Page 16 of These Deadly Dreams

Before he can reach for Sterling, voices penetrate the silence along with the sounds of car doors closing and gravel crunching. But it’s one specific voice that freezes the blood in my veins.

“Make sure she’s alive, and heal any of her injuries.”

Cade’s head whips in my direction. “Sam.”

“No,” I whisper.

“What about the others?” a second voice, one I don’t recognize, asks.

“Kill them.”

Those two words thaw the ice in my veins and set my blood on fire. Kai and Sterling are helpless, they can’t protect themselves. Cade needs his magic to save Sterling. That leaves me, the only one left to keep them all safe. A hysterical laugh bubbles up my chest. How the hell can I protect them? Especially when I have to protect myself.

Cade reads all of this in my expression and he shakes his head. “No, Ellis. Do not do what you’re thinking. Let me protect you.”

“I need you to save Sterling.”

“Ellis—”

I climb over the seat again, ignoring Cade’s pleas. I doubt my car door will open, but I can climb through the broken window.

“Ellis!”

I look at him, his expression torn between saving my mate or protecting me. “Cade, there is no point if I lose one of you. You guys are everything to me. Not just my Shields, but my entire reason for breathing.”

“Shields,” he mutters. “That’s it! Use my magic, Ellis!”

Violet light climbs up his arms and the tell-tale tingle in my palms responds. I don’t wait a second longer. I slide out the window, wincing as the broken glass cuts into my skin. Climbing to my feet, I come face to face with my nightmare. I fight the instinct to cower. Instead, I draw on my years of training at the gym and the sessions I spent working with the guys.

Sam’s lips spread into a grin that makes my stomach churn. I swallow down my fear, straighten my shoulders, and lift my chin. It’s easy to slip into a fighting stance—legs spread, knees bent, fists guarding my face. I notice the purple light swirling around my hands and I wish I’d had time to practice using this magic with Cade.

Sam’s smile falters and his eyes widen. “So it’s true,” he whispers to himself. He motions to the wrecked car with his hand, and says sharply, “Take care of them. Now.”

My gaze is drawn to the three men behind Sam. Mages and shifters who step toward the wreckage and my mates. Without thinking of what I’m doing, I fling out my arm and a purple lightning bolt shoots from my palm and hits the ground in front of them.

Startled, I jump back. I honestly hadn’t expected anything to happen. I don’t even know how I managed it. Before Sam catches on to my shock, I straighten my shoulders.

“I can’t let you do that,” I say with a barely noticeable tremor in my voice.

Sam studies me with an intense gaze, his brown eyes swirling with his green magic. He tsks and shakes his head. “Doll, you don’t want to go up against me. Just let them do what needs to be done. It’s going to happen at some point anyway. Isn’t it better if they’re already unconscious when it happens?”

My body physically recoils at the thought of my mates dying. “Not gonna happen,” I growl. “I will fight tooth and nail to keep you from them.”

Sam’s hands curl into fists, his magic twining around his arms, and I can’t stop myself from flinching. I remember the pain of his magic as it restrained me, and for a second, I falter. Sam notices the moment I lose my confidence. He takes one step toward me, and stops, his gaze moving over my shoulder.

“You’re lucky there are people around, Sam, or you’d already be dead.” Cade steps next to me, his magic swirling around him. Waves of angry energy flow from him as he stares down my ex-abuser.

With Cade at my side, my confidence returns. And I finally take in my surroundings. A crowd of onlookers have gathered, and sirens blare in the distance, steadily getting closer. Someone must have called for a medic.

Sam must realize the same thing, because he takes a step backward. A muscle ticks in his jaw and his magic disappears.

“This isn’t over,” he growls, before turning and heading back to his car with his cronies in tow.

Once I’m sure Sam is gone, I turn to the Land Rover. Seeing the damage from the outside causes me to miss a step. The right side dented in from the telephone pole, and the left side is completely destroyed from the car that hit us. Cade grabs my arm and keeps me upright.

“Sterling?” I ask, afraid to look inside.

“He’s going to be fine,” Cade reassures me.

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