It’s not the time for this. I have to get past it.
“I think I burned myself out. I can’t block things and my shields are destroyed.”
Before I answer, she’s out. Talia’s holding onto me, but she’s out cold. My primary is still lying like a limp noodle on the sand, and I don’t even know where the hell we are or how to get us back. I sigh and reach over to touch her arm, knowing that I shouldn’t ask this, but I must. “Love, I know you’re fried. I know you’re hurt. I need you to help get us home and then you can rest. You can do whatever you need to do if you get us out of here.”
She lolls her head over to look at me and the pain in her eyes hits me right in the chest, making it hard to breathe for a moment. She nods, though, and I’m not sure how she does it, but a soft glow envelops the three of us.
Before I blink, we’re gone.
The Blade Is Broken
TALIA
Ifeel myself rousing.
A feeling of warmth surrounds me as my eyes flutter open, and soft vibrations caress my skin. I assume one of them is purring, but it’s only one side, so I don’t know which one is doing so. I hear voices in the distance, echoing as if very far away. Feeling broken, burned, and used up, I try to push myself into consciousness by reaching out. First, I try Rafe, but it doesn’t work. I try Deli next, but nothing happens. I don’t know if that’s because something is wrong with me or if something bad has happened.
It’s a little scary.
“She’s coming around, I think. She looks weak, though. Do you have any ideas?”
That’s Rafe—I’m so glad he’s here. I’d cry if I could figure out how to do anything.
Talia’s voice is cold enough to freeze ice. “She needs to eat. Can you tilt her up a bit?”
I shiver at her tone. That’s not the kitty I’ve spent time with; I don’t know who that is.
Rafe moves me, and I feel him wrapping his arm under me and holding on. “Like this?”
It hurts, and I cry out in pain, but it’s all in my head, and they can’t hear me.
Damn it, this is frustrating!
“It’ll do. I can cut us; together, we can spare enough to get her mobile again. I can’t risk healing on my own. Everything isn’t replenished, and the seals are giving me trouble. I’m spent.”
My new mate growls at her, muttering something, and she snarls back. It’s a real snarl, and the tension in the room skyrockets. It prickles over my skin like needles. They stop speaking aloud, arguing where I can’t hear them by mistake. Their aura feels so angry, and I don’t know why. Maybe they’re worried; hell, I’m worried.
What the hell is wrong with me?
“Fine, goddamn it, I’ll do it. Hold her and I’ll do it myself!”
“You can’t drain yourself again; you know what you look like. Woman, stop?—”
His voice cuts off when I hear the distinctive ‘shink’ sound of her claws, followed by a growl of frustration. A trickle plops onto my lips. She didn’t give him the option to continue arguing; she did it. The scent makes the serpent take notice, and my nostrils twitch as its vicious instincts respond. Everything inside me hurts, but the fangs drop anyway. My lips part unbidden to let dry, cracked lips moisten in the flow of her essence.
“It’s done—she’s feeding.”
I don’t feel her near me, only him. The blood is hers, but I’ll be damned if I know how she’s getting it to me without being within reach.
“What do we do now?” Rafe asks.
“I have to keep it flowing. Keep her mouth open if she closes it. She needs to feed for a bit to get stronger.”
“But you shouldn’t?—”
I hear a glass slam on the counter, and pieces tinkle on the parquet as they scatter. “IsaidI’ve got it. Don’t push me.”
Blood droplets came first, but now it’s a trickle, and I rouse enough to swallow past my bruised and ravaged throat. As her blood nourishes me, the serpent responds to it. They’re not wakingmeup as much as the snake. I can’t deny the warmth spreading through me, though, so I suppose it can’t hurt for her to continue.
