Page 46 of The Highseer's Mate

“But—”

Varek whirls around and captures my cheeks in his hands. “But no. Go check on your friend on the ground.”

My heart clenches as the Thachiens—and my friend—disappear from view. Those things are terrifying and evil, not like the Vruts and I shiver when I realize her chances of survival are…

Gone.

“It’s all my fault,” I murmur.

Varek shakes his head, but what does he know? None of this would have happened if I didn’t try to play the hero. If I hadn’t idiotically tried to do the right thing. What the fuck did I know about this place? Nothing.

And now Cristina would pay for my actions.

My shoulders sink as the tears brim my eyes, but Varek nudges me in the direction of Ryan. “Go. She needs you.”

I nod. Inside, I feel like my heart is cracking into a million pieces and no matter what I do, I’ll never be able to put them back together.

Chapter 18

Paige

The last of the Thachiens disappear over the horizon and something squeezes my heart. My friends are huddled together, tears streaming down their faces as they tremble in fear.

My gaze slides to Ryan, still lying motionless on the ground. Draxel pulls her shoulders and lays her on her back gently.

Varek shakes me. “Go. She needs you.”

He’s right.

I take off and join Draxel’s side. I reach for Ryan and he slaps my hand away.

“Mate,” he growls and snarls at me.

For a second, I’m frozen by the anger and violence in his voice, but then I remember it’s just the bond. He’s worried about her. He’s trying to protect her.

“I know she’s your mate, but listen. She won’t be able to understand you. If you are the first thing she sees when she wakes up, she’s going to fight and she could hurt herself more.”

His jaw goes tight, all the muscles in his body clenching. He drops his spear and softly caresses Ryan’s cheek where abruise is already starting to bloom. Draxel looks pained, but finally takes a step away from her, never taking his eyes off her.

I move in close and give her a little shake. “Ryan?”

Her brows knit.

“Ryan? Can you hear me?”

Her eyes pop open and she flinches. “You piece of—”

“No! No!” I shout. “It’s me! It’s Paige!” I throw my hands up and give her some space.

Ryan focuses on me and then she settles before reaching for her cheek and wincing. “Jesus Christ. That ugly bastard really got a good shot of me, huh?”

“How do you feel?” I ask. “Do you think you can stand?”

She nods. “Wait a second. What the fuck are you doing back here? We thought for sure you were alien food. And now you’re back and you’re—” Her eyes roam up and down my body. “Healthy? Clean? Wearing their clothes?”

“It’s a long story,” I say.

“Yeah, I’d say. You look like you just came back from a tropical vacation.”

---