Axel.
Mine.
I focused hard, pulling as much of my wolf to the surface as I could to harness the primal instinct to survive.
To protect.
I might not have been as rational in this state, but I could manage the pain enough to open my eyes and be aware of what was going on around me.
Three fae advanced towards me, and I snarled out a warning, forcing my fangs to drop down even though it cost me energy I didn’t have in great supply. They stopped, unsure, looking to the fae in front of Axel wielding a crossbow.
Melhak.
I wanted to kill him first.
If he hadn’t filled my belly with poison, he’d be a mess of body parts littered over the grass by now.
He raised that fucking crossbow and pointed it at me. “Control your wolf, Axel. If you want him to live a little longer.”
Axel crouched in front of me, violet eyes brimming with tears, expression a mixture of fierce anger and desperation. “Let them take you inside.Please. I can’t fucking lose you.”
If I didn’t get help soon, that was inevitable.
And we both knew it.
The poison was already working its way around my body. I could feel it, like molten lava in my veins, burning everything in its wake.
“Just hang on,” he begged, tears escaping and rolling down his cheeks. “For me.”
I’d do anything for him for as long as I was able.
Raising a shaky hand, I cupped his jaw, grimacing as I smeared his skin with blood. Before I could pull back, he clamped his hand over mine, his expression full of everything we’d never said to each other.
Because we’d thought it was too soon. That we’d have time.
But that time was running out.
I opened my mouth, but Axel shook his head and clamped a hand over my lips. “Don’t you fucking dare,” he hissed. “Not here. Not like this.” His voice broke, eyes squeezing shut as he drew in a ragged breath. “Please, not like this, Talis.”
I love you.I thought it in my head over and over, praying to the Goddess that his magic would choose this moment to kick in. I didn’t give a fuck about him reading Lady Sarhin’s thoughts, I knew we were dead whether we helped them or not, but I was desperate for Axel to hear mine.I’ve loved you from the moment you stepped foot through the gateway.
His breath caught, eyes flashing open, and I knew he’d heard me. “You fucking cheater,” he whispered, expression softening as he stroked his thumb over my lips.
And then he was gone, dragged back by Melhak and shoved in the direction of the cottage.
I bit back a growl, my promise to Axel the only thing stopping me from lunging at him, even though I barely had the strength to do it.
Fury raged inside me, a white-hot fire eclipsing even the burn of the poison. If I lived long enough to get my chance, I was going to kill Gren Melhak and howl my delight when the life drained out of him.
For now, I had to grit my teeth as Melhak barked at the three fae to get me inside. The pain as they did so threatened to take me under, and I couldn’t stop the cries that tore out of me as they dragged me over the ground and into the cottage.
They dropped me in a heap on the living room floor.
It took a moment for the pain to ebb enough for me to get my bearings. Axel sat on one end of the sofa, Lady Sarhin and Blake beside him. All of them with their hands bound.
Melhak sat on the arm of the chair opposite, crossbow resting on his thigh. I could only see one of the other fae from where I was. He stood by the patio doors, looking out into the garden. I assumed the other two were on guard somewhere.
“Why have we come in here?” The one by the window turned to glare at Melhak. “It’s harder to defend when we can’t see what’s coming.”
