“I spoke English, I’m sure.”
“Fuck. Heath, they are searching.”
Carlo heard a yell just before a Hollow clamped onto his shoulder, ripping and tearing flesh. He fought against crying out, his vision going blurry for a moment as the coppery scent of his blood filled the air.
With a roar, Carlo punched the side of the Hollow’s head, slamming again and again until black blood and brain matter sprayed all around.
“Heath says to get to Asherah. He’s already on his way there.”
“I can’t leave my Alpha!”
“If it’s Skuld, she’s got three wants: Silva, Asherah, or Nanshe, if she knows she’s here. Silva and Asherah if she doesn’t. We’ve got to protect them.”
Carlo grunted, switching back to his pack channel and ignoring the throbbing in his shoulder. It would heal soon enough, though it would be faster if he shifted. But he wouldn’t risk not being able to speak right now.
“I can do it. But it’s going to hurt.”
What?
He didn’t get the clarification. Fire spread through his blood and over his shoulder, compounding the shock of the initial wound tenfold.
“The price of healing it. You’ll feel it much more and all at once. All the pain of the energy and healing that is normally spread over time. You’re welcome, wolf.”
All at once the pain disappeared and he was whole again.You can heal the body?
Nanshe hesitated a moment. “My mate, and only non-fatal. I would not be able to stop you from dying.” Her voice was tired, layered with pain.
That drained you.
“It was worth it.”
Carlo growled, thankful, and felt like more of an ass for turning away from his mate. He sent that feeling over their connection, knowing it wouldn’t be enough.
“I don’t hate you for your fear. I know it intimately. But sometimes we have to do what we are terrified of the most. I cannot give you any other assurance.”
Another Hollow attack stopped his response. The things kept coming. Ciro and Carlo streaked toward where Arturo was camped, slashing and punching as they went. He had to hand it to the Scenter; he was much more than his nose. The blue-eyed blond was stocky and compact, just over six-feet tall, and was enraged. They twirled around each other, moving in sync.
Ciro’s talents may be wasted on just covering tracking.
“We’re coming, Alpha.”
“We’re in the open now. They’ve broken into the house.”
Nanshe?
“I’m moving, coming to you. They don’t want me.”
How do you know?
Silence met his question, and he had to rely on his mate. She knew more than she could share, and he wouldn’t be able to focus if she went under right now trying to tell him.
Get to Arturo.
“I’m already here.”
And she was. Goddess, she was. Her white dress flared around her, her hair slicked back and into a bun at the top of her head. The red of her eyes glowed as she hovered over the ground, her arms outstretched, and her mouth open in a silent scream.
She was magnificent.
