Afraid.â 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.
âI tried to help her understand.â
âWithout her, we are lost.â
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 heâd been wrong. The poison wasnât 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.
âNow, it is better not to fight,â those eyes said. âNow it is better to die silently, with dignity.â
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 sentientâlike 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 heâd 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 Summerâs, 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.
Aubreyâs magic was pulling him back.
âKeep fighting. Itâs not over yet.â
âHeâs coming around.â
Dyami squinted, his eyes sore, his body still weak, pain everywhere. âSummer?â he croaked, unable to crane his head and look around.
âSheâs here.â Aubrey was next to him, nodding to her left. âDy, you took another hit. Do you remember?â
âThere was a Huntress.â He reached up a hand, felt a flood of relief when Summerâs 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.
âWhoever she was, the Huntress is gone now.â Darcy came into his line of view, hovering over Summer. âWhich is a little more than odd, donât ya think?â
âThat she ran?â Aubrey shook her head. âThree wolves and two Huntresses against one. Nope, Iâd run too. I wonder how the Order will welcome her though.â
âExcuse me.â Summerâs voice was soft, uncertain. âI donât knowâ¦I meanâ¦could someone please tell me what the fuck is going on?â
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 Dyamiâs side, his muzzle pressed to his arm, reassurance with a touch.
âWhere to beginâ¦â Darcy lowered a hand to Ravenâs head.
âThere 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.â Summerâs voice rose with each sentence as she found her confidence, her fire. âThe fact that my boyfriend, Vicââher voice caughtââturned out to be some psycho with a gun who kidnapped us.â
âI know it seems crazy,â Aubrey started.
âYa think?â Summer let go of Dyamiâs hand, stood, indecision crossing her face. âI think I need to leave. Check myself into a mental hospital. None of this can be real. Right?â She looked from Aubrey to Darcy, avoiding Dy altogether. âRight?â
âSummer,â Dyami croaked. Despite his pain, he pushed himself up