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“Drink this, sweetie,” an older witch said, handing me a small vial.
I quickly downed the bright green concoction. It tasted like vinegar, garlic, and what I imagined wet dog would taste like. I gagged but managed to keep it down.
“You weren’t the only one of our merry band to get lost,” Von said. “Mika ended up hopelessly lost at one point.”
Across the courtyard, Mika rubbed a hand through his hair, looking more irritated than embarrassed.
I tried to speak, to ask about Wyatt, but all my energy had vanished. The potion and spells were working, but not fast enough. Von went on.
“I’m sure our fans are going to be a little disappointed. A remarkable number of cameras were damaged during this challenge—far more than is typical. So, unfortunately, the footage will be a little sparse. We saw almost none of Mika until J.D. found him and helped him back. Nor did we get much from Kira or Wyatt.” Von glanced back into the jungle and frowned exaggeratedly. “It seems Mr. Rivers may not be joining us any longer.”
“Do you know where he went missing?” I asked. My voice sounded stronger now that I was healing. “Send someone in after him.”
Von turned to me and cocked an eyebrow. “Hmm. Really, Kira? Is that what you want? It appears to me that Miss Durst may not be as finished with Wyatt Rivers as she might have us believe.”
Shit. I had to remember the plan. If Von thought the hatred between Wyatt and I was fading, he’d drop the bombshell that we knew each other before coming on the show.
“Just because I don’t like someone doesn’t mean I want them dead,” I said, getting to my feet unsteadily. “I wasn’t a huge fan of Nathaniel or Omar, but I didn’t enjoy seeing them die.” I pointed back toward the jungle. “I despise Wyatt. I’d rather tongue-kiss a harpy than end up with him as my mate. But he deserves a chance to live.”
Maybe the vampire bought my act, maybe not. His noncommittal shrug gave nothing away. “We tried to send a witch in to teleport him back to the main path once you were taken care of. That staff witch has yet to return.” He shook his head sadly. “Sometimes, our poor staff members fall victim to the dangers of Bloodstone Island.” He leaned conspiratorially toward one of the cameras. “That’s why they sign waivers before each season. Can’t be too careful, can we?”
Ignoring my glare, Von and the floating camera migrated to the other housemates. He took a seat next to J.D. and put a friendly arm around the alpha.
“J.D., can I catch a few words with you? It looked to us via the camera feed that you went through the obstacle course in a rather lackluster manner. Can you give us some reason as to why that was? I’m sure the viewers would love a little look into your mind and how you tick. In fact, it looked like you weren’t even going to complete the course alive until you heard Mika screaming for help.”
I crossed my arms and glanced at the jungle again, but allowed my attention to go back to the interview. Mika had almost died? How many of us had been close to death today?
J.D. gave a perfunctory shrug. “He got torn up pretty bad and needed help. What was I supposed to do? Leave him to die?”
Von laughed and slapped a hand on his thigh. “Yes, my boy! That’s the game. One less alpha means one less person between you and Chelsey or Kira. But,” he nudged J.D. jovially, “I can understand your hesitancy to leave one of your own behind. I think it’s one of the reasons our fans are rooting for you. I truly believe you would be a great mate for Chelsey or Kira. Either one. Though…” Von smiled wide and looked across the courtyard at me. “You will be having a very sexy date with Kira in the mating chamber tomorrow. Perhaps you canreallyshow her what you’re capable of tomorrow night, hmm?”
He tried to nudge J.D. playfully again, but the alpha wasn’t having it. J.D. still looked miserable. No doubt he was still pining for Leif.
At the thought of Leif, my gaze snapped back to the forest. Von continued trying to get soundbites from J.D., but everything they said became background noise—distant and unimportant. Wyatt was out there, fighting for his life.
Unless he’s already dead, a wicked voice in my head murmured.
No. I gritted my teeth and focused all my attention on the jungle, mentally willing Wyatt to appear. He couldn’t be dead. I refused to believe it. Leif had been shockingly ferocious, powerful, and quick, urged on by the feral rage and hunger boiling inside him. Still, Wyatt had trained as an operative. I’d seen him deal with things far more dangerous than a feral shifter. He hadn’t faced them as injured as he’d been earlier, but that shouldn’t matter. Even hurt, a TO could handle a wolf like Leif… unless something else had happened. A second feral? A demon? Any number of things could have joined the fight and swung things against Wyatt’s favor.
Nausea welled up in my stomach. It wasn’t from the venom—that was already fading from my system, thanks to my healing and the witches. No, this came from worry and fear. The jungle, dark and malevolent, towered over me as if it was gleeful of my anxiety. I put my hand to my mouth, hoping the others didn’t see the look on my face, see how badly I wanted Wyatt to come jogging up the path.
“Please, Wyatt,” I whispered into my hand so quietly that I could barely hear myself. “Please come back.”
Chapter2
Wyatt
Birds. That was the first sound I noticed—the chirping and cawing of birds. Was that what the afterlife was? Darkness and birds chirping for eternity? Maybe I was in hell.
Before I opened my eyes, I took stock of my body. I’d never died before, so I had no frame of reference. But everything on my person felt whole and uninjured.
As I slowly opened my eyes, green assaulted me. I saw green everywhere, and treetops. I was staring at the jungle canopy. Lying there, I blinked and listened to the cacophony of birds, frogs, and gods knew what other animals, singing the songs of their given species.
Click, click, burr, click, click, burr.A mechanical whirring and clicking sound came from somewhere nearby. That made no sense. From what I could see, I was in the middle of the jungle.
My mind began to clear, and I recalled the last things that had happened—Kira being pulled away by a witch, my arm throbbing and hanging almost uselessly at my side, and Leif jumping toward me, teeth bared, ready to tear my throat out. Had I lost so much blood, I’d passed out? If so, why wasn’t I dead?
I sniffed the air. Leif. And nearby, from the strength of his scent. The realization forced me to move. I sat up quickly, rolled to the side, and jumped to a crouch, ready to fight. If Leif was still here, how had I survived? He’d been bloodthirsty and out of his mind. I should have been a red smear on the forest floor, especially if I’d lost consciousness.
