Page 37
The water sloshes, disturbing and then vanquishing the image. The pain radiates through my back, and I fall forward. The pain is horrifying, and my mouth opens on a silent scream. I can’t seem to get any sound out. I dig my fingers into the floor, trying to escape the agony. I might actually be on fire.
The smell of burning flesh sticks in my nostrils.
The amulet at my chest is ice-cold. I shift my weight enough to grip it, willing it to help, but it just goes colder still.
Hot when I’m in danger.
Non-reactive and warm when I’m safe.
It hasn’t gone cold on me until now. I let out a choked noise as frost slips out of it, coating my palm. It travels down my arms, at such odds with the searing across my spine. I crack my eyes open and watch it move up my shoulder.
It clashes with the fire, and the pain explodes. It takes root in my bones, until I’m afraid the sensation will never fade.
My scream breaks free, shattering the silent bubble around me.
I scream until my voice disappears, extinguishing like a candle being blown out. I claw at the floor, but it’s not going to give me respite. No matter how I twist, the agony doesn’t ease.
The door crashes open.
The sound splinters through the noises coming from my throat.
A growl fills the room. I catch a blur of white fur passing over me. It slams into something, and the heat in my back lessens. It retreats well enough for me to crawl to the wall, as out of the way as I can get. I roll onto my side and curl into myself, staring at the scene playing out in front of me.
Kian’s wolf pins a demon to the floor. They’re both large, especially in this room, but while Kian is fully solid, a huge mass of muscle and fur, the demon is smoke-like.
The wolf’s teeth flash, and he rips into the demon. Black blood coats his teeth, drips down his lips. There’s a never-ending snarl emanating from him, while the demon is silent. Dead already—and probably never really alive to begin with.
I shudder and slowly release the amulet. It doesn’t feel cold anymore—but I’m cold. Shivering like I’ve never known heat before. I push myself into a sitting position, drawing my legs up to my chest. I need warmth. There’s still frost on my skin.
This stupid protection stone. I almost tear it off, but I’m afraid to make any sudden movements. The wolf continues to decimate the demon until it bursts into black smoke.
Then he lifts his head and looks over his shoulder at me.
I can’t take my eyes off him. Off the black blood that stains his white fur around his mouth. It drips down his chest. His sapphire-blue eyes burn into me, hotter than anything else in the room.
It’s too similar to my nightmares, and I shudder.
I don’t know who I’d rather face—the demon or the wolf.
He pads across the room in my direction, eyes fixed on me.
“Don’t,” I whisper. If I had more strength, I’d tell him to fuck off. Or get out of the room. As it is, I can barely keep my eyes open.
He ignores me, approaching until he towers over me. He really is freaking huge. From this angle, his head is giant. I don’t expect him to lower it and press it into my chest.
I shudder.
I stare down at the top of his head and try to piece together what he’s doing. This isn’t how predators treat prey, unless they want to play with their food first. But he keeps up the pressure, and he knocks me back. I fall onto my forearm, ignoring the burst of pain on my back.
I crawl away from him, toward the center of the room, trying to get clear of the giant wolf. He takes up too much space in here. His fluffy tail is stiff and high, and he seems tense. His eyes track me, but all I want is to get out.
He approaches again.
My stomach twists, and I shove at him when he gets closer. I’m not prepared for him to lower himself on top of me. His weight hits me, forcing me flat to the floor.
His paws are as big as my head. His head rests on my shoulder, next to my Mark. Next to the remnants of the bite his shadow form gave me. He huffs out a sigh, like this is what he wanted all along, and it ruffles my hair.
“Get off of me.” I poke his shoulder. “What are you doing?”
