My heart plummeted and the panic was a real, tangible explosion within me. Helplessly, I looked around the room, desperately trying to find a solution, but there was nothing.
“Read one of his books,” I said suddenly. “Readtohim. He needs calm, and to know he’s not alone.”
Slade was on his feet in a second, Finley right behind him. They hurried to Kellan’s shelves and perused them for about ten seconds before the bear shifter yanked a book free. “This is hisfavorite,” he said, hurrying back to the bed. “I will read it to him.”
My frustration at not being able to read reared up once more, but the fact that it was Finley with the book feltperfectsomehow.
He settled in at Kellan’s side and opened the first page. “It was a coldly bitter night when I found the love of my life. Found and lost her. I was part of the Night Realm pack, and we’d been out in the Forest of Hellsward fighting against the dark elves, who were warring us to the edge of extinction…”
His low rumbly voice was soothing, and I found myself wanting to curl up at Kellan’s side to drift off to the sound of Finley’s disturbingly sexy voice. This bear confused me more than any other shifter or human I’d ever met. He was built of shadows and sharp edges, but then he had these moments of softness and emotional depth that completely altered my perception of him.
But whatever the case, his perfect voice did exactly as I hoped, and calmed the shifter on the bed. Me too, if I was being honest.
CHAPTER 26
EMME
Kellan’s energy had evened out by the time Hunter returned with Florence, both carrying plates piled high with food along with bottles of water. “It’s going to be okay,” their housekeeper announced after she handed me a plate and a bottle, her face pale and eyes red-rimmed. “I believe in my soul that Alpha Kellan is strong enough to win this battle.”
With that said, she ducked out of the room, and I did my best to manifest the same confidence. Ignoring the swirls of dread in my stomach.
“Eat.”
I jerked toward Slade, my sandwich almost spilling off my lap. Hunter generally took point on protecting the pack, but today all three of them watched me closely.
“You’ve lost weight since you got here,” Finley said simply, sandwich in his hands though he hadn’t taken a bite yet. I found it hard to believe he was waiting for me to eat first, but still, he didn’t take a bite.
“Thanks for pointing it out,” I replied shortly. I had lost weight, but it wasn’t really his business to comment on.
Hunter sank down beside me on the bed. “You’re always perfect, Emme, but your energy feels weaker. It’s not safe tostarve your beast, you know that, and you won’t be able to help Kellan if you’re not at your strongest.”
It was hard to argue with that logic, even if I did want to curse him out for being both wise and attractive. The goddess had really given with both hands in this pack. “You’re right, and I’m trying. My stomach is churning hard, and has been since he got struck by that witch.”
Slade shifted his plate from one hand to the other in an almost absentminded manner, his expression contemplative. “It’s possible that it’s more than grief affecting you. You might be experiencing side-effects of the spell wreaking havoc on Kel. Fully bonded or not, there’s a connection between all of us. I’ve personally felt a strain on my beast and power since the attack.”
Hunter’s expression was sharper as he examined me from the top of my messy hair down to my feet, which dangled off the side of the bed. “You might be right,” he murmured, brow furrowed as his scent grew stronger. “I hate not knowing exactly what we’re dealing with. Fucking magic.”
Jewels strolled into the room then to provide a target for all the magic hate, but none of the alphas even looked her way as she crossed to Kellan. Needing a distraction, I picked up the sandwich, which was thankfully plain roasted chicken without any unnecessary grass filler.
I took a large bite and chewed, tasting nothing, but I kept eating anyway.
After another bite, the alphas started to eat as well, all three of them finishing multiple sandwiches before I got to the last mouthful of mine. Hunter took my empty plate and dropped it with the others outside the door. Finley and I returned to holding Kellan’s hands, while Slade and Hunter pressed their palms to his biceps.
“Can you tell how it’s going?” I asked Jewels, voice so high it was almost at a pitch only wolves would hear. “He’s not moving…”
“The battle continues,” was her cryptic reply.
Oh, great.Thanks for that…Feels like you painted me a fucking picture and annotated every scene.
We settled in for the wait, and as I stared relentlessly into Kellan’s beautiful, still face, he jerked in my hold. A small movement at first, but not even a few seconds later he jerked again, harder, and it was only that I was prepared this time that I kept hold of his hand.
When he started to flail, his huge body almost knocked me to the floor. Hunter caught me and shifted our positions so he could use his bulk as a barrier between Kellan and me.
“What’s happening?” he roared, glancing toward the witch.
Jewels’ hands shot out and dropped onto Kellan’s chest, right above his heart. “The original magic has finally realized its under attack and is fighting back.” She cursed roughly. “I hoped the counterspell would have more time to infiltrate before that happened. The pair are equally strong foes and they’re fighting for survival. It all comes down to Kellan’s strength now.”
My panic, which let’s be real, hovered at a consistent eight these days, ramped right up. A red flush spread across Kellan’s skin. The heat of the magical battle appeared to be scorching him from the inside.
