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“She stole a book from the library,” one of the other women said softly. “Why did you do that, Bella?”
My mate curled herself up again, and did not answer.
“What happened to the other girl?” he asked.
“Nina was looking for me, when she realized that Bella had taken the book,” the girl told me. “She didn’t want to get Bella in trouble, so we came after her. But there was some kind of zombie dog and a horrible man, and he hit Nina.”
“Go check on Nina,” I told the girl.
She scrambled up to tend to her friend, and I tried to rouse Bella again.
“Darling, I need you to sit up and tell me you’re okay,” I murmured to her. “Can you do that for me?”
“I can’t see,” she moaned.
“Why can’t she see?” I roared to the other girl. “What did he do to her?”
“I-I think it might be her price for magic,” the girl stammered. “She pushed too hard, trying not to let him get the book.”
I wondered what the hell could be so important about this book that Bella would steal it and risk her own safety to hold onto it.
“It may not be safe here,” I whispered to Bella. “I need to get you back to my cottage.”
“I won’t give it up,” she moaned, tightening her coiled body.
“You don’t have to give it up,” I told her firmly. “I will defend your right to keep it with my life.”
I felt my promise tighten around me, and hoped I hadn’t made a mistake. The wrath of those witches could rain down hell on us.
But my words seemed to soothe Bella. Her body softened enough for me to lift her into my arms.
She rested her head in the crook of my neck, her hands still wrapped around the book so that she couldn’t hold onto me.
I finally had a thought to spare for the other girls. I turned to find that the first one was helping the second to her feet.
“Take her back to the school and tell no one what you saw,” I instructed them.
“The book…” the injured girl moaned, lifting her hands up, as if I was going to place it in them.
“No,” I said firmly.
“You don’t understand,” the first girl tried to explain. “The library means everything to the witches, and that book is very important. She can’t just take it.”
“I’m not going to let a gaggle of half-baked witches in training wander away with this thing with no protection when it already practically got you killed,” I snarled. “Go back to school.”
Bella moaned pathetically in my arms.
“But,” Nina began.
Completely out of patience, I snarled viciously at her, letting my wolf dangerously close to the surface.
Both girls cowered and took off through the trees, back toward the school.
If I were a better man, I would have accompanied them to ensure they made it safely.
But they no longer had a precious and dangerous book with them. And more importantly, Bella needed my help.
“Hold on, my love,” I murmured to her. “We’ll be home soon.”
