Page 86 of Red Dragon’s Heart

“Tristan can’t sugar-coat it, babe.” Zak reached out and took her hands. “He has to be absolutely honest with him. Being a shifter—especially a Turned shifter—isn’t easy.”

Maddie put her arms around him. “I’m being selfish, aren’t I?”

Zak held her close. “You just love him. He knows that. We all do.”

It seemed like forever before Tristan called them inside. Troy looked up at Maddie and gave her a weak smile. “I’m gonna do it,” he said. “I’ve always secretly wanted to be a werewolf.”

Sean rolled his eyes. “The first thing you need to do is stop calling us werewolves.”

“Werewolf,” Troy murmured.

Sean just shook his head.

Tristan said, “We decided it’s better to do this right away, rather than wait and hope he’ll get stronger.”

Because they thought he wouldn’t, Maddie realized. She said, “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Tristan nodded. “Mayah is going to try to give him some of her healing strength, during the Change. It would help if you were touching him, too. The brother/sister bond is strong, and Zak can channel some of his energy through you.”

Before they started, they gave Maddie and Troy a few moments alone. Maddie held her brother close. “I’m sorry I was gone for so long,” she said. “And I’m sorry all this happened to you because of me. I’m sorry for everything. But it’s going to be okay.”

“It is okay.” He cupped her face in his hands. “Whatever happens, Mads, it’s okay. And I want you to know I never blamed you.”

“But it was my fault. And I should have saved you.”

“You did everything you could, Mads. Don’t think I don’t know you’ve been trying to save me all this time. I’m glad you met the dragon dude. You deserve a life of your own. And however this goes, now you’ll get that.”

This would work. It had to work. She hugged him. “I love you bunches, little bro.”

“I love you too, big sis.”

They arranged themselves around Troy—Mayah sitting with his head in her lap, her hands on his forehead. Maddie near his feet, her hand on his leg, and Zak with his arms around her.

Tristan put his hand on Mayah’s arm. Suddenly, Maddie could feel him, sort of the way she felt Zak, like their minds were reaching out to each other.

The connection moved around the circle—to Troy and Zak and Mayah, all of them linked through Tristan’s energy.

Sean, who’d Changed to wolf when she wasn’t looking, moved up next to the couch, where Troy’s arm had been bared. He snuffled at him, and Troy said, “I’m ready.”

Suddenly, before Sean could do anything, Maddie felt someone join the circle. It was Cazbek, she realized. He’d moved forward and put his hands on Zak’s shoulders, Lucinda at his side, arms linked through his.

One by one the others joined—Kira and Flynn and Rebel behind Mayah, Trish behind Tristan, all linked physically and mentally, lending their strength.

Sean’s wolf, pure white, closed his jaws around Troy’s upper arm. Maddie flinched in anticipation of Troy’s pain—the memory was still fresh in her mind.

Please, she prayed to whatever gods might be out there—gods that she’d stopped believing in after her parents died. Please let him live.

The wolf bit down.

At first, it seemed like nothing was happening. Then, deep in the heart of their circle of energy, she felt something stir. Something dark and dangerous, wild and free. It coalesced inside of Troy, growing larger and larger, tearing him apart from the inside out.

His body seized, and Maddie could feel his weakened systems being overwhelmed. Hang on, she told him, squeezing his leg. Hang on.

But he was slipping away. Tristan had been right, he couldn’t take it. He was too weak. Hang on, she begged him. You can do it.

But he couldn’t. The sense of his presence grew weaker, and so did the wild wolf presence. Sean had let go of his arm, and blood was dripping on the cloth pad Tristan had put under him. Sean laid his head against Troy, lending his own strength.

It wasn’t enough.