Instead of saying anything, I pulled her mouth to mine, letting my fingers tangle in her hair. She melted into me, angling her head upward, her fingers digging into my shoulders.
I wasn’t sure how long we stayed there. Long enough that my cock twitched in interest as a burning need began spreading through me. Long enough for my tongue to slip between her lips and for my grip on her to tighten. Long enough for me to want more.
When she pulled away, I could see the own need in her eyes as she bit her lower lip in a way that drove me absolutely wild. It was all I could do not to grab her and carry her to my bedroom.
“I need to go check on Grace,” she said. “And give her ice cream before she riots.”
“Of course,” I said.
She hesitated for a long moment as she looked me up and down. I could sense through the mating bond how badly she wanted me, and she could sense how badly I wanted her. But Grace took precedence. With a small smile, she slipped past me and went into the kitchen.
Chapter 21 - Elias
I was going over final evacuation procedures when Sam burst into my office. His eyes were wild, hair askew as he heaved, anxiety rippling off him. Immediately, I tensed, sensing the urgency even from here.
“What happened?” I demanded.
“Wraith,” Sam panted. “It came early. It’s near the oasis.”
Dread plummeted in my stomach. We were supposed to have more time. Everyone was running around, preparing for the evacuation. It couldn’t have been timed worse if the wraith had planned it.
I shot to my feet and hurried after him, racing down the steps and following him into the idling car. We peeled away, Sam all but breaking the sound barrier as he tore through the streets to get us there in time.
Hordes of people ran from the oasis, cries of alarm and panic reverberating through the streets. We clambered out and ran the rest of the way, pushing past the throng until the wraith came into view.
It loomed large over the oasis, arms outstretched as a column of sand slammed into one of the nearby buildings, ripping the roof off it. Some of my men were throwing water on it, trying to slow it down, but it wasn’t enough. Bodies littered the ground, some stirring, others motionless.
“You take the left flank!” I yelled at Sam over the roaring wind. “I’ll—”
Horror and anxiety that wasn’t my own lanced through me, causing me to almost stagger backwards. I glanced around,momentarily dazed as I tried to figure out what was going on. Then it hit me.
Emma. Once again, I was sensing her panic through the mating bond.
There was only one thing that would cause this level of panic.
Grace had started shifting.
I tried to quell the panic, but nothing tempered it. Emma was panicking, emotions racing, unsure what to do. I could feel her loneliness and desperation. I could sense how much she needed someone.
I glanced at the wraith, gritting my teeth. I had a decision to make. Go after the wraith, or go to Emma.
I couldn’t leave Emma alone, not when I could tell just how terrified she was. I wasn’t going to let her go through this alone.
“Drive it back,” I ordered Sam. “You’re in charge.”
Sam’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t question the order. Instead, he nodded and turned back to lead the rest of the men.
Without wasting another moment, I shifted and charged through the street. I could sense my own wolf’s anxiety lurking there, all but drowned by Emma’s own. As I ran, I reached out through the bond, trying to send soothing, reassuring thoughts to help quell her fear.
It’s going to be okay, I thought, sending it through the bond.I’ll be there soon. I promise.
The fear began to subside, not ebbing entirely, but a mixture of relief and gratitude flickered amongst the dread.
I burst through the door to the house. Emma crouched next to Grace, stroking her back as she doubled over in pain. Emma’s head shot up when she saw me, and gratitude spread across her face.
“Oh, thank God,” she said. “I don’t know what to do.”
I raced over and crouched on the other side of Grace as she whimpered. Her claws were out, and I could see that her nose was longer than normal.
