“Is the bear alive?” I ask urgently.
“Of course, the bear’s alive,” Khaos growls.
Wrath stops and sets me down. The first thing I notice is that I don’t have the bag. I almost say I want to go back, but I turn and find Khaos standing so close we’re almost touching.
“Are you out of your mind?”
I lift my chin.
“You are human, you can’t defend yourself, and you came up here on your own, for what? Some weeds?”
I open my mouth and close it, glancing at Angel.
“I needed them; it’s medicine, and I’ve made this trip hundreds of times. That’s the first time that cave has had a bear in it.”
Khaos grabs my shoulders and shakes me twice. “Do I need to chain you up? I fucking will. I’ll lock you in shackles and spoon-feed you if it means you are safe.”
“What happens if I die?” I say and watch him fall silent. “What happens if I die and you get to go free? And that’s the answer.”
His mouth opens and closes, but he shakes his head sharply. “That is not an option.”
“Death is always an option.”
“NO!” Khaos bellows, and then he’s got my face in his hands, and his lips are on mine, his tongue pressing into my mouth, stroking mine and leaving me mindless.
I cling to him, holding him to keep me upright. Holding on because, surely, this is a dream, but then no dream ever felt this good. I can feel the heat of his skin, the taste of him, the scent of pine, the way his huge hands wrap around my back, pulling me up against the hard planes of his body, making me feel tiny.
He pulls back. “You will live. I command it.”
What?
He lets go and growls before changing in front of me. He flicks an ear at me and then lopes off, leaving me under the furious and watchful eyes of Wrath and Riot.
I sit down in the grass, staring out at the clearing.
“You’re not supposed to care about me. Don’t save me.”
A hand slams into my throat, sending me backwards in the grass. Wrath straddles me, staring down, his face in shadow.
“You don’t get to tell us what to do. What if you died, and we were just trapped, waiting forever while your corpse rotted?”
I stare up at him. Of course, I didn’t think of that. Just the thought of them stuck waiting and waiting until the bracelet was picked up sends horror chills over my scalp.
“You’re right; it was inconsiderate of me,” I concede.
He groans and squeezes my throat, cutting off the next words I try to say.
“I want to hear you howl; I want to see you smiling. I care about you; we all do. We’re going to save you for us and for you. So, don’t be reckless.”
Though his words melt most of me, another tiny part stares into his eyes and wonders how much he’ll hate me when he finds out what I am and that they have lost their choice to decide if they want me.
Now, it’s just a matter of time until my heat decides for all of us.
Hazard
Khaos stomps into thehouse, glowering at Casey’s back like he’s going to launch himself after her and start roaring. To be honest, the bond is screaming so loud with his rage, we’re all uncomfortable.
The worst part is that when Riot called him on his bullshit and insisted the reason he was so angry was because she almost got hurt and he actually cares–they ended up having a fur-flying fight in the meadow. Riot has disappeared to cool off, but Khaos can’t leave things alone until he’s sure she’s safe. Not that he will ever admit that.
