Starla was fadingfast.
As she continued down the street in the direction of her dorm, her legs felt heavy and unsteady. It was as though invisible weights were trying to anchor her in place. Her mind also felt cloudy, and the world around her spun in and out of focus with every shaky step she took. Each time she tried to draw a deep breath, it seemed to catch in her throat, refusing to clear her head and bring the relief she so desperately craved.
Sweat beaded her brow, and her heart hammered against her ribs, the frantic rhythm matching her growing sense of dread. The dizzy sensation made it difficult to keep her balance, and the blur of lights and shadows around her only added to her disorientation. Despite the overwhelming urge to collapse, she continued to push forward, fighting to stay conscious and aware.
The sound of a motor captured her attention. Turning, she glanced over at it in disbelief. Her head still felt like it was spinning even after she stopped moving, and she had to breathe deep to prevent herself from throwing up or passing out. The beam from the approaching headlight almost blinded her, and she raised a hand to shield her eyes. As the light drew closer, she saw a young male on a scooter, but his features were partially masked behind a white helmet and an oversized vest that had reflective strips on it.
Was that her magical helper?
But no, the countdown clock still had about forty-five seconds left to go.
When the scooter zipped toward her, it became clear he didn’t even see her. She stumbled to get out of the way and let out a loud curse as she almost fell when the heel on her shoesuddenly snapped off. She cursed again as the driver gave a jaunty little wave as he flew past her.
Obviously, the app hadn’t sent that driver to help her.
Cursing, she kicked off her shoes, deciding to go barefoot rather than limping along with a broken heel. Bending down, she lifted the sparkly shoes and stared at them with mixture of irritation and a slight hint of remorse. She hadn’t said it to her friends, but she’d thought wearing heels that slim was totally nonsensical. Clearly, she’d been right. Still, the pretty shoes were a gift, so she didn’t feel right about just leaving them behind. She could always fix them once her magic was working again.
Besides, the remaining heel made a decent makeshift weapon.
Glancing around, she didn’t see anyone else in the area, but it still felt like someone was watching her. The streetlights cast long, eerie shadows across the empty sidewalk, and every faint sound seemed amplified in the silence. Her pulse quickened, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up, confirming her growing suspicion that she wasn’t alone. A subtle rustling sound coming from a nearby cluster of trees made her heart leap into her throat, sending her senses into overdrive as her fight or flight instincts kicked in.
Unfortunately, neither was an option since she could barely move.
Ignoring the trembling in her limbs, she forced herself to keep moving, pushing her body into a shuffling sort of run. Her breath burst out in ragged gasps from the exertion it took to maintain her balance and remain on her feet. Every step was a struggle against the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm her, but survival instinct and the urge to flee was almost impossible to deny.
A new sound made her glance up, and she barely had time to flinch as she saw a large form barreling toward her. The malewas moving so fast that he was almost a blur of motion. In her current condition, there was no way she could avoid a collision. Instead of trying, Starla closed her eyes and braced herself for the pain of the inevitable impact.
Instead of running into her, the stranger simply caught her in his strong arms and swung her up, cradling her against his massive chest. She had a moment of shock, but that quickly faded. Rather than being afraid of him, a strange feeling of safety flooded her. That was odd enough, but as she wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him, she also felt an intrinsic sense of belonging.
She wasn’t sure what that meant, but her head was spinning enough to make it difficult to make sense of anything. His large chest billowed against her, not from the exertion of his run but from pure rage that was practically emanating from him in waves. That was emphasized when he released a vicious snarl that echoed throughout the empty street.
“Who the fuck is following my mate? Show yourself, you fucking coward!”
The harsh words made her blink in shock.
His…mate?
Glancing up at him, her breath caught the moment their gazes locked. It was as if time stopped, allowing her to bask in the full force of the intense connection that sparked to life between them. In that instant, she knew what he said was true.
They were mates, fated to be together for eternity.
The magnetic attraction between them was impossible to ignore. It was as if a million tiny strands of destiny were binding them together. Apparently, the mating pull between them was strong enough to overpower whatever was blocking her magic. She never imagined she would find her mate as soon as she arrived in the Human Realm, and it was even more surprising to discover that they went to the same school.
Her mate was a handsome male, with strong features and an intimidating aura. Unlike the ethereal beauty of the fairies, he had a rugged, wild appeal that hinted that he was some sort of shifter. His chiseled jawline and sharp cheekbones gave him a sculpted look, and a faint scar over one of his thick, dark brows added a raw touch of danger to his appeal. That tiny flaw only enhanced his masculine beauty rather than detract from it, and she had an overwhelming urge to reach up and trace the scar with her fingertip.
His lips were full and well-defined, and his bronze skin had a healthy sun-kissed glow to it that told her he probably spent a lot of time outdoors. His wavy black hair was interspersed with gray strands, making it look as if it were streaked with silver. She couldn’t tell whether it was natural or dyed. Either way, it made him look stylish and distinctive.
But his best feature by far was an amazing pair of green eyes that reminded her of the foliage in her favorite glade back in the Fairy Realm. A wave of homesickness struck her without warning, and she felt the sting of tears in her eyes.
“Fuck, please don’t do that. Don’t cry, cher. I’m sorry it took me so long to find you.”
His panicked expression made her want to laugh, but she felt too tired to even try. She was grateful he had found her when he had since she wasn’t sure how much longer she could stay awake. But she fought to stay conscious long enough to get a few answers from him.
Frowning, she said, “I’m Starla, not Cher.”
“No, no, I—” His words cut off on a baffled chuckle. “That was an endearment, like sweetheart or baby.”
“Oh. Who are you?”
