We slide to a stop, the truck creaking at the hinges. My wounds heal, the skin and muscle stitch together. Bones in mylegs and arms snap in place, allowing me to move with the speed I need to.
Gasping until my lungs are used to breathing in still air, I kick the door once, and it flies. I don’t waste time. I blur to the passenger side, yank the metal that’s keeping me from my mate.
Mine.
Mine to protect.
“Nariko,” I whine, throwing the door as far as a twister would.
I bend down, cut the belt with my claws, and gather her in my arms. “I got you, Sugar. I got you. You’re okay, baby. You’re okay. You have to be okay,” I sob.
Nariko’s heart isn’t beating.
“Please be okay.” I clutch her in a tight embrace, squeezing my eyes shut as my world crashes around me.
I know in my heart she will be okay. She’d fed from me every day. My blood is always in her system just for this reason.
Still.
Witnessing her death. Not hearing her heart. Having her limp in my arms.
I can’t seem to remember she’ll be okay.
“Come on, Sugar. You’re strong. You’re so strong. I need you to survive this transition. You have to. You both have to. I can’t be without you.” I push her hair out of her face, run my knuckles down her bruised cheek from hitting the side of the door so much.
She has so many injuries.
“Both of you.” I palm her stomach, pouring all my love into the bond, filling her body with my soul in hopes she will answer. “I can’t be without my family.”
Family.
Fuck.
Ruka.
“I’ll be back, Sugar. Okay?” I bend down and kiss her forehead, ignoring how I sound like I’ve gone mad. “Don’t move. I’m here. I love you. I have you. Everything is okay. We’ll be okay.” My tears fall onto her lips, the iridescent liquid glittering in the night.
I lie her gently on the ground, then move her arms to her sides. I want her to be as comfortable as possible.
I’ll be right back.
I speed to Ruka, tearing the door off. It flies like a frisbee when I throw it to the other side of the pasture.
“Ah, damn it.” I lace my hands on top of my head as I stare down at him. His arms are above his head, blood drips from his mouth, and the branch that pierced the engine went through the dash, then his left shoulder.
“Ruka, hey, talk to me. Talk to me.” I can’t have my fated mate’s brother die in my arms.
He might curse me for not asking for his permission to change him into a vampire.
Luckily, somehow, he still has a heartbeat. It’s slow, weak, and barely hanging on, but that’s all I need.
He has to be alive when he’s fed the blood. That much I remember from Alaska, my sire.
Grabbing the thick branch on the lower half, I snap it in half, then do the same up top where it’s piercing the seat.
“I’m sorry for this. All I hope is you don’t hate me for all eternity.” I slide the giant spear out of him, blood spilling like a waterfall onto the ground.
I bite into my wrist, tear the skin, hesitate, and groan in frustration. “Fuck, don’t hate me. I just need you to live, and you can’t die like this.” I press my arm onto his mouth, my blood sliding down his throat.
