Bill nods, scratching his neck. “Not at all. And… I’ll think about your offer.”
It takes effort for my eyebrows not to touch the ceiling. I dip my head. “Let me know. I’m happy to—”
A loud, groaning creak silences me. Bill and I look up toward the roof. The wood is dark with rot, and water drips through the boards.
Bill whirls toward the hayloft. “Arlo! Get down, now.”
Arlo drops the rake. “What? It’s just a bit of a leak.”
The ceiling comes crashing in, raining snow, ice, and chunks of wood toward our heads. I reach for Bill to shove him out of the way, one hand up to shield my head.
Shit. This will hurt!
I close my eyes tight, bracing for the crack of wood against my body. Only the impact never comes. I crack open my eyes, relief flooding me when I realize the enormous pile of wood and snow is suspended inches from us.
“I’ve got it!” Arlo’s voice is strained, one hand outstretched to keep the rubble afloat.
“Go!” I shove Bill and dart out of the way.
The rubble comes crashing down with a force that shakes the barn to its foundations.
“The whole roof is coming down!” Arlo cries, jumping down from the loft.
I grab his hand and haul him close, racing for the door.
Bill yelps in pain. Behind Arlo, Bill lies on the floor, cradling his head in his hands. The metallic tang of blood hits my nose.
“Dad!” Arlo tugs, fighting to escape my hold. “Gunnar, he fell! Let me go!”
For a selfish moment, I hold him tighter. I can’t let him get hurt. I must keep him safe.
“Bill!” Natalie cries, terror making her voice shake. She runs toward us but freezes when debris falls down in front of her.
“Stay back!” I can’t restrain Arlo and her. “I will get him!” I push Arlo back toward his mother and run for Bill’s crumpled form.
Slipping my hands under his arms, I hoist him across my shoulder. His weight makes every step far too slow as more debris falls from the ceiling, barely missing us.
Arlo throws up his hands just as an avalanche of rubble hurtles toward us, suspending it just before we’re buried. “Get him out!” Arlo snarls.
Every instinct screams to grab for Arlo and pull him out with us. As fast as I can, I march past him and toward the door. As I step outside, Natalie reaches out, helping to lower Bill from my shoulder.
As soon as Bill’s weight falls off my back, I’m turning back around, heart in my throat. “Arlo!”
The breath tears from my lungs, heart racing faster than it has in years. If I can just run faster, I can make it in time. He’ll be all right, he’ll—
Wide blue eyes, glassy with terror, collide with mine. “S-stay back, Gunnar!” Arlo’s voice is so strained, it’s barely recognizable. Then he collapses, knees buckling from the strain, and I think of Leif lying in a pool of his own blood.
The debris rains down, striking his skull, crushing him to the ground, and Leif is dying right in front of me all over again, and I’m too far away. I can’t get to him in time. Ican’t.
No.
Not again.
Oh gods, don’t take my mate from me again.
“Lo!” I reach out my hand just as the rubble comes crashing down, piles of wood and chunks of snow burying Arlo from my sight.
Chapter 12
