He reached me, hauled me up by my collar, and slammed a gloved fist into my face. Once. Twice. Three times in quick succession, splitting my lips open. More hands grabbed my hair, pulling my head back, exposing my throat.

“Ah-ah,” Lincoln said, holding a half-shifted hand to my throat, the dragon claw pricking at my skin. “That’s enough of that.”

Reed drove another fist into my stomach, then up into my jaw as I doubled over.

Lincoln used his other hand to hit my kidneys from behind. I groaned, slumping in their grip.

“Four days,” Reed spat. “Then we’ll be back. Come on.”

“Are you sure?” Lincoln asked, looking at me. “Kalann said to make sure the message was thoroughly understood. He seems to be rather well off.”

I watched as Reed jerked his head beyond me. “Oh, I think the message has been well received.”

Lincoln followed his gaze, an evil smile spreading across his face. “I agree.”

“Have fun,” Reed said, and then the three shifted into their dragon forms and took to the sky.

Curious about what they meant, I rose to my feet, turning to see what they’d been looking at.

“SAM!” I shouted in alarm at the sight of the fallen body. “Sam, no. Fuck.”

Rushing to her side, I stared in horror at the hole burned in her back as she lay face down on the rock.

Fearful, I reached out to her neck, checking for a pulse. It was there, but it was faint and growing weaker.

“Shit, shit, shit.” I shook my head, staring at the wound. I didn’t have much time.

One of the lightning bolts I’d dodged must have struck her as she tried to run. I gently turned her over, but there were no marks on her front. Her body had absorbed the brunt of it. That was not good.

As I moved her, she groaned.

“Sam!”

“Cade?” she said. “What happened?”

“You’re hurt,” I said, slowly lowering her down. She had her head twisted, and her eyes were flickering open.

“How bad?”

I clenched a fist at the fading strength in her voice. I was losing her.

“It’s bad,” I said, stroking her head. “I’m sorry. This is all my fault.”

“Am I going to die?” she whispered.

I swallowed a lump.

“Yes,” I told her, blinking back the tears in my eyes. “Unless I do something drastic.”

“Do it,” she coughed, moaning in pain as the movement stressed her tortured back.

“I … if I do,” I said, “there’s no coming back. No way to undo it, I—Sam? Sam?!”

She’d slipped into unconsciousness.

“Fuck.”

I had no choice left. I had to act. Letting her die was not something I could deal with. Consequences be damned.