Her eyes flare silver. Fingers trace a quick sigil in air. The rune hangs like a four-point star then detonates, sending a shockwave of turquoise sparks. They slam into my chest, yanking breath from lungs.
I stagger, claws gouging stone. Pain ripples, not enough to injure but enough to enrage. The shard jabs thigh in satchel, near scalding.
She takes a single step backward—heel hovering above ravine’s drop. “Do not.”
The command buzzes prophetic authority, yet I see how her shoulders tremble. Her breath catches as if invisible thread tightens around ribs. Crystal veins brighten, spreading further down sternum in the space between seconds.
Her power costs her.
I shake off stun, snort steam. “Last warning.”
Lightning cracks overhead. Not weather—ley surge. The ridge recognizes incompatible magics colliding and reacts with spite. Wind shrieks through fissures, flinging shards of ice sideways.
Her pupils widen. Sight takes her. I know the signs—gaze gone glassy, body rigid, lips parting in silent gasp. Crystal climbs her neck, crosses jawline. She sways.
Instinct barrels down distrust. Before thought, I drop bear form, lungs shrinking, bones grinding back. Human again, I leap forward and catch her as knees buckle. She weighs little—feather of frost and stone. Heat flares where my arms wrap around her; not sexual warmth, something older, bone deep, echoing pack imprint.
White film veils her eyes, reflecting stars that aren’t here. She whispers fragmented phrases: “Three skies… bleed… binding cracks… Alpha’s heart… molten howl.”
Every syllable registers like claws on my nerves. The shard responds, a furnace inside pouch. I reach for it, pull leather open. The triangular piece now glows ember-red, veins of lava crawling within. Light bathes both our faces.
Her gaze snaps focus on shard. “Anchor.”
“What is it?” I demand, voice sandpaper.
“Thought made matter. Shadow uses it to breach.” She hisses as crystal tightens throat. “It linked to your lost one. Now it seeks new flesh—yours.”
I curse low. The heat scorches palm though I am near immune. I cram shard back into pouch, cinch string. The leather singes but holds.
Her body shudders in my grasp. I ease us both to our knees on the snow-packed spit. “Breathe.”
“Time… fractured…” Her fingers clutch my coat front, nails pricking through layers. “Vision drags me sideways. Need anchor… but can’t anchor on pain.”
Pain I have aplenty. Yet she warns against it.
I guide her hand from coat to my heartbeat. “Feel that. Not pain—pulse.”
Fingers splay over my sternum. Even through leather and wool I sense chill from crystal spreading under her skin. Her touch stills, matching rhythm.
Snow swirls around us, gentler. Wind settles. The ridge quiets as though appeased.
White film recedes from her eyes, leaving storm-gray irises. She blinks, lashes wet from effort. “You… steadied the timeline.”
“I held you. That’s all.” Admitting any more edges toward vulnerability I cannot show a near-stranger.
She lifts chin, assessing. “That is all, yet it was enough.”
I realize my arms remain locked around her waist. I ease back, gripping her elbows instead. “Can you stand?”
“I believe so.” She pushes upright, legs shaky. I rise with her, hands ready should gravity betray. She straightens spine, regal despite disheveled hair, crystals glittering now across clavicle like cruel jewelry. “Your bear was impressive.”
“Rune spark wasn’t bad.” Heat creeps up neck; complimenting an intruder feels odd. I clear throat. “You should not be here. Yet leaving you alone sends you to death. Damn your timing.”
A faint smile tugs her mouth, weary but genuine. “Fate rarely accounts for convenience.”
I grunt. “I’ll escort you to my den. You will be watched.”
Her head tilts. “I meet you sunrise next at Hollow Cairn. Remember the scout?”
