Page 90 of Untraced Magic
I stilled, my breathing becoming harsh, compelled by a feeling so carnal I had to rein in my self-control.
“Mate.” The word escaped me before I could stop it, a whisper coasting in the sharp breeze that licked our necks. I could feel it,everything.
The mate bond pummeled its way through my bones, almost knocking me to the ground. I grabbed Morgan’s shoulders to keep myself upright, her hands clinging to me as I did to her. The mate bond, forced away for so long, punched its strength into us as if making up for lost time.
Morgan stared into the distance, unfocused. Like she was somewhere else, the sand lodging her in place.
I dipped my head, looking at her closer. “Morgan?”
Like a shell of the person standing before me, she stood eerily still.
My hands gripped her shoulders, harder this time. A light shake.
“Morgan.” I said louder.
My hands roamed over her face, her cheeks, her neck.
No response.
The ground thumped as another presence fell behind me.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Colt’s voice registered in my mind.
A swift gasp collected in Morgan’s lungs, and she regained focus momentarily.
“Tyler.” She registered me for a fleeting second.
Her body quivered, and just as suddenly, a violent shudder rocked through her, causing her to fall against me, her spine contorting as if it no longer belonged to her.
Fuck.
I collected her in my arms, looking to Colt with uncertainty. “Is this normal?”
Colt shook his head, bemused.
I didn’t know. No one did.
“Holy shit,” I heard Skye’s voice beside me. “Get her on the ground.”
Dropping to my knees, I lowered Morgan onto the sand, tipping her to the side, my hands hovering above her as we watched her convulse, helpless to stop it. I hated seeing her like this. Hated knowing I could do nothing to help.
The rest of the group ran over, a circle forming around us. Then she fell quiet. Still.
“What’s going on?” said Reid, his forehead mirroring my own confusion.
I pulled my jacket off, tucking it behind her head. “It’s midnight. The spell must have broken.”
An almighty streak of desire charged through me, followed by an all-consuming need to protect her. Protect my mate.
My breath shuddered as it left me. “The mate bond… I was right.”
Scarlet glanced worriedly around the group. “What do we do?”
“Morgan,” I said, pushing the hair from her face until it lay fanned around her, like an angel in the sand, fallen straight from the sky above.
Please let her be okay.
I swung my gaze to Wes, who stood back a few paces from the rest of the group, lips pressed together.
