Page 26 of A Twist of Luck (Shifter City Fated Mates #2)
CHAPTER 26
EMME
K ellan’s energy had evened out by the time Hunter returned with Florence, both carrying plates piled high with food along with bottles of water. “It’s going to be okay,” their housekeeper announced after she handed me a plate and a bottle, her face pale and eyes red-rimmed. “I believe in my soul that Alpha Kellan is strong enough to win this battle.”
With that said, she ducked out of the room, and I did my best to manifest the same confidence. Ignoring the swirls of dread in my stomach.
“Eat.”
I jerked toward Slade, my sandwich almost spilling off my lap. Hunter generally took point on protecting the pack, but today all three of them watched me closely.
“You’ve lost weight since you got here,” Finley said simply, sandwich in his hands though he hadn’t taken a bite yet. I found it hard to believe he was waiting for me to eat first, but still, he didn’t take a bite.
“Thanks for pointing it out,” I replied shortly. I had lost weight, but it wasn’t really his business to comment on.
Hunter sank down beside me on the bed. “You’re always perfect, Emme, but your energy feels weaker. It’s not safe to starve your beast, you know that, and you won’t be able to help Kellan if you’re not at your strongest.”
It was hard to argue with that logic, even if I did want to curse him out for being both wise and attractive. The goddess had really given with both hands in this pack. “You’re right, and I’m trying. My stomach is churning hard, and has been since he got struck by that witch.”
Slade shifted his plate from one hand to the other in an almost absentminded manner, his expression contemplative. “It’s possible that it’s more than grief affecting you. You might be experiencing side-effects of the spell wreaking havoc on Kel. Fully bonded or not, there’s a connection between all of us. I’ve personally felt a strain on my beast and power since the attack.”
Hunter’s expression was sharper as he examined me from the top of my messy hair down to my feet, which dangled off the side of the bed. “You might be right,” he murmured, brow furrowed as his scent grew stronger. “I hate not knowing exactly what we’re dealing with. Fucking magic.”
Jewels strolled into the room then to provide a target for all the magic hate, but none of the alphas even looked her way as she crossed to Kellan. Needing a distraction, I picked up the sandwich, which was thankfully plain roasted chicken without any unnecessary grass filler.
I took a large bite and chewed, tasting nothing, but I kept eating anyway.
After another bite, the alphas started to eat as well, all three of them finishing multiple sandwiches before I got to the last mouthful of mine. Hunter took my empty plate and dropped it with the others outside the door. Finley and I returned to holding Kellan’s hands, while Slade and Hunter pressed their palms to his biceps.
“Can you tell how it’s going?” I asked Jewels, voice so high it was almost at a pitch only wolves would hear. “He’s not moving…”
“The battle continues,” was her cryptic reply.
Oh, great. Thanks for that… Feels like you painted me a fucking picture and annotated every scene.
We settled in for the wait, and as I stared relentlessly into Kellan’s beautiful, still face, he jerked in my hold. A small movement at first, but not even a few seconds later he jerked again, harder, and it was only that I was prepared this time that I kept hold of his hand.
When he started to flail, his huge body almost knocked me to the floor. Hunter caught me and shifted our positions so he could use his bulk as a barrier between Kellan and me.
“What’s happening?” he roared, glancing toward the witch.
Jewels’ hands shot out and dropped onto Kellan’s chest, right above his heart. “The original magic has finally realized its under attack and is fighting back.” She cursed roughly. “I hoped the counterspell would have more time to infiltrate before that happened. The pair are equally strong foes and they’re fighting for survival. It all comes down to Kellan’s strength now.”
My panic, which let’s be real, hovered at a consistent eight these days, ramped right up. A red flush spread across Kellan’s skin. The heat of the magical battle appeared to be scorching him from the inside.
“It’s going to kill him,” I cried, trying to crawl toward him, but Hunter held me back. “We have to save him. I have to boost his energy with my own.”
Jewels’ head jerked up, her expression both distraught and contemplative. “Maybe… I didn’t think of it before, but there might actually be a way to boost his energy using the alpha bond you already possess.” She was up and off the bed in a flash. “You three need to follow me down to my gear. It’ll be faster than hauling it all the way up here again.”
Hunter strode around the bed and dropped me into the chair. “Stay with Kellan, but don’t get close when he’s thrashing about. We’ll be right back.”
He wouldn’t move until I nodded, and when he took off after Jewels, Slade and Finley were right behind him. Deciding there was one action still available to me, I raced into the bathroom for a stack of washcloths, running them under the cold water.
“Come on, Kel,” I murmured, dabbing at his forehead, which for the first time was sweaty and pallid. “Come on, Golden. You’ve got this. When you’re better, I’m ready to stop fighting fate, and hope that the outcome is different with you. I need you.” Despite Hunter’s warning, I couldn’t help but lean down and press my forehead against his. “I need you.”
“Shortcake.”
The room tilted as I lurched up to meet a pair of dark blue eyes. Eyes I hadn’t been sure I’d ever see again. As our gazes locked, my wolf howled and smashed against me, desperate to touch her mate. Kellan’s irises turned violet, and I felt the presence of his wolf close by as his face scrunched in pain. “Oh fuck. What’s happening?”
“You’ve got magic warring inside you,” I told him as fast as I could, wincing as he gripped my hand so tightly I couldn’t feel my fingers. Not that I’d have pulled away even if he broke every bone in my body. “You’re so strong, Golden. You have to keep fighting and stay here with us.”
Discomfort lined his face as he held my gaze, desperate pants spilling from his dry lips. “I’m not sure I’m strong enough, pretty gir—” He coughed, and my heart dropped into my stomach. “Baby… there’s an inferno scorching my insides, and it’s—” Another cough. “It’s too much. No mortal could survive this.”
This time, when I stared into his eyes, all I saw was glassy regret, engulfed by pain and unshed tears. “I wanted mo… more time with you.”
“You will have it.” I choked on my words and sobs and my own anguish. “I don’t care what it takes, you have to live. I can’t be here without you. I can’t do this without you. I will literally lay down and die next to you, Kellan Jackson, so you must live for both of us.”
At that statement he attempted to sit, a weak but rage filled rumble escaping his chest. “You will live for me,” he rasped. “Please. I need to know you’ll live for me, and keep my pack safe and happy, and… you guys better name your first kid after me.”
My stomach lurched, and I leaned over the side of the bed and vomited up my sandwich. Fuck.
Kellan tugged on my hand, pulling me back around so we were face to face once more. “I need to see you, pretty girl,” he whispered, his voice weak as his eyes fluttered. For a horrifying moment, I didn’t think he was going to open them again. “I need this to be my last sight.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks, and barely holding on to the urge to vomit again, I remained right where he wanted me.
Mate! My wolf surged forward with force and power, taking me by surprise as I partially shifted. She knew exactly what to do, lunging to bite the base of Kellan’s neck, on the join near his shoulder. Like I’d shot him with adrenaline, Kellan roared, and blood filled my mouth, metallic with a hint of caramel. My beast remained in control, howling as she held on until his tanned beast rose up to meet her. She released him then and returned control to me.
When I lifted my head, I flinched at how deep the bite was.
Kellan’s eyes were open, the blue almost black in intensity. “We can’t,” he whispered, sounding a touch stronger than before. “If we bond and I die, you might follow.”
“Bite me,” I ordered, knowing I’d follow anyway. “Please. Give me this one last request.”
I had no intentions of it being a last request, but he didn’t have to know that. A hint of gold streaked through the dark purple of his eyes, and then his jaw shifted as sank his teeth into the same spot I’d bitten on him, in the join between shoulder and neck.
My wolf remained close as her mate rose and met her, our essences merging.
This moment intertwined our power, lifeforce, and future.
In that bonding, I finally felt the full force of the battle inside Kellan, and understood why he’d been unable to fight it alone.
Oh goddess.
It felt like I’d fallen into a volcano and had to swim through lava. No one could have survived these fires alone, and luckily for him, he was no longer alone.
I had no idea of the intricacies of sharing power, and it was all instinct as I pushed my wolf into the newly formed connection.
Take from me.
I urged him to draw on my power, and at first he resisted, unsure what was happening. As the magic struggled inside him, his own survival instincts took over and he accepted my gift.
Darkness danced on the edge of my vision, and I wasn’t sure if it was due to the magical exchange, or if I was dying from a catastrophic loss of shifter essence. Either way… I gave Kellan everything I had to ensure he’d survive. And if he didn’t, well, we’d be together in our final moments.
Humans always said “till death do us part,” but in the shifter world we meant it.