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He doesn’t move, and then arms wrap around me again.
“Fuck you, let me go!” I yell and thrash.
“Someone shut her up,” a guard snaps, and then something hard hits the back of my head, making me tumble forward as blackness claws at me. I try to fight it, to stay awake, because if I don’t, it’s all over…but it’s so hard.
The last thing I hear before I fade into the waiting darkness are their voices. “Grab the research and leave the monster, it’s already dead.”
I whimper, my eyes catching on Cato as I’m hauled over someone’s shoulder.
THIRTY-FIVE
CATO
Iwake up with a groan. More than just the wounds are ripping my body in half, but my soul and heart as well.
“Talia!” I know I roar it.
I can’t see, can’t breathe, and when I feel hands, I attack. I give into the haze, needing to stay alive to save her. I promised her.
I fight, even as I’m slammed down onto something hard and straps are wrapped around my body. I twist and roar, biting and slashing while only one word leaves my lips in a desperate, anguished howl.
Her name.
Nothing else exists in the haze, only her. Her screams fill my head, I feel her hands on me, and I hear her begging me to stay. I fight until something else pierces the haze beyond the agony of my broken heart and wounded body.
A voice.
It’s familiar and soft.
It doesn’t belong to Tally, but it’s human.
What is her name?
“I’m going to get her back.”
I stare at the familiar face, trying to push back the haze and remember why I can’t attack her, why Tally wouldn’t like that. Tally…my mate. The agony is so deep, it rips me apart from the inside. My mate must be so scared.
The haze starts to come back.
“Mate,” someone snaps.
Mate. My mate. I almost roar again. Where is she?
“I know you’re in there, Cato, and that you can hear me. I’m going to get Talia back. I’m going to get your mate back, no matter what it takes. But you need to fight the haze, I know you can. Use your logic. You need to heal and be strong so you can protect her when I save her. Listen to me now, Cato. Your mate needs you.”
Aria, I remember her now. Talia’s friend. Her words pierce the haze as I slump. I see determination and fear in her eyes—fear for my mate. Talia needs me. It’s the only thing that makes me swallow my whimper of agony when the haze starts to pull back. Instead, I ignore that agony. All that matters is Talia.
I need to get her back, and then I will never let her go again.
“You will bring her back to me?” My voice is more of a snarl, and I realise my people are standing around me, covered in wounds from my attacks. I should feel guilty, but I don’t. Instead, all I feel is pain for the missing half of my soul.
My mate.
“I vow it,” she states. “But I need your help.” She looks at Akuji. “All of your help.”
“You have it,” Akuji replies instantly. “You have all of us, all of me, little human. You won’t do this alone.” Stepping forward, he takes Aria’s hand as she looks down at me. “Let us get your Talia back.”
I can feel the many wounds, some less serious, on my body, but none of it matters.
