Page 67 of Tide Touched

Of course my dumb ass escaped without shoes. Who does that? My feet are cut up from sharp branches, adding to my various injuries. The worst is the deep claw marks on my face. It feels like my cheek is gaping wide, the skin flapping about in the breeze. I must look like I got in a fight with a lawnmower and lost.

My ears are sore from straining, expecting Killian to catch up with me any moment. I don’t know why in my mind he tackles me with a victorious ‘ah-ha!’, because he wouldn’t do that, given that I’m injured. My head sways. I might be slightly delirious.

When was the last time I had water? I must have had food at some point today, I think. Do I have a concussion? Blood loss? Ah, who cares? Wolfy healing will save me.

I continue through the forest, my feet almost numb with cold now. I stare up into the sky, the stars mostly shielded by the wide-stretch canopy of leaves. I want to stop, to breathe, to take a break, but I have a feeling if I did, I would collapse and not get up again.

I pant, my throat and mouth dry as tree bark. If I keep moving, keep pushing myself, everything will be okay.

If my adrenaline keeps coming, I won’t have to think. About my injuries, about Killian, or Moira. I just have to get to her. I can do this.

A random thought floats to the surface of my mind, plucked from obscurity. I wish I had one of the shells Killian gave me. A piece of him to take with me. He said he cares for me, that I’m what he’s interested in. I believe him. The sex we had… the way he pushed into me, on fire… I stumble into a tree, distracted, the bark biting into my shoulder.

I hiss and grumble at the tree, at the general sharpness of nature, slicing into my unprotected skin. See, this is why dresses aren’t practical, though when shopping at an outdoor market and the options are dress or naked, dress usually wins.

My head spins, and I have to pause and blink to right my vision. The trees blur together. I shake my head sharply, the pain helping to bring everything into stark relief. Right. This way.

‘Oof.’ Somehow, I’m on my belly on the ground, the breath slightly knocked out of me. Who moved the ground that way? I’m alert enough—barely—to keep my wounded cheek away from the dirt. Huh. Ground moved. I get up. I grouse about things moving when they shouldn’t, trying to get my feet under me. When did standing get to be so tricky?

I stand, my hands spread out to steady me as a breeze gathers around me. For a moment, it feels as though I’m about to fly. I close my eyes and tilt my head back. Flying sounds nice.

‘No more walking,’ I decide.

Again, someone has moved the ground, and it comes to greet me. There’s a dull ache in my upper arm, where I land, but I ignore it. I shuffle to the base of a large tree and curl up there. Just a little rest. This is a nice spot. Flying is my new plan.

I close my eyes, picturing clouds washing over me, the stars dancing in my hair. Somewhere, a familiar howl sounds, and I weep with joy, sliding into darkness.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Killian

She left. Katherine left me. My fists clench at the wave of hurt. I try to shake it off. She had to go after Moira. She had been trying to stand, to walk, all day. I should have known she would try this. That she would need to go after her.

I should have gone with her. I should have known what she needed. Instead, I thought I knew better, keeping her here. Which led her to sneak away, as though she doesn’t trust me.

Of course she doesn’t trust me. I’ve been nothing but dishonest and misleading toward her.

I have to go after her. She’s not strong enough to travel on her own. I close my eyes and shift into my wolf form. I take a minute to pause and eat some of the cooked deer, then douse the fire, and run after my mate.

It doesn’t take me long to track her scent. The forest is filled with it, and the sharp tang of her blood. Damn it, Katherine. I howl into the night, to let her know I’m coming. She has to know I’d come after her.

My wolf aches to be with her again, to never be parted from my mate. Our bond is complete. I would do anything for her. I slow, sniffing at the ground. I peer about. She’s made a mess of a trail and, unless she was trying to confuse me, the tracks don’t really make sense. I shift into human form, my gaze sliding over her sporadic tracks, the chunks of bark missing from trees and the broken twigs. It almost looks as though she stumbled through here.

I want to call out to her, but I can’t risk alerting anyone else in the area. The Water wolves might have captured Moira, but they won’t rely on Katherine going to get her. The Water alpha will send more for my mate.

I follow the clumsy tracks, worry beating through my chest. I can’t quite believe she would go off like this without saying anything. Doesn’t she realise how dangerous this is?

‘Katherine.’ Her name sighs from my lips. She’s collapsed under a tree, pale and shivering. I hurry to her side and tap her cheek. ‘Hey. Wake up, it’s me.’

She barely stirs, her hand reaching to push me away. ‘Have to get… Moi—’

‘I know.’ I scoop her up into my arms, cradling her close to keep her warm. This won’t do. She needs warmth, food. Shelter.

Above us, thunder cracks in the distance. ‘Shit.’ I could take her back to the caves, but I would definitely have to light a fire to keep her warm. Or, I could head back to the town and hope there aren’t Water wolves waiting for us. I weigh my options, and decide on the latter. With one difference to last time.

I duck my head as it starts to rain, watching my mate increasingly pale. I make it to town just as the rain really starts to fall.

I tap on the closed stall with my foot. ‘Mariam,’ I call, trying to keep my voice low. The town is dreary with sleep, only a few people rushing about, drawing their washing inside, closing up any remaining stalls, and gathering livestock into shelters.

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