Every so often, I’d catch a glimpse of the mountains in the distance and wonder if Emerson was there. If I introduced himto Roland, maybe we could build cabins beside one another and live happily ever after.
7
ROLAND
I hated that it was time to leave our rock shelter. We were on borrowed time, and the longer we hid in the cave, the riskier it was for us.
Bryden was still weak and not close to fully healed. In a perfect world, he’d be in a nice, cozy bed being given the best a healer had to offer, I’d have my strength back and could work on him more, and we’d be safe. But we weren’t in a perfect world. We were in this shitty one, and we had no choice but to get out of here. It was time.
We didn’t make it very far before his bear was done. He might’ve been stronger than my mate’s human side physically, but with the infection still brewing, he wore out quickly. He shifted back, and I gave him some water and told him to rest. I hated being out in the open like this, but we weren’t going to get where we were going quickly enough if I wore him into collapse.
An hour went by and my unicorn was too on edge to stay put any longer. In hindsight it was probably best we did the rest on foot, the sounds of cars not too far in the distance.
“I’m sorry we have to do this so soon, but we have to keep going.” I held my hand out to help pull him up. He didn’t say a word, allowing me to get him on his feet and back on our trip.
I’d told him to conserve his energy and try not to talk too much and to stay in human form. It was the right advice, but it made our journey more difficult. Instead of listening to his words or watching his bear, I was hearing his breathing and his pounding heart that was going far too quickly.
Walking was too slow in this form, but we didn’t have a choice. Every step he took was a struggle, despite my help. I wanted to carry him, but I couldn’t for long, and it would result in slowing us down further. He was too heavy for me when I was at full strength, and that wasn’t now.
Shifting would be ideal, but he wasn’t strong enough to shift and make the journey, the infection still festering despite the medication. It would take a few days for it to do its job, less if I could gather enough power to heal him more.
I’d used my horn to heal hundreds of times, possibly thousands, in my life, but with him it had been different. Like always, I could feel the energy building up in me and pouring out of my horn. It wasn’t the typical sensation I was used to where it was similar to when your leg fell asleep, though. This was full-on power. I was pulling from somewhere I hadn’t known existed.
In hindsight, it hadn’t really been me doing it. It had been my unicorn. He’d been draining himself, pushing with all his strength over and over again, not communicating with me at all.
When the wound had begun to stitch itself together, it only encouraged my beast. My unicorn kept pulling and pulling fromwithin, and my knees buckled. I’d been barely able to keep myself upright.
Stop.I pleaded.
No.
We have to stay alive. We’re no use to him if we’re not alive. You need to stop.
Reluctantly, my unicorn fell back, and I was able to take my skin again.
The next time I healed him, I was going to be fighting both the infection and my unicorn, and I wouldn’t risk overdoing it until we were someplace truly safe. Until then, my self-appointed job was to protect him.
A horn blared in the distance, and it came to me. What we really needed was a car. The faster we got away, the better, and a car wouldn’t leave a scent trail. If only it were as easy as that.
Bryden stumbled.
“I’ve got you.” He leaned against my side, and we hobbled along.
Anyone looking for us would be able to find us.
“Bryden,” I said, “I think... I think we’re going to need to get help. Human help.”
He froze. “No. They can’t be trusted.”
His voice was stronger than it had been. Out of fear or out of strength, I didn’t know. Humans weren’t shifters’ friends. Not historically, anyway. I understood his tension.
“If we stay here, we’re just walking prey.” I sucked in a deep breath, scenting the air for any danger and glad to find none. “I’m not suggesting a hospital, but let’s see if we can flag down a ride.”
“I trust you.”
Please let me deserve that trust.
I counted our steps one by one, telling myself if we made five more, just five more, we could rest. Then ten more, and on and on, until we finally reached the road.
