Page 36 of Immortal Burden

And then he thrust it at Mia.

“No! Wait, I—”

She disappeared in a flash of forced teleportation in the next beat, her words of protest cut to the quick.

A brutal emptiness hit me the second she was gone.

“You!” I snarled, rounding on the old warrior. “She’s gone because of you!”

My wolf teeth dropped as I advanced on him.

I’d make him bring her back to me.

I’d tear him apart until he did.

He stood at the ready, his fists clenched, feet parted, eyes narrowed in concentration.

He was gonna need it. The fucker might have a shitload of magical power, but I was the strongest wolf alive.

“If I had not sent her away, you would have harmed her.”

“No!” I yelled. “I’d never hurt her.”

“You were not in control.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’d never hurt what’s mine. And she is mine. I know it.”

“Perhaps,” he agreed, shocking me.

“You know? Tell me!”

“That is neither my wish, nor my prerogative, Mr. Silver.”

What the ever-loving fuck did that mean? I smashed my fist into my palm. “Gonna make you then.”

A smug smile played on his lips. “I strongly advise against that course of action.”

“Yeah? Scared, old man? Is that it?”

He rolled his eyes at me. “Your arrogance clearly knows no bounds.” He blew out a breath. “I had suspected as much, given what you are.”

“You’ve got a hate on for wolves?”

“Your wolf nature is not what I am referring to. If that was the case, I would not concern myself with you. I would stand aside and allow your connection to Mia to progress unchecked.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” I barked, his cryptic bull pissing me off.

“It means,” he said, a dangerous expression coming over him as he stepped closer. “You are a threat I will not allow near her.” His magic sparked, silver flames erupting on his palms. “If it were possible to neutralize you permanently, I would have already done so. Alas, all I can do is subdue you. Why do you think you have only now crossed paths with her?”

“You’ve been keeping her from me?”

He nodded slowly. “I will continue to do so. Today was an anomaly. One that should not have occurred. The interference of powerful dark magic compromised the veil I had in place. She should never have been here today.” His eyes narrowed. “And she never will be again.”

A roar tore from my throat, the wolf and the man alike losing it at the thought of never seeing her again, the threats from him ramping up its rage to a level I couldn’t keep in check.

The next thing I knew, I was leaping through the air at him, starting to shift mid-flight.

Until I wasn’t.

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