Page 52 of Wolf Touched

Josie rocked on her feet. “How much longer until the witches come back?” Her worried gaze landed on Raffe.

My breathing turned rapid, but I forced myself to take the deep, calming breaths that all my years of therapy had forever lodged into my mind. Just like all the other times, it didn’t do a damn thing. The worry and hysteria still dug their sharp claws into my chest.

“They’ll be here soon.” Priestess Caroline exhaled. “We don’t live far.”

Hurried footsteps sounded from outside, and I lifted my head.

We’ll go check it out,Adam linked, and he and Keith headed back outside.

“Be strong.” Priestess Caroline lifted a gray brow. “He needs you to, for him. As long as you are, he’ll remain the same.”

Some of the weight on my shoulders eased. Not much, but enough not to feel crushed underneath the pressure likebefore. If my strength helped Raffe, then I’d be strong for him. Even if it was silly, having a task made me feel better, as if I had some control over the situation.

It’s the witches,Keith linked.Nothing to be worried about.

Words I never thought I’d hear Raffe or one of his friends say. Whether they liked it or not, we were at this coven’s mercy. We couldn’t get Raffe to stop bleeding without them.

“How do we do this?” I needed to know what to expect.

“We pour the liquid into his wound so it can hit the magic stored there.” Priestess Caroline wiped her bloody hands on her gown, leaving her handprints on it.

“Are we sure this is safe? This will definitely work on him?” Lucy wrung her hands. “Like, nothing bad will happen to him?”

Priestess Caroline lifted her hands. “I can’t make any promises. I only remember the description of a spell like that being used on us once when Olwyn’s ancestors tried to kill our coven. My coven worked together to find a solution, and as we were close to death, they found these rare petals that, when mixed with herbs, eliminated the effects. Based on everything I know, this is the only antidote. But Olwyn could have modified the poison in some way. We have no way of knowing until we use the antidote on him.”

All my relief faded away, and the world spun slightly around me. This might not save him after all.

Faith ran into the garage with Keith and Adam on her heels. She held a clear bottle with a putrid smell and black sludge inside.

Sludge that looked gross and like something I wouldn’t want to touch me.

Ever.

“Uh … is that still good?” Keith’s nose wrinkled. “Because I’m not so sure.”

“I’m with him.” Dave gagged. “And this is a problem, seeing as I just got full.”

“Here, let’s unpack him. We need to get the IV out of Skylar. She’s probably given him enough of her blood.” Dru moved to take the IV out.

I dodged him and shook my head, gritting my teeth. “Not until he’s fixed and the bleeding has stopped.”

Priestess Caroline unpacked the gauze, and this time, he was bleeding worse than before … probably because they kept messing with it. She held out her hand. “Here.”

Faith handed the bottle to her and took several steps back, blinking as Avalon hurried in. Avalon huffed out a breath but didn’t say a word as Priestess Caroline tipped the bottle over Raffe’s wound.

With bated breath, I watched as the sludge inched out of the bottle. The smell became worse the closer to the opening it came. Then, the material gathered at the tip, thickening until it fell into the wound.

Then something exploded.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Black smoke poured from Raffe’s wound, his blood boiling as the magic seared through it. A shock shot through my fated-mate connection to Raffe, knocking me back. I almost toppled over until strong arms wrapped around me, keeping me upright … mostly.

The smell of laundry detergent and the lack of musk informed me who it was.

Dru.

I tried to get my feet underneath me, but my legs felt like jelly. I couldn’t take my eyes off my fated mate.

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