Page 78 of Tempting the Fae Lord
The blood in my veins freezes at the sound of his agonized wail.
The night itself holds her breath.
I whirl around, desperate to go to him, but a wall of her magic has me trapped.
With all my power, I lash out, snarling. I don’t think about the plan. I don’t think about my promise. I don’t think about the consequences.
Summoning every ounce of magic to obey and do my bidding, I throw all I have left at her. The air snaps as the vortex sucks the wing from her lungs and pummels her backward. Water turns to ice turns to blades, all hurtling toward her with the speed of a thousand shooting stars.
Her spine slams against the solid wall of a tree trunk, and her mouth gapes open in a silent scream. At her sides, her hands tremble. Wide eyes stare forward, blinking. Her chest heaves.
I don’t stick around to see what follows.
Frantic, I rush to Gale’s side. The scent of his blood strikes like iron on flint.
Petru is already there. “No, no, no, no. Gale! I’m sorry. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not to you.”
“Gale?” I lean over him. Blood pools from between his fingers where he’s clenching his stomach. “Mooncalf, let me see.”
His hands fall away, limp.
Blood wells from where his shirt is torn in two places.
“Is it bad?” His voice is weak.
Too weak.
“My fault,” says Petru. “He’s bitten. From a wolf I raised. For her. And now Gale… He’s dying.”
No. I refuse to believe it’s fatal. Just a bite. He’s overcome worse. He’ll overcome this. “Gale?”
He groans. His lids slide closed.
I cup his cheek and shake. “Look at me. Eyes open. Gale, we need to get back to Eulie. She’ll know what to do.”
Petru sobs, head shaking. “There’s nothing for it. I sense death on him.”
A searing ache claws behind my ribs, but I stamp it down. Gale will be fine. Fine. I scoop him into my arms and glare at Petru.
“Pull yourself together. I’m not letting him die. Gather the others. We’ll portal back in one minute. I’ll wait for no one.”
Gaze haunted, he takes off on stomping feet.
“Mooncalf, what did I tell you about getting into trouble?”
The corner of his mouth lifts as though he’s trying to smile. If he weren’t already dying, I’d kill him myself. Naughty creature.
“This can’t be helped. If it enthralls you to me, we’ll figure something out, yes?” I don’t wait for his response. His heartbeat is already too sluggish. His breath too shallow.
I tuck him tight against me with one arm and bite my other wrist deep to the bone. The gaping wound I force against his mouth. “Swallow. You must swallow.”
Nothing. His lips don’t fasten. His throat isn’t working.
He isn’t moving at all.
I pry his jaw open and bleed into his gaping mouth. A river of ruby spills over the side and down his cheek, into his messy curls.
“Swallow, curse you!”
