Not a fucking chance. “He’s going to die without the counter,” I reminded her, barely keeping my wolf restrained. “It’s better to take the risk versus letting him just deteriorate into death. He’s strong enough.”
I knew my pack brother better than most, and Kellan would fight with everything he had to stay with us. To stay with Emme. He’d literally never had more to live for.
Jewels didn’t look convinced, her expression torn as she glanced between Kellan and me. “Judging by your current mood, and your actions in the past, I have no doubt you’ll kill me if my spellkills him. I’m not sure I’m willing to risk that.” Her eyes narrowed a touch. “I mean, unless of course you want to offer up a few very big favors from everyone in your pack to sweeten the task.”
My wolf howled again as she finally admitted the real reason she held back from handing over the counterspell: she wanted to make sure she got her full pound of flesh from each of us.
Slade was on her so fast she barely managed a pip before his hand was around her throat. The dragon never allowed others to touch him—except in the few rare instances they got past his guard during training or fights. But if he touched you, it was never for a good reason.
As Jewels was well aware.
Her face paled as she stared up at him, unmoving and completely unable to speak. She could have used magic, but against Slade, she’d need more than just her normal defenses. If you tried to take on his dragon with magic, you better have a veritable atomic bomb worth of power.
“No favors, and if you don’t give Kellan the spell asap, you’re going to die.” His voice and expression were neutral, if you discounted the faint burst of flames in his eyes. “At least if youdogive him the spell and he survives, you will also survive.”
Normally, I’d step in and defuse the situation, but as my wolf raged against the cage of my skin, I found very little inclination to save the witch. She parted her lips, but he held her too tightly for words. Her face was a dangerous blue when he finally loosened his hold, allowing her to splutter. “I-I will do the s-spell.”
With a huff of fiery, ash-scented air, Slade relaxed his fingers and Jewels hit the floor hard. “See that you fucking do. Today.”
He returned to where he’d stood a moment ago, arms relaxed at his side, no sign he’d almost choked her to death with one hand. Jewels remained sprawled on the floor, her eyes wide and glassy as she sucked in a few ragged breaths and coughed with each one.
It was finally registering with her that we were not the same pack we’d been the last time she saw us. We had found our final mate, the heart of our quintet, and until our bonds were complete, our beasts would be feral. Probably after as well.
“We have no choice but to ensure Kellan survives,” I told her, making no move to help her off the floor. As far as I was concerned, there was no reason to ever touch another female who wasn’t Emme. “How do we strengthen him using the pack bonds?”
She coughed again and rubbed her throat. “A completed quintet is really the only way.”
Emme entered the room at that moment, dressed in blue sweats, her damp hair darker than usual as it hung around her heart-shaped face. Her crystal-blue eyes were wide, and her expression distressed as she stared at Jewels on the floor.
“Are you saying that it’s our lack of a bond that’s weakening him?” she choked out, moving her gaze to me in a search for truth.
I held my hand out, and like Thor’s mighty hammer she crossed toward me without hesitation. Like I was finally fucking worthy.
When I tucked her close to my side, I noticed her scent was mixed with coffee and caramel, the combination enough to finally calm my beast.
Leaning down, I ran my nose along the soft, smooth skin of her throat, groaning deep in my chest. “Good fucking girl,” I murmured, pleased she’d obeyed my command. No omega had to obey, so it was that much more satisfying when she did. “I need you covered in my scent now and always.” She shivered against me, and I caught the moan she suppressed. “And no, this is not your fault. Not now or ever. We have no idea if a completed quintet would make any difference to his ability to fight this spell. Magic is unpredictable and Jewels is guessing.”
She sank into me and my still-hard cock kicked in my pants, but I didn’t bother to adjust myself. I was proud to show the world how much I craved her, my perfect mate.
“Jewels found a counterspell,” I said, updating her on the new information. “But with the strength of the original spell infiltrating Kellan’s energy deeper, and how potent this counterspell is, there are some concerns he might not be strong enough to survive the process.” I could tell that Jewels hadn’t been lying about that part.
Emme hyperfocused on the bed, her eyes wide and red-rimmed. I could smell the tears she stifled, her sorrow tainting the air with bitterness, which added to my already unhinged emotional state. “He’ll die without the spell though,” she murmured. “We would be stronger as a complete quintet?”
For some fucked-up reason, she turned to Finley, clearly seeking out the one who’d give her the whole truth. Not that I lied to her, but I tempered my response when the bear wouldn’t.
Over Emme’s head, I glared Finley into submission, silently reminding him that if he hurt her unnecessarily, I’d beat his ass until he prayed for death. I couldn’t use dominance to force him without clueing Emme in on my pull of rank, and I wanted her to believe his response was genuine.
“As Hunter already said, we don’t know if he’d be stronger fully bonded,” Finley finally muttered. “This is all guesswork and hope. Like most fucking magic, if it’s not annoying and dangerous, it’s useless. There’s no real in between.”
Emme frowned, her freckles bunching together as she blinked and then turned to Slade next, before lifting her adorably confused expression my way. I remained calm as she ran her gaze over me like she could uncover my secrets with a simple look.
Having her complete focus while I stared into her striking blue eyes was second only to tasting and touching her. Our omega was so beautiful that I found myself stunned like a fucking pup when she gave me her full focus. It hurt. In the best way.
“How do we help him, Hunter?” she whispered, her expression begging me to have the answers she needed. Usually I’d be full of options, but today I had fucking nothing.
My wolf flipped out again, and my hold on Emme tightened until it had to be painful. Not that she made a noise or tried to step away. With effort, I loosened my grip and sucked in a deep, calming breath. “We have no choice but to attempt this spell and hope he’s strong enough. His fever is gone, and he has taken energy from us, which will go a long way toward helping him.”
Jewels dragged herself to her feet, moving closer to Kellan again. “We should do it now, then,” she said, her voice huskier.“Every minute we wait, the spell grows in strength and is infusing deeper into his shifter essence and energy. If you all are fine with this decision, then I’ll start preparing.”
