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Chapter 22
Awar raged around me.Wolf against human. And I lay on the grass, where the ground seemed to sway beneath me. Each inhale was a painful gasp, as if my ribs were crushed. I clasped my chest, the knife still embedded inme.
Tears flooded my eyes, but I kept looking into the same heavens I used to pray toward. Pray for finding the right partner and having a family, expanding my store to produce healing potions to help anyone in need, not just for those living inTerra.
But did any of that matter if Idied?
A tremor ran through me. I’d lost everything. Death crowded the edges of my mind, coming for me. I regretted so many things. I should have dug deeper into what Grandma had meant about my parents’ demise. Discovered her secret compartment and letter earlier. Then I could have somehow avoided thisending.
A shadow fell over me, but I didn’t care who’d come to finish me. I could barelymove.
“Little lamb.” Nero’s voice strained, and he dropped to his knees. “I’m removing theblade.”
“No!” I managed. “I’ll bleed too much.” Were my wordsslurring?
Blood streaked his cheeks, and a deep gash ran down the side of his face, droplets falling against my skin. The wound seemed to almost knitted back together before my eyes. Oh hell, how fast did these wolvesheal?
But how many wolves and people had died because of thepriestess?
“Go,” Istammered.
He lay a hand against my collarbone. “Don’t you dare leave us! Hold on.” His eyes glistened and right then, his genuine love for me shone through his actions, his words, hiswarmth.
He yanked the knife out, the sucking sound sickening to myears.
I yelled, my body thrashing at the terrifying sting stabbingme.
Nero placed his palms against my wound. “Transform, littlelamb.”
His words floated through my brain, torn away by the torture owning me. I criedout.
“I read the letter from your grandma. You’re part hunter. Change and you will heal quicker. You’re only part shifter and need the wolf side to helpyou.”
“I… I.” Nothing made sense when it felt as if someone had ripped meapart.
Nero’s lips were on mine, stealing my breath. Something warm dripped on my face, my body, and into my mouth. Hisblood.
A surge of energy flashed over me, and my skin prickled. My insides stretched. Each exhale was a knife slicing me. I writhed and a violent scream tore past my mouth. Bones cracked. My heart banged in myears.
I wasdying.
“Stop fighting it.” Nero’s voice found me, but my vision haddarkened.
“Nero!” I called for him, but moving my arms now seemed animpossibility.
Energy jolted along my skin, and I gulped forair.
“Open your eyes,” hesaid.
I did and gawked at Nero kneeling next to me. The forest had grown sharper in color. As it had back in the prison. Grunts, whines, and the dull impact of punches reached me, each soundprecise.
But the earlier stabbing in my chest had eased, and the agony disappeared.How?
Nero rubbed my head. “You look beautiful in your silver fur. And it looks like you’ve healed faster than I’ve ever seen anyonedo.”
Fur!I opened my mouth to protest, but a yelp came out. I froze. Was that me? Whispers murmured calmness in myears.
I scrambled to my feet… all four of them, scanning the area. So many sounds hit me—from the battle to the river in the distance to the songs of birds. The smell of blood engulfedme.
