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My mind drew a blank. I acted on instinct alone.

Bleed and live.

I gripped Venom and sliced my forearm—deep—as I waited for my blood to drip to the ground. I only had seconds before the beasts would break through Wolf’s hold.

Bleed and live.

The wave of magic hit me with so much force, I was nearly knocked from my feet. Wolf lost his hold at that same moment, and the beasts came tumbling forward.

Wolf yelled something at me, but I couldn’t hear him over the ringing in my ears.

It started in my feet first—the rampant ball of heat that searched for a release, like an animal of its own, seeking prey. By the time the wave of magic had reached my hands, I had one second to aim the power at the beast in front of me before it attacked.

Everything burst into flames, and I held the magic until I was certain that not one but both beasts had been eliminated.

When I finally relaxed, both creatures had turned to ash.

Wolf fell to his knees on my right, clutching his side.

No.

I could not even feel my body, but I ran to him, just in time to see him fall to his back, blood pouring from his abdomen.

I was too late. The beast had clawed him. Deep.

More rustling came from the trees.That was not the end of this fight.

Wolf grunted, pulling his hand away to survey the blood that came with it. Both of us heard the second roar of whatever creature lurked out there, no doubt also smelling this blood.

“Come here, Huntress. We have to bond.Now.”

Chapter

Thirty-Four

“What?” I panicked. “Nowyou decide you want to bond with me?” I screamed into the air, no longer caring who heard us. The damage was done. Wolf’s blood poured from his abdomen.

Too much blood.

“Now, Huntyr, so I can use your magic to heal!” Wolf growled, baring his teeth. “Or you’ll be left to finish this damn Transcendent without me!”

Fucking hells.

I knelt beside him, hands hovering his body. There was so much blood, I had no idea where to start. “Tell me what to do, Wolf.”

He grunted in pain. “Combine our blood.”

I frantically reached for Venom, not wasting a second before slicing my palm. With Wolf’s entire shirt cut open, I had no problem finding an open wound and pressing my bloody palm over it.

“Now what?”

Wolf squeezed his eyes shut. I did the same.

Beasts grew closer with every second.

“Arte magica coniuncta, potentia nostra multiplicatur et floret.”

He recited the words that would combine our magic, that would merge us together so he could pull from me. I didn’t have time to think about whether it was a good idea, about whether he would drain me of my magic.