Page 150 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

Another mage answered, “No. It should be another year before he is able. But this only makes the spell more powerful. Get him?—”

A white snout snapped over the mage and swallowed him in two gulps.

Doesn’t the leather armor give you indigestion?I said to my dragon with a tiny, forced smile as she pulled back her lips to reveal red-flecked teeth and a leather bracer stuck between them.

For you, it’s worth it. Now get up.

“Can’t,” I said.

A ball of lightning made my eyes water as it exploded into Ran, shoving her backward. Her shriek of rage made the leavestremble, but a vine mage was already sending living, slithering vines around her legs too quickly for her to snap them.

Fenbutt latched onto an arm that came too close, clawing and shaking it rabidly. The man raised a blade.

“Don’t kill it!” Kingpin screamed.

I tried to get up. I rolled until I was on my stomach, but someone pressed their foot against my back. A hoarse scream escaped my lips. It wasn’t in pain butrage.“Going somewhere, little sacrifice?” said a voice that made my skin crawl.

A gasp and a splatter of something warm hit the back of my head. Thenhewas there.

Shen crouched in front of me, his eyes wide and wild. “Mate hurt,” Lycus growled, his eyes dilated and so focused it was unnerving.

I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, but Lycus was a boiling mass of dark emotion. I needed Shen. Shen was struggling to push his wolf back to get to me so he could assess the damage. But Lycus held to their body through sheer will, his shock making them freeze.

“Hi, baby. It’s good to see you, but let Shen out now, ok?”

Lycus nodded, those eyes never leaving me. It was a promise that he would be there through it all, even if Shen held the reins. Then his face changed. His eyes flipped, and it was as if the wildness was slightly pushed back. I knew, however, that it was ever present, ever watching, ever waiting.

“Where?” Shen asked. I moved my hand. He followed the movement and shifted my cloak so he could see. He hissed through clenched teeth and his chest rumbled with a constant growl.

“Stay with me, Little Red.”

He pressed his hand against the wound and suddenly the numbness twisted from absent pain to a raging, white-hot firethat tore a whimper from my throat. I wanted to scream, but didn’t have the energy.

Sorrow, piercing, draining sorrow echoed across the bond.

“I am sorry, little one. I am so sorry. Come on, let us get you somewhere safe. Do you still have the mage stone?”

I pressed my hand against my chest. “Have to save… for others,” I whispered.

“You idiotic, little… We are using it foryouthis time, understand? You will die without it.”

“What about everyone… else?”

“We will do what we can for them. But I would sacrifice every person on this field for you. I would burn the world to see you live. Do not dare leave me here alone after I just found you.”

Ifeltthe darkness snapping up from its tethers. The horrors it would unleash to ensure my survival.

“Fine,” I sighed, knowing what he said was true. Would hate for that to happen, so might as well let him save me so I can save the world.

Twisted logic. Sound, but twisted.

Says the one who just ate a mage.

I said it was sound, didn't I?she hissed, eating another mage and burping fire.

Shen found the mage stone and pressed against the teardrop on its smooth surface, making it release a light that blinded me for a few moments. The stone sent a warmth to the wound, slowly closing it and restoring most of my health.

But blackness was pulling at me, pushing me under. The last thing I saw was panic on Shen’s face—pure, molten panic. Darkness drowned me.

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