Page 57 of Own To Obsess

“I'm here to tell you that I'm willing to combine tribes if you need it.”

Kardos turned to him slowly, unwilling to believe what he just heard. “Combine tribes?”

“Yes,” Severon said firmly. “If this doesn't go well, you should know you have some options.”

“That will never be an option,” Kardos grunted. The anger that flared in Severon’s eyes forced Kardos to review what he was saying. Tribe Jenzi had been his only supporter for most of the selection year. He had to remember that. “I thank you for your support in this Year of Selection, Severon,” he said, sincerely. “I didn't expect it from you, and I appreciate that you love the Isles as much as I do. But there won’t be a need for that.” He looked the Alpha in the eye. “My Omega will emerge from the mountains, and she will solve everything.”

Severon gave him a pointed look. “I hope you are right. Because if you are wrong, everything will be definitely be solved, just not the way you want it.”

***

It was in the early hours of the morning that Kardos thought he saw movement at entrance. It was snowing again, which made it difficult to see, but then another slight movement caught his eye. He unfolded his arms and took a step forward, his body already knowing.

And then there she was, staggering out of the entrance.

Kardos ran toward her, pushing his legs as hard as he could to get to her, but she collapsed into a small heap, snow puffing up around her as she hit the ground.

“Shaya?” he bellowed. A shout came from the sleepy camps behind him, but he ignored them. “Shaya!”

She didn't move again, and when he got to her, he stripped off his furs and wrapped them around her as he picked her up. Whispers and murmurs ran through the crowd until they began cheering and calling her name.

“I knew you would do it,” he rumbled, kissing her cold face. “I knew it.”

Carrying her back to his carriage, he pressed his face against her cold one, kissing her and murmuring to her. The crowd was wildly celebrating, but Kardos didn't hear any of it. His focus was solely on his Omega. When she didn’t respond, he pulled back to look at her. She was so thin. Her skin was dull and dry, dustings of snow flaked from her eyelashes and… her lips were blue.

Panic slammed into his chest. That wasn't good, at all. As soon as he got her back to the carriage, he instructed the driver to leave immediately.

In the carriage, he checked her breathing, and found it unsteady.

“Shaya,” he said firmly. “Shaya? Can you hear me?”

Her eyes fluttered on him but then closed, and her mouth barely moved. He bellowed at the driver to move faster.

Throughout the journey he tried to warm her hands with his own, cuddling her freezing body close to him, and surrounding every part of her with himself. He breathed onto her lips, kissing them. “You did so well, little bird. You’ll be all right. You’re not leaving me, keep breathing,” he muttered. But by the time they arrived on Nyek Island, she was barely alive.

Thankfully, Zolt had his tobo with his pack waiting for him when they arrived at Nyek port. Holding her in his arms, he climbed on and instructed the pack to go as fast as possible.

It was almost as though they were flying, they had never moved so fast, even in competitions. Kardos kept his eyes on Shaya, every inch of him alert and on edge. He kept telling her, and himself, that she would be all right, but he hated that she looked lifeless and that her breathing wasn’t strong. The only thing that gave him hope was that the bond still pulsed, even though it was faint. It didn't feel shrunken or cold as it had when she was recovering from her attack, and he throughout the journey back, he prayed to Az Eshra that her strength maintained.

He arrived at Rozalia's hut, stamped through the snow carrying Shaya, and pounded on her door, hollering for her.

As soon as Rozalia saw him, she gestured him to take her to one of her treatment rooms. He laid her down on the bed, but remained hunched over her, holding her head in the crook of his arm as Rozalia hurried around collecting potion bottles and cloths.

“Get blanket from the bedroom,” she snapped at Kardos. “As many you can.”

Kardos brought them in and Rozalia set to work.

“Get out of the way, Kardos,” Rozalia snapped at him she moved around the table.

Kardos moved an inch out of the way, keeping his eyes on Shaya. “Is she breathing well?”

“I'm trying to check.”

Rozalia pressed specific points on Shaya's neck gently and carefully and too fucking slow.

“Well?” Kardos barked.

“I'm trying to treat her,” Rozalia bellowed at him. “Be quiet!”

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