Page 157 of The Wolf and the Chimera
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Elle
Bloodied and broken but radiating dominance, Ryder’s amber gaze bored into Lyall’s. Kalli screamed at her son to do it—to end Lyall no matter the cost.
But the cost.
Ryder would never forgive himself. Even if he found the strength to kill Lyall, the burden on his soul would be too great to overcome. He couldn’t do it.
I wouldn’t let him do it.
My mind raced. Despite the pack magic, Lyall had found a way to intervene in this challenge. I could do the same. Ihadto do the same.
I studied the grenade in Kieran’s hand, and a plan took shape.
Kieran had stopped me from trying to use it to blow up the forcefield because it would’ve fired far too close to the containers of power, but the pack magic—it could read intentions. If it could sense who wanted to pass through the hall versus who wanted to stop the fight, then surely it would let my grenade pass through.
I didn’t want to stop the fight—not really.
I wanted to stop Ryder from making a sacrifice no one should have to make.
I didn’t want to save him from Lyall’s claws and fangs.
I wanted to save his soul.
I called upon my chimera. Though the tug at her power made me dizzy, I had never played a sport in my life. I needed her athleticism to make my aim true.
I couldn’t do this on my own.
But Icoulddo this.
As eager to help her mate as I was, my chimera's strength warmed my tired muscles.
I took a deep breath and reached out a hand to Kieran.
“Trust me,” I begged.
Reluctantly, he handed me a grenade. The bronze inlaid device threatened my connection to my chimera, but I held onto her strength with all my will and pulled the safety tab on the grenade.
“As soon as I let go of this,” I told my friends, “take my hand. We need to make a chain.”
Melanie balked. “You’re going to throw that thing? Shouldn’t we take cover?”
If you’re wrong, you’ll kill them all—
Closing my eyes, I shut down the thought and listened to the ancient instincts guiding my actions. When I opened my eyes, my vision was sharpened, and my eyes undoubtedly glowed. I met the frightened gazes of each of my friends.
“No matter how Lyall packages it,” I vowed, “this power wasmine.No matter who tries to take it, it will alwaysbemine.”
“You think you can control the blast,” Kieran realized.
Part of me wanted to apologize for having the arrogance to even suggest such a thing, but I remembered the look in Anassa’s eyes as she fought her final battle, and something in me just knew.
I could do this.
I swallowed. “I know I can.”
Kieran reached for Melanie’s hand. She cursed under her breath and took Bo’s, who offered me a small but assured nod. The bronze leaked the strength from my body, and exhaustion beckoned.
