We both survived the change. Knowing that I wasn’t the only one reinforced my belief that Taryn would too.
Behind us, the dog barked again, this time louder and closer, but it remained near Ben, who was still holding Taryn and looking at us both with disbelief.
“Enough, Adrian!” Ben’s voice wasn’t quite as strong as it had been just minutes before.
We didn’t stop.
Couldn’t.
I drove Adrian—it sounded like the name of a pretentious asshole—back.
He dragged me down?—
We hit hard and fast.
Then—
Something in the air shifted.
Mr. Calder staggered, and his breathing became labored.
I broke off first.
Then Adrian did the same.
We both turned to see that Mr. Calder was still standing, but his face was flushed. No more than half a second later, his grip shifted.
Taryn slipped in his arms, her body flopping to the side. He tried to correct it. Tried to stay standing, but his knees gave out.
He dropped hard onto the porch, one hand bracing against the wood, the other still locked around her like letting go wasn’t something he was capable of.
“Ben—” Adrian started.
No response.
His head dipped forward, shoulders tightening as if he were fighting something inside his own body and losing ground with every passing second.
Max moved immediately, stepping in closer, placing himself between them and us, his growl dropping low and dangerous again, deeper this time, more certain.
Seeing that dog, feeling he had to protect her from me, gave me pause, and suddenly I felt ashamed. I’d enjoyed the fight, forgetting everything that was at stake.
I didn’t deserve my evil queen…but damn if I was going to give her up.
“Take her. I can’t fight this anymore.” Mr. Calder laid Taryn gently on the porch, then turned slowly to us. “Get your shit together. If my daughter means as much to each of you as you claim, it’s time to prove it.”
He braced himself against a post and stood, “If I turn, I expect you to end me.” Mr. Calder glanced down at Taryn, “Tell my daughter I love her.”
Then he staggered into the house and out of sight.
As we both moved simultaneously to the girl lying helpless on the porch, guarded by a dog that would give his life for her. I knew this wasn’t over.
Adrian stared down at her. “For now, we’re going to have to work together. With Ben sick, I’ll need more than just myself to keep her safe.” The words were forced out of him between clenched teeth.
I could have been a dick, but instead just nodded my head in agreement.
He was right. With everything going on out there, the more people keeping my Fox safe, the better.
I knew things were going to get much worse. The way he stood there, bloodied and unyielding, made it impossible to ignore that she had more than one person willing to burn the world down for her—and for the first time, I wasn’t sure that was a bad thing.
