Page 47 of Shifting Fate

The fire in my veins burned brighter, stealing the breath from my lungs. My head throbbed. I felt hands on my side, but Dallon’s familiar smell calmed my skipping heart. I groaned and collapsed into his arms, hating the way his voice shook as he spoke my name.

“Ari? Arias, look at me.” He cursed under his breath. “Shit. Shit, this can’t be happening. Arias, please. Don’t leave me.”

“Not going anywhere,” I mumbled, my tongue thick. I didn’t realize I’d made the shift back to human until he was kissing me with tears in his eyes. They glistened with fear and pain, and it broke my heart. I reached up to touch his face, but my arm was too heavy and dropped once more.

He squeezed my fallen hand. “I’m here, baby.” Then, sharper, he demanded, “Who the hell are you?”

The disembodied voice from before replied, “The guy who’s going to save your lives. Dreadhunter arrows are coated with a wolfsbane-infused poison that’s deadly to shifters. If we don’t counteract the toxin, you’ll both be dead by dawn.”

“Shit,” Dallon swore. “Whoareyou?”

“That isn’t important. It’s pertinent we get out of here before the police arrive. I took out the two Dreadhunters, but this whole place is a disaster waiting to happen. Dead crows, slaughtered humans. A bear-sized wolf, to name a few?”

“My car—”

“We don’t need a car. Just tell me where you want to go,” the faceless man said, insistent. “I can get us there. Think very hard about the place you want to go. Envision it in your mind, then hold onto your mate and take my hand, alright? And no matter what, don’t let go.”

“I…”

“Please. Let me help you,” the stranger pleaded. “I’ll explain everything later, I swear.”

“You can save him?” Dallon whispered, and the only thing tying me to consciousness was his death grip on my hand.

“I can save you both, but you have to trust me.”

Dallon must’ve nodded, because in seconds, we were surrounded by a heavenly light…and then plunged straight into darkness.