Page 55 of Prey of the Lycan Queen
“I have no choice. If they die, we have no clue how that will affect Zirah, and I won’t be able to find her as fast without their help tracking,” I state.
“But if it works, you’ll be tying their wolves to you. They’ll be drawing on your life essence. You only have two days before Zirah shifts. This may shorten the time you have left, Regan,” James points out.
“I know.” I glance at him. I’m fully aware of the looming threat. Time is slipping through my fingers like sand. But without Zirah, without that bond, I am blind and crippled and dying anyway. The stakes are clear. I must find Zirah within a day or perish. The fear gnaws at my insides, but I suppress it.
The few times we have shared our blood with each other’s wolves, it’s made them savage or nearly killed them, but I have to try. If the wolves are bonded to Zirah, feeding them my blood shouldn’t make things worse.
Leila’s voice breaks my chain of thought. “Shouldn’t there be three?”
“Yes,” I answer. “Mine isn’t here. He’ll be looking for Zirah.” I rise from my crouched position, my heart heavy but my resolve steelier than ever.
I climb the next flight of stairs, and the sight that greets me is disheartening. One lone sheet remains on the landing, and Zeke’s room is in chaos. I pick the sheet up and inhale Zirah’s familiar scent. A shaky breath escapes my lips as I drop the sheet, my heart pounding in my chest.
I’m too late.
They are half a day ahead of us, at least. But where is Gnash? He can’t be much better if these two are in this state. Turning around, I move toward the stairs to see James climbing them. “Come on, they aren’t here,” I tell him. “So, where to now?” James asks.
“To Bloodtaric. Slavic must know by now that I am not bonded to her,” I tell him. A wave of vertigo hits me suddenly as I reach the stairs, my vision blurring. I stumble, catching hold of the banister for support. My throat feels like it’s been scraped raw, and a burning sensation tears through my lungs. I cough violently, blood staining my hand. I wipe it hastily on my pants, my mind reeling.
“Is that blood?” Leila’s voice is filled with dread, but I force a nonchalant shrug.
“I’m fine.” It’s a lie. And from the look on her face, she knows it too. She strokes the wolf’s fur nervously.
“I guess it didn’t work.” Her words change to a shrill shriek when Hunter lunges upright, followed by Shadow. I smirk.
“Good boys,” I praise, crouching down to pat them. Loyal to a fault, the wolves obediently sit, waiting for my command.
“Now, take me to your master.” The wolves spring into action, bounding down the stairs with renewed vigor. As I follow them, the vertigo strikes again, sharper this time. My vision swims as I clutch the car door for support.
“James, you’re driving,” I tell him, his eyes growing wide with concern. My condition is deteriorating faster than I’d anticipated.
“No shit, you’re in no state to drive.” His retort is met with a weak smile on my part. My gaze flits to the back seat, to my father. He is still hallucinating, muttering incoherently to himself, a muzzle secured over his face. A precaution against the risk of him turning savage in Leila’s presence.
Leila jumps in the back with my father, and James starts the car. Rolling down the window, James pulls up beside the wolves.
“Keep up,” I tell them, and they growl, darting off. “Follow them,” I tell James, and he does.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
As we drive through the city and onto the highway, my gaze is fixed on the wolves. My condition worsens with every passing minute. I clutch my chest, trying to ease the burning sensation. The wind whipping through the open window provides temporary relief.
“Are you good?” James asks as we hit the highway. I nod, letting the cool air drive away my unease. I knew that giving the wolves my blood could deplete what’s left of my life essence much faster, but I needed them, so the risk was worth it.
“I’ll be fine.” He nods, gritting his teeth but following the wolves.
An hour into the journey, I notice the wolves flagging. They have made serious ground, but we won’t make it much further with their state and mine weakening. I need to do something. I watch the wolves starting to tire. Pulling over, I climb out of the car and whistle. They run back to me, and I look at the SUV.
“Fuck!” I curse, trying to figure out where to put them. My gaze locks with James as he emerges from the driver’s side. His eyes are wide and filled with unspoken questions, but he only pops open the trunk.
“I won’t tell him if you don’t?” James says, and I peer in at my father.
“Fuck it, toss him in.” Once we have my father sorted, we jump in the car and head off when suddenly, in the distance, a staggering figure catches my attention.
“Slow down!” I snap at James.
“Wait . . . Is that . . . ?”
“It’s Gnash,” I choke out, my eyes welling up at the sight of my wolf. He’s so far from home, so far from help. The car screeches to a halt, and I jump out, rushing toward Gnash. He turns his head at the sound of my voice, his eyes meeting mine briefly before he collapses onto the rough terrain.
