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I kick out with my free leg at the green, webbed hand. A terrified cry rips from my throat as dagger sharp, black claws dig into my ankle, pulling me beneath the water.
My eyes lock with Mal’s and the world shifts into slow motion as ice-cold water envelopes me, cutting off my screams as I’m dragged beneath the water.
CHAPTER13
MALAK
My pulse pounds in my ears as I race toward her. Luna’s desperate, terror-filled eyes lock with mine, her terrified scream cutting off abruptly as she’s dragged beneath the water.
Lunging forward, I jump into the river. The icy water stings my skin as I dive beneath the surface. The water is cold and murky as I track the outline of the kelpie dragging my mate deeper into the water.
My limbs burn as I fight against the current. The torrent swirls, dragging me downstream. Sharp pain rips across my side as I slam against rock. Luna’s muffled screams tear at my heart as I go tumbling along the riverbed before righting myself again.
Panicked, I scan the water for my beloved. A flash of light catches on the monster. A Kelpie. Its dark scales shimmering briefly before winking out. Pitch-black eyes meet mine as it bares its sharp fangs. Its webbed hands are wrapped solidly around Luna, sharp claws digging into her flesh.
I call upon every bit of my strength and push toward them. Swiping out with my claws, I catch its side. The Kelpie releases an ear-piercing shriek beneath as black blood blooms in the water around it.
The Kelpie releases Luna and rushes toward me. We clash in a blur of fangs and claws, locked in a deadly embrace. The churning river drags us along the riverbed. Sharp rocks stab and scrape at my skin as his claws rip into my flesh, but I refuse to let him go. He dared to hurt my mate and now I will make certain he hunts no more.
Closing my eyes, I shift into my wolf form. Sinking my teeth deep into his neck, I jerk my head and snap his bones. Cold satisfaction floods my veins as the light leaves his eyes and he goes still.
I release his body and search for Luna. I spot her immediately, her arms and legs flailing wildly as the turbulent water sweeps her limp form toward a group of boulders. Alarm bursts through me and I push off from the riverbed, pumping my legs furiously as I swim, desperate to reach her.
I catch her skirt with my fangs and pull her toward me, spinning at the last second to place myself between her and the rocks. The air explodes from my lungs as my back slams against the boulders with an audible crack beneath the water.
Shifting back into my two-legged form, I force myself to focus despite the pain. Looping one arm around Luna’s waist, I push up from the riverbed. We break the surface and I pump my limbs furiously to reach the shore.
I pull Luna out of the water and onto the shoreline. She coughs and sputters, completely soaked and shivering as she draws in great gulping breaths of air. Blood seeps through her wet clothing from the puncture wounds on her torso, left behind by the Kelpie’s claws. “We must get you warm,” I tell her. “We—”
She turns and wraps her arms around my neck. “I was so scared.” Her voice quavers through hiccupping sobs. “I couldn’t break free.”
I brush the hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear as I hold her to my chest. “You are safe now.”
“You could have died.” She draws in a shaking breath.
Cupping her jaw, I tip her face up to mine and frown. “Have you so little faith in me?” I tip up my chin and puff out my chest. “I am brave and strong, and”—I arch a teasing brow—“extremely difficult to kill.”
A huff of laughter escapes her even as tears stream down her cheeks. I drop my forehead gently to hers. “We are safe now, Luna,” I whisper. “All is well.”
Her teeth chatter lightly, and I growl low in my throat. My mate is freezing and injured, and I need to get her warm before she becomes ill. But first, I must get her out of these wet clothes. “You need to undress.”
Her eyes widen, and I expect her to protest. I’m shocked when she nods in agreement. Her hands tremble and her fingers shake as she tries to remove her clothing. I grip the hem of her gown and pull it up over her body. It hits the ground with a wet slap.
Many times, I have dreamed of having her fully bare before me, but not like this. Despite her coldness, her cheeks are flushed bright red in embarrassment as she crosses her arm over her breasts and her other hand over her feminine place.
Her people are not like mine. Nudity is frowned upon in their culture, so I avert my gaze, not wanting to embarrass her any further. I have never understood why humans are so ashamed of their bodies, but my kind learned long ago that it was necessary to conjure the appearance of clothing when having any interactions with them.
I throw her sodden clothing over my shoulder and then pluck her from the ground. She gasps as I hoist her to my chest, but she says nothing. A low rumble of approval vibrates my throat when she tucks her head under my chin and curls into me, instinctively seeking warmth. Fierce protectiveness fills me as my inner wolf remains on heightened alert, scanning the woods for any signs of danger.
I need to find somewhere to shelter and build a fire. Somewhere secure, where I can leave Luna to get warm while I search for herbs to treat her wounds. I have never looked down upon Luna because she is human, but this is one of the few times I wish she were a Wolf-Shifter. If she were, her wounds would already be healing, like mine.
As we make our way through the forest, the dull roar of water draws my attention. As much as I wish to avoid the chance of running into another Kelpie, I also know that Luna cannot go without water as long as I can.
I follow the sound until we reach a large waterfall. The river spills over the edge of a cliff, crashing into the collecting pool up ahead before continuing on its winding path through the woods. The deafening roar of the water cascading down the rock face drowns out all other noise.
Carefully, I make my way around the edge of the collecting pool until I reach the rock wall and follow it into the forest. A yawning cave mouth up ahead seems promising. It is far enough from the water that a kelpie is unlikely to catch us unaware, but close enough to the river that I can easily retrieve water for my mate.
The opening is a jagged archway, carved into the rockface. Shadow and mist shroud the entrance. Cautiously, I approach, tipping my head up and scenting the air for any signs of danger.
