The voice breaks.
It sounds like Rogue, but it can’t be. I’m dreaming.
I didn’t know dreams could hurt this much.
But I’ll walk through fire to be with them again, even if it’s only in my dreams.
“Rogue,” I whisper. My throat burns, the rasp of my voice not sounding right.
“We’re here, baby,” he says. “We’re not leaving you ever again.”
A sob breaks through, and I feel dampness on my cheek.
Warm lips press to my forehead. “We’ll get you out of here. Ace, how long?”
“Two minutes.” The voice sounds strained.
This is a weird dream.
It’s not real, though.
Real is an unfamiliar alpha putting his hands on me. Squeezing and pinching andhurting.
“Am I dead?” I whisper. The hand stroking my face pauses, and an agonized growl vibrates through my bones. My mind is growing fuzzy again, and I whimper. Don’t want to leave them.
“No, love.” Rogue again. “We’ll be able to go home soon. Just a little longer.”
My mind drags me under.
* * *
The ground vibrates underneath me. I’m wrapped securely in strong arms, and when I breathe in I’m surrounded by woodsmoke and leather.
“Devlin,” I try to say, but my voice isn’t working properly.
A hand smooths over my hair, achingly gentle. “Princess.”
He sounds mad. “Don’t be angry,” I sigh, nuzzling into his chest.
“Never,” he swears, voice hoarse. “Never with you.”
* * *
Voices murmur around me in broken pieces. My mind feels like a jigsaw. I know where the pieces fit, but my mind can’t put them where they need to go.
My pack is dead.
I don’t want to be here, wherever I am.
Fingers prod at my arm, and I feel the touch of a needle.
I scream, thrashing my arm around.
No more fucking needles.
The fingers disappear, replaced by the buttery scent of freshly-baked bread with a touch of sea salt.
A hand traces my cheek.
