Spell-Weaver by Angela Addams Page A

Afraid.” His wolf snorted, winced, fangs bared as the poison slowly worked up its body, green tendrils eating away at him. Dyami was next, he knew. Luckily, when his wolf died, so would he.
    â€œI tried to help her understand.”
    â€œWithout her, we are lost.”
    Dyami closed his eyes, straining against the weakness, trying to fight, wanting to see Summer one last time. And then he felt it, and knew he’d been wrong. The poison wasn’t going to consume his wolf first. It licked at him now, curling around his leg, eating through his skin like acid. It burned. He cried out, opened his eyes to stare into those of his wolf.
    â€œNow, it is better not to fight,” those eyes said. “Now it is better to die silently, with dignity.”
    Back bowed, fists clenched, muscles spasming, Dyami kicked, tried to unlatch the poison. No! But it burned through him anyway, slithering up his leg, tearing from him a moan that bordered on a scream.
    Slowly, so blisteringly slowly, would he die. The poison creeping, like it was sentient—like it wanted to inflict the most pain it could. Dyami tried to scramble away, but his wolf had no energy to move and he was tethered there with the animal. If only Summer knew. Her power alone could rid him of this torture.
    As if he’d willed it to happen, what felt like a cascade of water rushed over him, coating this body, seeking out the poison. Aubrey. Her magic was a balm on his skin, not as powerful as Summer’s, but enough to give him strength. He snapped his gaze to meet those of his wolf. The beast felt it too. Where there had only been defeat, now was a sparkle of hope.
    Aubrey’s magic was pulling him back.
    â€œKeep fighting. It’s not over yet.”
    â€œHe’s coming around.”
    Dyami squinted, his eyes sore, his body still weak, pain everywhere. “Summer?” he croaked, unable to crane his head and look around.
    â€œShe’s here.” Aubrey was next to him, nodding to her left. “Dy, you took another hit. Do you remember?”
    â€œThere was a Huntress.” He reached up a hand, felt a flood of relief when Summer’s delicate fingers intertwined with his. He tugged her toward him, her knees suddenly next to his head. He glanced up at her, offered her a weak smile. She looked shell-shocked, exhausted, but whole and healthy.
    â€œWhoever she was, the Huntress is gone now.” Darcy came into his line of view, hovering over Summer. “Which is a little more than odd, don’t ya think?”
    â€œThat she ran?” Aubrey shook her head. “Three wolves and two Huntresses against one. Nope, I’d run too. I wonder how the Order will welcome her though.”
    â€œExcuse me.” Summer’s voice was soft, uncertain. “I don’t know…I mean…could someone please tell me what the fuck is going on?”
    Darcy chuckled. Aubrey smiled. Both women shifted so that they were next to their mates. Two wolves with golden eyes, Raven and Jay. Mayhem was at Dyami’s side, his muzzle pressed to his arm, reassurance with a touch.
    â€œWhere to begin…” Darcy lowered a hand to Raven’s head.
    â€œThere are wolves in this room. How about starting there? Or maybe with the strange powers I seem to have developed over the past twenty-four hours.” Summer’s voice rose with each sentence as she found her confidence, her fire. “The fact that my boyfriend, Vic”—her voice caught—“turned out to be some psycho with a gun who kidnapped us.”
    â€œI know it seems crazy,” Aubrey started.
    â€œYa think?” Summer let go of Dyami’s hand, stood, indecision crossing her face. “I think I need to leave. Check myself into a mental hospital. None of this can be real. Right?” She looked from Aubrey to Darcy, avoiding Dy altogether. “Right?”
    â€œSummer,” Dyami croaked. Despite his pain, he pushed himself up