Page 29 of Love the Way You Lion (Rise of the Resistance #3)

The Cat Sees Rainbows and Sparkles

DELILAH

M y head is swimming. I can’t hold it up.

It feels like my body is whirling inside and I’m trying to figure out what the hell happened.

Everything was going fine! The only time I’ve healed someone besides me was that time with Taurus, but he drank and that was much easier.

This was different and hell if I’m going to admit that I was making it up as I went along.

“How did I...?”

Oh, fuck, I’m an idiot.

I close my eyes to make the room stop spinning before I hurl.

I can’t feel anyone or anything, but the roller coaster my senses are on.

Breathing as I try to get myself under control, I lay still.

People have to be wondering where I am, but I can’t tell them.

My body’s not responding well, either, or that might become a problem in not too long, considering I drank a pint of juice like an hour ago .

Something about this feels familiar, but I can’t put my finger on why or what.

Suddenly, Taurus pops into the room right next to the bed where I’ve landed, looking at me like a crazed fan. He smells like our garden and fear, as he looks down at me. “Baby?”

“Mmm?” I reply, burying my experience in the pillow I’m holding onto as the world does merry-go-round things. I feel like I’m made of clouds and it takes everything in me to crack my eye open again to look at him.

Super speed has him at my side before I blink, and his hands stroke down my back. “You alright, love? I didn’t know—what’s going on? You left without saying a word.”

“I don’t know,” I say, flopping over to look up at him. I have kitty eyes; I feel the emotions swirling in them. It makes me grin when I think about how silly I look. “I went pop ! How d’you find me? I couldn’t find anyone.”

He shrugs, blushing. “I didn’t know—not really. Didn't have a clue where you went, but I hoped you’d come home if something was going on. It seemed smart to check here before the real search began.”

I giggle. “I didn’t mean to go anywhere. Then it was all ‘wheeeeeee’. I hit the bed. And I’m all grrr-y.”

Not looking a bit amused, he tilts his head. “I don’t know, baby.”

My tail twitches, I feel it, and I scrunch up my face in frustration. “All I did was let go a bit and now I’m all fluffy.” I blink, stopping for a moment to get my brain working.

“What do you mean, you let go for a moment?”

I frown again, not liking his tone. It’s not nice. “I quit focusing because I didn’t have to hold everything in place. The healing was almost done. I let my arm heal and all.”

“So, you ‘let go’ and you popped up here?” He asks me, his fingers brushing the hair off my face.

“No. I let go and something weird happened. Then boom! I was here and I’m all fuzzy and stuff.”

He speaks, his voice not rising at all. “Okay, baby. I’m trying not to lose control, but I can’t feel you.”

I nod. “Yup. I can’t feel you, either. I know you’re here, but it’s like you’re not.”

His face flickers with emotions as if he’s trying hard not to let them show. “Okay. What could strip away the bonds from your two closest mates? Sampson said he couldn’t feel you either.”

Shrugging, I flop onto my back again. “Not a clue. My head’s all ‘wooooooo’.” I twirl my finger around as I say that, watching it move in fascination.

“Deli! Concentrate. Stop watching your sodding fingers move! The babe—is she...?” His eyes narrow, and he is scowling, which I can’t understand.

I saved her, right? Talia’s okay? I did a good job, right?

“Is she alright? I can’t feel Maeve, and I always feel her a little.”

Looking inside, I search through the muddled haze in my head to locate the little one. “I felt nothing wrong inside, but everything is muzzy. It’s hard to focus.” I look up at him, watching his features, and sigh. “Have I ever told you how pretty you are?”

He flinches, looking at me like I smacked him in the nose. “I’m pretty?! Christ, woman, are you drunk? ”

That was mean, and there’s no need for him to be mean. I don’t like it.

I sniff, not wanting to cry in front of him, and turn on my side, putting my back to him. See if I ever say something nice to him again. “I told you I don’t know what’s wrong!”

I bury my experience in the pillow, determined to keep the tears on my cheeks hidden.

Why does everyone hurt me? I squeeze my eyes shut, and colors explode behind my lids.

W hy am I trying to think? He doesn’t care.

“I’m gonna sleep now.” Feeling his eyes on me, I wish he’d just go away.

I’ve had enough of mean, hateful people.

“I don’t like not feeling you in my heart,” he whispers.

“I’m not doing it on purpose, so I can’t fix it. I let my focus drop for a minute to rest, and suddenly, I’m flying. Did I forget anything? What did I do wrong?” I’m asking myself more than him and I push my hair off my face. “I’m hot.”

“Hot? Hot?” He touches my cheek. “Christ. You are hot.”

“Yup,” I smile. “Help me get the robe off and stuff?”

He gives me a weird look and picks me up, making my world spin as he carries me somewhere. “What robe, baby?”

I look down at myself. “Where the bloody hell did it go? I was wearing it in the other house because it was in my pocket...” I try to remember, pushing myself hard to focus and find real thoughts.

“I’m drawing you a cool bath. That temperature worries me.” He sits me down and dribbles cool water over me. It feels fantastic. “What about the other house?”

“When I was fixing her, I had it on. I can’t seem to figure out where I went wrong or why I can’t get rid of the ‘grr’. ”

His eyes widen as he looks at me. There’s panic all over his face, and I do not understand what he’s thinking. “What? What’s going on?”

“Oh, Christ, Deli. The drugs. You had the ball with the drugs in it in your sodding pocket!”

“Ooh,” I coo, everything falling into place. I smack my head, making everything spin again and fall back against the tub. “No wonder I feel like I’m in the electric light parade. Fuck me sideways.”

Before I get my fuzzy head around that, he shakes my shoulders. “Tell me what to do. This could kill the baby! Think.”

“You can, uh—I don’t think you can take them out. You’re not powerful enough. I’m too weak from healing to help you. Maybe...”

“ Deli! Maybe what?! ” he roars, seeming to lose it all at once.

That is not helping because I’m going to cry again if he doesn’t quit yelling.

I can’t help it; I’m scared, too. “Dry me off and we can lie on the bed. Maybe if you drink, you can feel the baby and see if she’s okay.

” I blink, mind feeling more fractured and emotional, making it harder than ever to concentrate.

“Take a little. Only go deep enough to see her.”

Without a word, he scoops me up and grabs a towel, then has me in the bed within seconds. Sitting me down, he uses the towel and then wraps me in the blankets. Lying down next to me, he growls, “Where?!”

“Quit bloody yelling,” I mutter, feeling a little peeved. I’m trying; can’t he tell I’m trying? “I can’t make my brain work. It’s making me more nervous when you yell, and it’s making it harder to focus because I cry. You can bite anywhere. ”

“You think it’s nervous over there? Try my seat, woman.” With that, he lowers his fangs and bites my wrist.

“You won’t cry, though,” I grunt, the sensation always making me react.

Sparks and showers of color burst behind my eyes when his fangs sink in and I wriggle.

The drugs in my system tickle all my senses and when he bites, I feel stirring, hunger and need.

I push it away, determined to focus on Maeve and him. “Did you find her yet?”

He doesn’t respond, trying to sift through my drug-laced blood and muddled mind to find the wee one through our connection.

I reach inside, trying to locate one or both myself. If only I could feel something—anything. I’m so alone and he’s so mad at me and I don’t know what to do. I feel the tears again and I struggle inside, hoping to make contact. Nothing comes through and I sniffle, waiting for him to tell me.

Pulling back, he lets go of my wrist and looks at me. “You’re fine. The wee one is safe. In fact, it seems like she’s not affected at all by anything.”

“Good,” I whisper, closing my eyes as relieved tears cascade down my face. I’ve cried more in the past twenty minutes than I ever have in front of him. “She’s strong that way.”

He glances at me and bares his neck. “Maybe if you feed, it will dilute the poison in you. Maybe you can find us all again,” he chokes a little and I realize that his yelling was coming from fear.

“You think?” I try not to hope, licking my lips.

“You’re drained, you’re drugged, and you’re feral. I don’t have any other ideas. It’s the best I’ve got.”

“Then come here,” I whisper, reaching up to him.

Stretching out along my length, he bends and kisses my lips.

He offers his neck again. Pushing up as much as I can, I drag him down with me as I settle.

I kiss his mark, murmuring low, “I miss you. I’ve been so scared.

” Sliding my fangs into his skin, I feel my head reeling as I drink.

He turns his head and strikes, biting into my mark, and I gasp.

I didn’t expect it, but I drink him in as he drinks me in, wiggling close enough to feel sheltered in his arms. I need the touch and I need it to help me shore up our connection.

I feel a small brush on our connection, just a wisp, and he gathers me under him, covering me with his body and drinking as deeply as he can.

He lifts a little, disapparating the rest of our clothing so our skin is touching and I sigh, the sensation and his warmth helping.

If only this works.

Our bodies move together, and without even a thought, we’re one. Moving together as we drink, I feel the first brushes of our connection coming back. There’s a sound and I realize that it’s getting louder and I hear it. Straining, I wade through all the spider webs in my mind.

~Baby, please, love. Come back to me. I love you so much, my mate, and my only.~

~Please come back to me. I love you so much, my mate, and my only. I can’t survive without you, love. I won’t. I need you. Please, baby.~

I hear him and it’s like fucking angels are singing because, for the first time in almost an hour, I hear him. ~Baby, please hear me. Oh god, please, I need you. ~

~Deli? Damn it, woman, fight! Fight for us like you promised you would, baby.

I don’t want anyone but you. I don’t work with anyone but you.

Hear me, baby. Hear me and fight for that.

Follow my voice back. You can’t leave me here, baby.

It’s too cold, too lonely without you. Speak to me, baby. Can you speak to me again? ~

I push harder, fighting the haze and the fractured pieces inside, struggling to get to him.

~I’m trying so hard because I want you back. I need you; I love you. I can’t be without you inside me; it feels like I’m dying. Please hear me. ~

My eyes pop open, and I have to fight pulling away from him when I answer. ~Baby? Did I—are you there? ~ I’m scared that I imagined it because I can’t do anything else.

~God, yes, love of my heart, I’m here. I’m here, baby. I’m not leaving this place without you. Christ, I love you, woman! Do you hear that? I love you! ~

I feel him a bit and I know he has to be sending every emotion and thought he has, so I reach out, putting every bit of what little focus I can muster into finding it. ~I love you, baby, so much. I’m trying. ~

His hands grip my arms as we reach each other for the first time in hours, and though it’s small, he keeps murmuring into my mind. ~I love you like no other, so help me. ~

~I thought I lost you. ~ Now that I’ve found him, I sink into our connection, immersing myself in us.

I’ve never had something so deep, even for a short time, that being apart like this feels like dying.

I don’t know what I’d do without him. It’s wonderful and scary simultaneously.

Our souls re-bond inside and everything comes back: bodies, hearts, and minds joined as one.

~I was scared as fuck. I can’t get along without you. ~

Tears leak down my cheeks and I hold on to him like I’m never letting go. ~Me neither. I need you; I crave you. I felt like I was dying and I didn’t care with you gone. ~

~Mine, baby. You’re mine. Only mine, sod it all. I want you, and no one else will ever get me. ~

He twines our fingers, squeezing my hand, and I feel the cold metal of his ring against my palm. I rub my finger over it, pushing any small nuggets of doubt over that situation out of my mind, finding joy in having him back with me as he belongs.

“I’m kind of tired, baby. This has all taken it out of me. Can we sleep, do you think?”

His brow furrows. “Are you sure you’re okay? I’m still feeling—it was a rough night.”

“I’m sure. Want nothing more than to be with you.”

“You got it, baby.” He kisses my forehead and snuggles me close. “Love you, my wife, my everything.”

“Love you, too. Forever.” With that, I close my eyes, emotions so huge that I can’t even fathom them until I get some rest.

Until then, everything else can wait.