Megan pulls a silver charm from her pocket, and says “Second, I hope this thing is big enough.”
I glance at her.
“Where’d you get that?”
“Catholic grandma.Don’t worry about it.”
My eyebrows raise.Then, she fumbles a step, and I freeze beside her.
“Shit.Not now,” she murmurs.
“You okay?”
“Yep, but just in case, you think you can catch me?”she asks, and I nod immediately.
I should be watching the ghosts.I should be assessing the threat level.But all I can do is stare as Megan goes still.
Too still.
Her eyes roll back in her head.
She sways.
And I panic.
“Megan?”I step toward her, reaching out, but something holds me in place.
Not physically—there’s no spell, no ghostly hands—but something in the air locks me down.
Like time itself hiccupped.
For three seconds she’s frozen.Head tilted, mouth slightly open, eyes gone completely white.
But it doesn’t feel like three seconds.
It feels like a fucking year.
My heart is a war drum in my ears.My Wolf is howling, clawing inside my chest.
MATE DOWN.MOVE.PROTECT.HELP.
“I can’t—what the hell—MEGAN!”I roar as she starts to fall, and whatever was stopping me from moving suddenly releases me.
I blink and catch her, swoop her up in my arms, and my heart is pounding so hard it might actually break through my goddamn sternum.
“Megan,” I repeat her name, unsure of what to do.
I don’t have to wait long because, just like that, she snaps back.
Eyes clear.Breathing normal.Shoulders rising and falling like she just woke from a nap.
She blinks at me, confused.
I tighten my hold on her for a split second, then I help her stand.
I keep one hand on her elbow, and she doesn’t object so I take that as a win.
My voice is rough when I finally speak.
