Page 158 of The Wolf and the Chimera
There was no more time to hesitate.
“Close your eyes,” I instructed.
As I reeled my arm back, I screamed my wrath and rage and fear. My cry ripped out of my throat and warped into a roar my ancestors would’ve been proud of.
The grenade passed through the forcefield, and Ryder’s amber gaze met mine. As my throwing hand wrapped around Kieran’s, I reached out my other one to my mate, who raced for me like hell itself was on his heels. As he sprinted, my breath caught. Finally, his hand clasped mine, and I let its rough calluses and warmth ground me. I let his presence wipe away the lingering effects of the bronze.
Through the screams of terror, my sharpened hearing caught the tap of the grenade as it hit the ground. Magic erupted from the small obsidian and bronze ball. Closing my eyes, I reached for the power like a phantom limb. Under the force of such power, time stretched.
The magic was angry—so terribly angry.
After being confined for weeks, it wanted nothing more than to destroy. It had been shaped and twisted into nothing more than hatred and rage and vengeance. As it grew brighter and hotter, I wrapped my will around it.
I called it home.
Under my touch, its blazing power hesitated. Though heat seared my skin, and light burned my eyes, I reminded the magic and myself that it wouldn’t harm me.
My power wasn’t destruction.
It was light.
As time snapped back into motion, I willed the power to be nothing more than light and opened my eyes—my chimera’s eyes—and led my friends to through the disoriented guards.
I led them toward escape.
The magic in the air strengthened me. As I stepped over the blinded wolves cowering on the ground, still paralyzed by fear and blinded by my light, my steps were sure and true. We reached a set of double doors. As I pushed them open, the light flickered and receded.
“Holy shit,” Melanie muttered.
In the narrow stairway, my friends furiously scrubbed at their eyes. I swayed on my feet, but Ryder caught me by the waist. I didn’t mind the blood, both his and Lyall’s, that coatedhis skin. Love and pride shined in his eyes, but I pressed a finger to his lips.
“Tell me once we’re out of here,” I said.
“Right,” he agreed.
As the five of us raced up the stairs, the door clattered open. I risked a glance backward and instantly regretted it.
Micah and Kowan chased us.
Faster and faster, we ran up the stained concrete stairs. Though Ryder kept a grip on my elbow, I was still too slow. The power’s strength faded with every step we took. Days would pass before I fully regenerated all the magic Lyall had stolen.
When we reached the landing, we hurtled through a doorway and into a blindingly white hall. Our footsteps left trails of blood in our wake.
Kowan and Micah were mere feet behind us, and behind them, even more footsteps echoed down the hall. We couldn’t risk stopping and facing them. We would be overwhelmed far too quickly.
As we rounded another corner, Ryder swung me into his arms. I wanted to protest—though his wolf's power had patched him together, he was still far too injured to carry me—but the distance between us and the twins grew farther. Around us, the chateau’s walls became more and more ornate. Artwork splashed on the walls, and rich rugs adorned the floors.
Almost there,I realized.We’re almost to the front entrance.
Once we were in the open, the others could shift. We could get to the ripple—
“Where are you running to?” Micah called. “You think there’s anywhere you can go where we won’t find you?”
We rounded another corner, and the grand foyer came into view. Every heartbeat brought us closer to the gawdy chandelier and pristinely white doors.
“Now that we’ve had a taste of your bitch mate,” Kowan added, “we want more.”
Ryder’s arms around me tensed.
