How the fuck was I supposed to do this?
Swallowing down the fear, I took a cautious step toward Rys. He’d never hurt me. I had to believe that even under the influence of this awful fae poison, he wouldn’t forget that he was mine, and I was his.
He never took his eyes off me, watching my every move with a wary expression. When I got within touching distance, I reached out and stroked a hand through the thick fur at his neck.
His head snapped round and I froze, heart thudding wildly as those huge fangs came within eating distance of my fingers.
“Hey,” I whispered, continuing to stroke him. “It’s okay, Rys.”
He sniffed at my hand, then went back to staring at me.
I stepped closer, putting both hands on him now.
Max had said he could still understand speech in his wolf form, but could Rys with the poison affecting him?
“You know me,” I tried. “You trust me. I would never hurt you.”
I took a deep breath. This wasn’t how I’d imagined telling him, but… “I love you, Rys.” I stepped closer and pressed my forehead against his muzzle. “I’vealwaysloved you.”
He whined.
Maybe he could understand me after all.
“Rys—”
Three cars burst around the corner, they’d turned their siren’s off, but Rys’s attention snapped to them as they screeched to a halt outside my house.
“Fuck,” Max hissed. “They can’t come in here, Gabriel. It’ll be a bloodbath.” He was still pinned in the corner by a snarling Talis.
I stepped in front of Rys, blocking him from the doorway. He growled, not liking that one bit, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop him if he wanted to get out, but I had to do something.
“Gabriel?”
I recognised Rys’s father as he got out of the car. Lady Sarhin joined him.
“We have an antidote. It’ll take the edge off, help him shift back. But you need to get out of the way.”
The driver got out next. I recognised him too. Jake, Max’s roommate, lifted what looked like a tranquilliser gun and aimed it at the doorway.
Rys growled again, the sound low and menacing.
“Is Max okay?” Jake yelled.
“I’m good,” Max yelled back.
For the moment, anyway.
“I need a clear shot, Mase.”
“If I move, there’s a good chance he’ll attack.” And if he did, then it wouldn’t be an antidote they fired at him.
“I know, but this is the only way. I’m a good shot. You need to trust me.” Jake loaded the dart.
“Do what he says, Mase,” Max urged.
I closed my eyes, hoping that I wasn’t about to make a fucking awful mistake, and threw myself out of the way.
The dart hit Rys square in the chest. Jake was as good as his word.
