“It’s going to kill him,” I cried, trying to crawl toward him, but Hunter held me back. “We have to save him. I have to boost his energy with my own.”
Jewels’ head jerked up, her expression both distraught and contemplative. “Maybe… I didn’t think of it before, but there might actually be a way to boost his energy using the alpha bond you already possess.” She was up and off the bed in a flash. “Youthree need to follow me down to my gear. It’ll be faster than hauling it all the way up here again.”
Hunter strode around the bed and dropped me into the chair. “Stay with Kellan, but don’t get close when he’s thrashing about. We’ll be right back.”
He wouldn’t move until I nodded, and when he took off after Jewels, Slade and Finley were right behind him. Deciding there was one action still available to me, I raced into the bathroom for a stack of washcloths, running them under the cold water.
“Come on, Kel,” I murmured, dabbing at his forehead, which for the first time was sweaty and pallid. “Come on, Golden. You’ve got this. When you’re better, I’m ready to stop fighting fate, and hope that the outcome is different with you. I need you.” Despite Hunter’s warning, I couldn’t help but lean down and press my forehead against his. “I need you.”
“Shortcake.”
The room tilted as I lurched up to meet a pair of dark blue eyes. Eyes I hadn’t been sure I’d ever see again. As our gazes locked, my wolf howled and smashed against me, desperate to touch her mate. Kellan’s irises turned violet, and I felt the presence of his wolf close by as his face scrunched in pain. “Oh fuck. What’s happening?”
“You’ve got magic warring inside you,” I told him as fast as I could, wincing as he gripped my hand so tightly I couldn’t feel my fingers. Not that I’d have pulled away even if he broke every bone in my body. “You’re so strong, Golden. You have to keep fighting and stay here with us.”
Discomfort lined his face as he held my gaze, desperate pants spilling from his dry lips. “I’m not sure I’m strong enough, pretty gir—” He coughed, and my heart dropped into my stomach. “Baby… there’s an inferno scorching my insides, and it’s—” Another cough. “It’s too much. No mortal could survive this.”
This time, when I stared into his eyes, all I saw was glassy regret, engulfed by pain and unshed tears. “I wanted mo… more time with you.”
“You will have it.” I choked on my words and sobs and my own anguish. “I don’t care what it takes, you have to live. I can’t be here without you. I can’t do this without you. I will literally lay down and die next to you, Kellan Jackson, so you must live for both of us.”
At that statement he attempted to sit, a weak but rage filled rumble escaping his chest. “You will live for me,” he rasped. “Please. I need to know you’ll live for me, and keep my pack safe and happy, and… you guys better name your first kid after me.”
My stomach lurched, and I leaned over the side of the bed and vomited up my sandwich.Fuck.
Kellan tugged on my hand, pulling me back around so we were face to face once more. “I need to see you, pretty girl,” he whispered, his voice weak as his eyes fluttered. For a horrifying moment, I didn’t think he was going to open them again. “I need this to be my last sight.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks, and barely holding on to the urge to vomit again, I remained right where he wanted me.
Mate!My wolf surged forward with force and power, taking me by surprise as I partially shifted. She knew exactly what to do, lunging to bite the base of Kellan’s neck, on the join near his shoulder. Like I’d shot him with adrenaline, Kellan roared, and blood filled my mouth, metallic with a hint of caramel. My beast remained in control, howling as she held on until his tanned beast rose up to meet her. She released him then and returned control to me.
When I lifted my head, I flinched at how deep the bite was.
Kellan’s eyes were open, the blue almost black in intensity. “We can’t,” he whispered, sounding a touch stronger than before. “If we bond and I die, you might follow.”
“Bite me,” I ordered, knowing I’d follow anyway. “Please. Give me this one last request.”
I had no intentions of it being a last request, but he didn’t have to know that. A hint of gold streaked through the dark purple of his eyes, and then his jaw shifted as sank his teeth into the same spot I’d bitten on him, in the join between shoulder and neck.
My wolf remained close as her mate rose and met her, our essences merging.
This moment intertwined our power, lifeforce, and future.
In that bonding, I finally felt the full force of the battle inside Kellan, and understood why he’d been unable to fight it alone.
Oh goddess.
It felt like I’d fallen into a volcano and had to swim through lava. No one could have survived these fires alone, and luckily for him, he was no longer alone.
I had no idea of the intricacies of sharing power, and it was all instinct as I pushed my wolf into the newly formed connection.
Take from me.
I urged him to draw on my power, and at first he resisted, unsure what was happening. As the magic struggled inside him, his own survival instincts took over and he accepted my gift.
Darkness danced on the edge of my vision, and I wasn’t sure if it was due to the magical exchange, or if I was dying from a catastrophic loss of shifter essence. Either way… I gave Kellan everything I had to ensure he’d survive. And if he didn’t, well, we’d be together in our final moments.
Humans always said “till death do us part,” but in the shifter world we meant it.
