Page 73 of Midnight Moon
Recognition teetered on the edge of my mind. Air burned my trachea as I took another breath.
I tried, but failed, to open my eyes to identify my savior. I might still be out of it, but I knew this person was responsible for saving my life.
Seconds passed. I continued to breathe on my own.
Above me, another voice spoke, “We can’t take her from here. Her pack will come looking for her.”
“I don’t care. I can’t let her out of my sight until I know she’s recovered,” the original voice said, sounding possessive. The words sent another jolt through me.
“Fine. I’ll carry her to our car. You can deal with the bodies.”
“No.” The ground vibrated with the subsequent growl.
A beat of silence followed.
I wasn’t the only one who didn’t know what to make of the aggressive response.
“What is going on with you, man?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No?” The second voice challenged. “Then step aside and let me carry Blair.”
“You will not touch her.”Even half-conscious, I heard the threat underlying the words.
At first, the second voice didn’t respond. Then, I heard a long, dramatic inhale, followed by a low whisper, “Shit, Ash… this is not good.”
Ash...
Asher!
Of course.
I should have known.
No other shifter would have been able to deal with the sorcerers. Thank the Mother he was the one who found me.
“You’re mistaken,” Asher said to his companion, addressing some remark I’d missed while I connected the possessive voice with the handsome Wilds shifter. “It cannot be.”
I recognized Chase when he replied, “I can smell it, Ash. And so will the other shifters here. You need to—"
“Stop talking. She’s stirring.”
I tried to wiggle my fingers, surprised when I felt the dirt shift underneath them.
I heard shuffling above me.
“Come on, Blair,” Chase encouraged, sounding closer than before. “Open your eyes.”
It took another minute or two, but I ultimately obliged.
Darkness continued to linger along the edge of my vision, but I could make out the friendly Wilds shifter hovering over me.
Chase smiled, but it didn’t conceal the worry crinkling the corner of his eyes. “How are you feeling?”
My throat was dry, but I managed to choke out, “Like I was burned from the inside out.”
An unhappy rumble sounded behind Chase.
