Page 73 of Beta Hybrid

The ground shakes, the mountain trembling under Alaric’s heavy footfalls. He snarls as he charges into the clearing. I can hear it all.

Drusilla’s high scream as she comes face to face with her brother. The last, defiant snarl before the ripping, wet tear. The tell-tale thud of a head, followed by a body, hitting the ground.

Something big and cold brushes against my cheek. My body vibrates with icy pain. A lick. Something—Alaric—licks me.

Slowly, I open my eyes. A murmur of voices fills the area, along with loud sobs and crying. Without thinking, I move to sit up, but someone puts a hand on me.

‘Stay down.’ A familiar voice. Aidan. ‘How does this thing work? I can feel it’s Gaia’s power.’

‘Don’t take it off her!’ Will snaps. ‘It might be the only way it’s keeping her alive.’

‘Right.’ Aidan brushes my wrist.

The bangle. From Gaia. For protection. I should be dead, but I’m not. It saved me.

I sit bolt-upright. ‘Cai!’ I scream his name and scramble over to my mate through the bloody dirt.

Alaric, the giant wolf, sits back on his haunches, licking his lips at his beheaded vampire sister.

‘Cai! Cai!’ I shake his shoulders, but he’s still. His eyes are closed. MORDECAI, WAKE UP YOU ASSHOLE! DON’T LEAVE ME!

Cai jolts as though I’ve slapped him.

His face is a mess. His nose is obviously broken. There’s more blood than skin, and his throat is swollen, or broken or something. I hold him gingerly.

‘Thank Goddess you’re not dead,’ I rasp.

Cai tries and fails to open his mouth. You too. I would sit up and hug you, but…

I lean down and hug him—first, gently, then without abandon, and he doesn’t so much as wince.

Might I ask… how we’re not dead?

I hold up my wrist, the second bangle now dulled. Gaia’s present. For protection. It saved and healed me. I press myself closer to him, holding on so tight I might be digging my nails into his bare skin, but I need to press him against me.

Oh, Cai says mildly. Remind me to send her a basket of fruit as a thank you.

I lean back, a chuckle startled out of me. I wipe my cheeks on the back of my hand.

Or muffins, your call. His silver eyes sparkle up at me.

When will you heal?

I don’t know.

Alaric makes a noise that nearly has me wetting my pants. I set a hand on my heart. ‘Goddess, please don’t do that.’

The giant wolf lowers himself closer to us.

He’s offering to help heal me.

I didn’t know others could do that? I ask.

Different rules for Origins, I guess—Oh, no. Cai obviously figured out what was going to happen a second earlier, because he wails in my mind as Alaric leans over and, with a swipe of a giant tongue, licks Cai’s entire face and neck.

I stifle a laugh as Cai whines in my head. Ew, no, so wet—

After a moment, he opens his mouth—most of the swelling already gone—and gasps, then inhales, setting a hand over his face and neck. He glowers up at Alaric. ‘Never do that again.’ There’s wolf saliva all over his face.

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