Page 29 of Forbid Me

"Really?"

Extending a hand toward her, I let my magic flow. A soft, warm glow emanated from my fingertips. The threads wove together, mending the tears and holes with delicate precision. I decided not to make the mending too perfect. I didn't need any unnecessary competition, especially not from a fairy who already possessed that rose-blush beauty.

The fabric mended, looking much better than before but still carrying a hint of its previous war. "There," I said, pulling back and admiring my handiwork. "Not perfect, but it should hold up for a while."

"You're with the brooding shifter, aren't you? He can't seem to take his eyes off you."

I looked up at Oz again. But he wasn't looking at me. His eyes were opened but focused on another woman. "Yeah, we're... together."

"That's an understatement. He's been clocking everyone on board. I almost didn't come over to you."

"He… what?"

"I can't wait to meet my fated mate. I just hope mine is as protective of me as yours is of you."

The fairy gave me a playful punch on the arm. When she did, herbare fingers brushed against my skin. It must have been the contact that triggered the vision.

A chill coursed through me. It was the same chilling shiver that shimmied over her shoulders when she'd spoken of the portal opening. Like her response, this vision wasn't a lie. It was about to happen.

From the murky depths of the river, a dark horse emerged. It was the darkest black, like looking into a void. Its form was massive and menacing. It rose, water cascading from its shadowy form. Its eyes blazed with a malevolent light.

Its neigh shattered the silence, a sound so piercing it clawed at the very fabric of the air. The calm of the boat flipped like a switch. Everything, everyone descended into chaos. The scent of fear and the shrill echoes of screams came from everywhere and nowhere. I wanted to cover my ears, but the sounds were coming from inside my head.

In the vision, I searched for Oz. He wasn't far. He stood with his back to me. He was an immovable statue, frozen and unresponsive to the pandemonium around us. That didn't seem right. He should be the first into action. But he wasn't even trying to protect me. The sense of abandonment, of utter isolation, gnawed at my heart, a cold dread settling in my stomach.

Turning, desperate for any sign of safety, my inner gaze fell upon the fairy. The vibrant life that had animated her moments before was extinguished. Her body lay eerily still on the wooden deck, a crimson stain spreading beneath her. A silent scream caught in my throat.

Back on the other side of reality, the scream found its voice—my voice. The last thing I saw before everything came true was Oz moving toward me, coming to my rescue. The problem was, he was already too late.

CHAPTER 20

Oz

My mouth was dry even though we were surrounded by nothing but water. It wasn't drinkable water, but it was wet. It didn't soothe the rawness in my throat or the tightness in my chest. Something was off.

It was why I couldn't relax. I had been covertly keeping an eye on Stella as we made our way down the lazy river. My gaze had flickered across the deck, taking in the other passengers. There was no beware vibe coming off of any of them.

Then it happened. My worst nightmare come true. The reason I hadn't fully closed my eyes. Stella's body stiffened.

My claws extended immediately. I bared my teeth. A non-predatory boy that had been playing near me scurried away. Ignoring the kid, I held my ground. Stella wasn't in danger. Not from anything external, anyway.

I knew the signs. The tension in her body. The glaze over hereyes. The part of her lips. She could've been Dion at that moment. The two had so much in common.

I always blocked Dion from others' view when he was having a vision. My instinct was to run to Stella. To gather her in my arms. To have her confide in me. But that would only get me three steps back to where we had been. Back to her falsely believing I was her fated mate. This woman would have a crown on her head. She would have jewels to drown in. She would have the very best, and that wasn't me.

Stella wasn't in danger on the other side of the boat. There was no immediate threat at present. So I held my position. That was until the vision loosened its hold on her.

The color drained from her face. Her eyes widened in unmistakable terror. She exhaled a shaky breath, and I tasted the bitter tang of fear.

The panther took over. It cut through the distance with swift, predatory efficiency. The deck beneath my feet might as well have been the underbrush of a dense jungle for how quickly I moved, every muscle coiled and ready to strike at whatever threat had managed to instill that kind of fear in her.

My hand shot out, gripping the fairy's slender wrist with a force that was probably more than necessary. The fairy's cry of pain barely registered in my consciousness. My focus narrowed to Stella, to the pallor of her face and the tremble in her limbs.

"Stella, I'm here. I've got you."

I did have her. My hand went to her cheek, cupping her chin and brushing a thumb over her trembling lip. My other arm wrapped tightly around her, pulling her body against mine. I heard a click like the cock of a gun or sluicing sound a blade made coming out of its sheath. But it was neither of those weapons. It was the sound of Stella's body fitting perfectly against mine.

"Stella, look at me."

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