to cover my hand and arm, I quickly hid it from him to not cause more alarm.
    His breathing was erratic, but no longer shallow. There was a subtle strength stirring inside him. A moan escaped deep from within as his body began to slowly relax back down to the table.
    “Do you think you might be able to drink a sip of water? Valerian might help with some of the pain,” I said.
    He shook his head. The muscles in his neck completely strained.
    Letting go of my hand, he turned toward me and placed his palm on the tattoo that was almost completely hidden by the mess his wound created.
    “Is this part of it?” I asked. “The spell?”
    He nodded while attempting to sit up.
    “Whoa, let me help.”
    “I got it,” he replied as he inched his way up slowly.
    Words! He spoke! Hearing his voice sent a shock wave through my system as it hit me that only minutes before there was part of me that wasn’t sure I would ever hear his beautiful voice again.
    “I was so worried—.”
    “We aren’t in the clear yet,” he mumbled, his voice almost hoarse.
    “You don’t want anything for the pain?” I asked.
    “I need a clear head for this. We need to stop him. Make him unconscious.”
    Even though it felt like I just resurrected the dead, I was quickly reminded of how dire our situation was by watching Logan’s somber expression. We clearly weren’t out of the woods.
    “This right here,” he said pointing at the artwork permanently embedded on his skin, “links me to your father. His organization. And as you know, Trevor’s part of that organization.”
    He avoided looking at me and continued.
    “It’s also what enabled Trevor to throw this kind of spell on me so quickly. I was hopeful he wasn’t capable, but I guessed wrong.” His words were filled with exhaustion and pain.
    I nodded waiting for him to proceed.
    “I can’t get rid of it, and I really don’t want to. It has some very helpful