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Chapter 22
Talin.” I collapsed to my knees on the forest floor next to the prince pinned to the ground by his brother,Raze.
He trashed and snarled, his bodyconvulsing.
“Hurry,” Razegrowled.
I stretched out a shaky hand. With my palm over Talin’s brow, I pressed his head to keep him from bitingme.
Raze shuddered from the strain of his brother’s attempts to get free. He straddled his brother’s waist, keeping his arms locked under his knees. He clasped his shoulders down. Talin snapped his teeth, unable to reach Raze’sarms.
Talin floundered and twisted, but when his eyes met mine, he eased, his expressionsoftening.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” I pleaded, hating to see him this way. But it was for his ownsafety.
“Do it now,” Razedemanded.
My breath hitched, but I kept Talin’s gaze, his attention. With my other hand pressed to his chin, I lowered myself. “Listen to me, Talin,” I continued. “Remember our earlier kiss, how you had me burning up, how I haven’t been able to stop thinking about yousince.”
A faint whimper rolled from his throat, and my gut clenched at hearing the agony, knowing he suffered and struggled to escape hisimprisonment.
I inchedlower.
Foliage crunched from up ahead, and someonegasped.
Before I could react, Talin roared in my face and kicked into a raving animal, exploding with energy. He bucked Raze off and shoved me aside with a hand, catching me on the face. Blood smeared my mouth from my splitlip.
Fear collected in my chest as I dragged myself backward on my butt across the snow, expecting him topounce.
But he lunged toward an enormous man with golden locks standing between two trees, carrying a dead boar over hisshoulder.
“Rek,” Raze yelled. “Run!”
Fuck!That was his cousin! Everything happened too fast, and I staggered to my feet. “Talin, no!” I chased after them, terror bleeding into my veins. Talin would butcher the one person who knew where the cursed object was so we could break thespell.
Raze darted ahead ofme.
“Don’t let him kill Rek,” Iwailed.
He vanished into the darkness of the forest. I raced after them and jumped over the droppedboar.
Sweat drenched my skin as my pulse vibrated in my ears. Snow swallowed my boots, making my gait slow and clumsy. I dodged trees, ignoring the branches snagging my clothes and hair. I pumped myarms.
A roar from my right, and I veered in that direction. Up ahead, dark shapes bounced about. A newfound energy exploded within me and raced toward them. My feet kept slipping outward, but nothing would stopme.
Fail and we all paid theprice.
I cried on the inside. Begging Talin to stop. Where the fuck had Rek come from, anyway? Why had he crossed our path? But he knew where the cursed object was, so I could convince him to tell us where he’d hidden the item. We’d break the hex tonight. Then we’d return to the castle, laugh at the close call, and breathe normally for achange.
“Raze, hold Talin back!” Iyelled.
The shadows dissolved into the night, and I emerged on the scene, my pulse hammering into mybreastbone.
He lugged Talin away by an arm. Raze’s cloak fluttered behind him, as if the wind aidedhim.
Rek was in bear form, dragging himself in the opposite direction. His legs lay limp, and wounds riddled his browncoat.
Talin growled, blood dripping from hislips.
