Page 137 of Pucked Around and Found Out

Not moving.

Masen's body beside her, head caved in, blood pooled around him in a massive dark stain.

“No,” I whisper.

Then louder: “No, Tink!”

I crawl to her, hands shaking—actually shaking.

“Tink. Toren, open your eyes, baby.”

Nothing.

I grab her shoulders, shaking her.

“Wake up. Wake the fuck up!”

Her head rolls limply.

No. No, no, no⁠—

Fear like I’ve never felt before slams into me. The last time I felt this helpless was two years ago, the night I lost the only three people I had ever loved. I couldn’t save them. I couldn’t keep them here with me, I failed them!

I can’t fucking fail again, not with her!

Losing my fairy would… fuck… I can’t even think about that shit.

I press my fingers to her throat, searching for a pulse.

There.

Faint. Thready. Weak.

But there.

I yank the mask off and toss it onto the grass.

“She's alive,” I choke out. “She's alive⁠—”

But she's not breathing.

I watch her chest… no rise, no fall.

Smoke inhalation.

I tilt her head back, clear her airway, and seal my mouth over hers.

One breath. Two. Three.

Feeling her lungs inflate under my hands.

Come on. Come on, baby. Breathe.

The ceiling groans above us, about to collapse.

I lift her into my arms, still trying to get air into her lungs between steps. I feel the fire licking at my skin as I run through the inferno.

Through collapsing hallways, through flames that lick at us, through smoke so thick I'm navigating blind.