Page 87 of Cursed

Rourke and Arden rush over, kneel down, and try to pull me free.

Branden and Landis fight off the guards while they do.

“Guys, grab Quade and get out of here!” I shout.

“Not without you, love,” Landis says, feeding from my emotions to aid his fight.

“Rourke, shift and lift him off me,” I order. “The rest of you, go!”

My dragon shifter looks at Arden and Landis. “Arden, grab Quade. Landis can protect you.” He looks at me. “I’ll need Branden’s protection to carry you out. But first, we need to know if your legs are crushed.”

Arden and Landis take out a couple of guards and rush out the door, carrying Quade to safety.

Branden fights off a few guards, zipping back and forth, deflecting blows, but he’s slowing. I know it’s a matter of time before his magic and energy are gone.

“Can you feel your legs?” Rourke asks as he caresses my cheek.

I shake my head.

What does that mean? Do I have more damage than I thought?

Branden leads the guards away from us, and Rourke drops his sweatpants and shifts into his dragon.

I grab his pants for later. Clutching them to my chest like a security blanket, I inhale his smoky scent to calm myself.

I wince as Rourke rolls his father’s heavy weight off my lower half. Unable to feel my feet, I drag myself out of the way on my elbows. As Rourke lets go, his father’s body rolls back where I once was.

Rourke shifts back so he can get through the small, human-sized door. He slips on his pants. Then he easily lifts me into his arms, one under my back and another under my knees.

“Let’s go!” Rourke shouts to alert Branden. He races to the door and glances down at my face. “How are your legs?”

I try to wiggle my toes, and the burning tingles of a limb coming back from sleep take hold. “Sensation is returning. I don’t think they’re broken.”

Branden races past us to take care of anyone ahead of us. I lean back to peek behind Rourke and don’t see anyone following.

Good.

We hear a skirmish up ahead. Branden must be engaged with some guard.

We hear a roar from behind us. Drake has regained consciousness.

“Can you walk?” Rourke asks.

Feeling has mostly returned to my legs. And as much as Rourke tries to run smoothly, I’m being jarred quite a bit. “I think so?”

“I’ll need my hands free when he attacks.” Rourke sets me on my feet, and I nod to indicate that I’m good.

I begin to glow again as the magic I’ve been absorbing replenishes me.

Rourke captures the back of my head and gives me a perfect kiss. So much passion pours into me.

I’m afraid it’s a goodbye kiss.

Pounding footsteps sound out from the hallways. Drake is coming for us.

“Go,” he whispers. “I’ll hold him off.”

“Come with me.” I grab his hand, but he shakes his head.

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