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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

T he blade carved through me like heated steel through ice. Agony exploded in my chest, radiating outward in waves that stole my breath. The vampire's eyes gleamed with victory as he twisted the knife, sending fresh torment spiraling through my every nerve.

There was a blur of motion, then Ryker was there, face flushed with primal rage. He gripped the vampire's head with such force that his fingers left dents in the pale skin. With one savage twist, the vampire's neck snapped with a sickening crack that echoed through the clearing. The body went limp, falling away from me like discarded trash.

I couldn’t feel joy. All I could feel was pain.

My knees buckled, and the ground rushed to meet me as warm wetness spread across my shirt.

Blood pulsed from the wound with each beat of my heart, soaking my shirt and pooling underneath me. The metallic scent of my own blood filled my nostrils as darkness crept into the edges of my vision.

Ryker dropped to his knees beside me, his face a mask of horror. His fear slammed into me, making my mouth taste bitter. Hands hovered over the knife still embedded in my chest, trembling slightly.

Skidding on the ground next to me, Briar sent leaves and dirt flying. Her fingers fluttered over the wound, assessing the damage. "We need to get the knife out now!"

"No." Ryker's voice was iron, though the golden flecks disappeared from his eyes, betraying his terror. "She could bleed out. The blade is keeping pressure on the vessels."

I tried to speak, but something warm bubbled from my lips instead of words. The knife pulsed with unnatural heat, sending tendrils of fire through my veins with each heartbeat.

“She’s not going to survive if we keep her here.” Gage ran a hand through his hair. “Our best bet is to take her to a hospital.”

“If you let her rest, she’ll be okay.” The little girl tilted her head, examining me.

They ignored her.

Ryker’s arm slid underneath me, and my body lifted.

I tried to open my mouth to tell the little girl I’d be fine, but I couldn’t speak—couldn’t even mind link. My eyelids grew impossibly heavy, and the fae magic heated inside me. The argument above me faded to distant echoes as darkness rolled over my vision. Consciousness slipped away like water through cupped hands as my body lit on fire.

This had to be it. The day when all the violence and danger ended for me.

* * *

Awareness returned like a slap to the face. I gasped, lungs fighting against what felt like liquid fire. Pain crushed my chest until I couldn't breathe. This wasn't physical agony. This was raw, primal grief, clawing through my insides like a wild animal.

"I told you not to remove the knife." Ryker's voice shattered the air, trembling with fury. "She's dying because of you."

My eyes slitted open, and my visioned blurred. I made out Briar's silhouette, standing tall with the little girl at her side.

"The knife had to come out." She lifted her chin in defiance. "Ashlyn agrees with me."

Ashlyn? Which witch was she?

"And you trusted a ten-year-old girl to make a call like that?" Ryker's voice cracked with disbelief, eyes flashing between Briar and the small child beside her. "Some naive kid who believes Ember will be fine?"

The little girl—Ashlyn—stepped forward, her delicate features sharply set. "I'm not naive. Fire will be fine."

Fae magic swirled through me, making me feel as if I were on fire. The wound in my chest throbbed where the heat settled.

The heat intensified, scorching through my veins like wildfire. Why had I awakened to re-experience death? My back arched, and I moaned.

“Is the damn wolf shifter here yet? I can’t lose her,” Ryker growled as he jumped on the bed of the truck, lifting me. “She needs help now ."

He hadn’t even noticed I was awake, but with how little I could see, I’d bet my eyes still appeared closed.

“Ryker, none of us want her to die,” Sun spat out and appeared between him and Briar. “But you’re making way too much noise. We’re supposed to head to the back entrance of the hospital and remain undetected.”

Hospital? No. Supernaturals weren’t supposed to get help from humans.

"Everyone be quiet." Reid's face strained. His dark eyes locked on Ryker, unwavering. "I understand your mate is dying, but if you want her to live, control yourself. Let’s take her in before someone comes over or calls the police."

Ryker's arms tightened around me, his heartbeat thundering against my ear. The panic radiating from him washed over me in suffocating waves. His breath came in short, ragged bursts that matched the erratic pulse of the fae magic burning through my veins.

I tried to link with Ryker to reassure him that I was awake, but the connection that had always come so naturally was now beyond my grasp. My lips moved, trying to form words, but my body refused to obey, as if I were paralyzed.

The world tilted as Ryker rushed forward, carrying me across the hospital parking lot. My head lolled against his chest, each movement sending fresh waves of agony through my body.

We reached a nondescript metal door at the rear of the brick building. Before Ryker could kick it open, it swung inward, revealing a man with gray hair and tired eyes.

"This way." He ushered us through the door and down a dimly lit corridor that smelled of antiseptic.

We entered a cramped room dominated by a narrow hospital bed surrounded by blinking monitors and IV stands. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting everything in a sickly pale glow.

"On the bed," the man ordered, pulling on latex gloves. "Everyone else out. Now."

"I'm staying." Ryker still cradled me as if I might shatter.

"This isn't a democracy." The man gestured toward the door where the others lingered.

"I'm not leaving her." Ryker's voice dropped to a dangerous growl, the sound vibrating through his chest against my ear. "She's my fated mate. I can't—" His voice cracked as he carefully laid me on the bed, his hands lingering protectively. "I won't let her face this alone."

Something shifted in the doctor's expression. Recognition, or perhaps understanding. The hard lines around his eyes softened slightly.

"Fine." The man exhaled sharply. "But stay out of my way." He turned to the others crowded in the doorway. "The rest of you need to leave. I'll call when there's news. Head back to your vehicles and stay out of sight."

Reid nodded, his jaw tight. "Come on," he muttered to the others. "Let's go."

Briar hesitated, her eyes wide with worry. "I'm her sister—"

"No more exceptions." Reid's firm hand on her shoulder pulled her back. "He knows what he's doing."

With a final worried glance at me, Briar allowed herself to be led away. She linked, I know you can’t hear me, but I’m here, Ember. I love you.

I wanted to say it back, but the fire seemed to block out anything but the agony that pulsed through my body.

The others followed reluctantly, their footsteps fading down the corridor.

The man shut and locked the door. He turned to me with clinical efficiency and ripped my shirt open along the seam. He slowly pulled it away from my injury, and then his expression became unreadable.

"What's wrong?" Ryker stepped closer, panic edging his voice. "Why are you looking at her like that?"

The doctor didn't answer immediately. His gloved fingers hovered over the wound, lightly touching my chest. "What is this?"

"What?" Ryker leaned forward as his forehead lined in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"There's no wound here." The doctor stepped back, eyes narrowing. "Just a burn mark shaped like a blade entry, but no actual penetration. The skin is intact."

Ryker's jaw dropped. "That's impossible. I saw the knife. I saw the blood —"

As they argued above me, something changed inside my chest. The fire that had been consuming me began to recede, like waves pulling back from shore. The burning sensation that had paralyzed me started to cool, first at my fingertips, then gradually toward my core.

I gasped, drawing in a full breath for the first time since I'd awakened.

With the pain's retreat, I tried reaching for the links once again. Ryker. Briar. I’m here.

My thoughts pushed outward, and the familiar connections opened between us.

Relief flooded the connection from Briar's end. Oh, thank Fate!

Ryker froze mid-sentence. His shoulders stiffened, but his eyes didn’t meet mine. For several heartbeats, he avoided my gaze as if afraid that meeting my eyes would shatter whatever miracle had occurred.

Ryker, look at me. Please. I couldn’t take his agony anymore. I needed him to know I’d truly be okay.

Finally, he did. The gold flecks in his irises flared, and his jaw worked as his relief and joy expanded in my chest, helping make the fire dissipate faster.

Ryker tore his eyes from mine, turning to the doctor with newfound intensity. "She just linked with me," he said, voice rough with emotion. "She's conscious. Aware."

The man's eyebrows shot up. He studied my face with renewed interest, as if I were a medical anomaly he couldn't quite categorize.

I managed to lift my hand, reaching for Ryker's. My fingers trembled but found his, squeezing with what little strength I could muster.

"She should be dead," the man murmured, more to himself than to us. "A wound like that... all that blood..." He shook his head. "I don't understand." He pulled a stethoscope from around his neck and pressed it to my chest, brow furrowed. "No magic I know of is capable of healing like this. Now there's no scar tissue. No sign of rapid healing. It's as if the wound never existed, yet I can see the blood on your clothes and her shirt.”

Ryker's grip on my hand tightened. His eyes questioned me, searching for answers. But he said, “I don’t care what it was. She’s not dying.”

It's the fae magic in me. That’s the only explanation I had. It's healing me.

The fae magic's final pulse warmed me then settled into a gentle, steady hum beneath my skin. When I drew a deep breath, it no longer burned. I braced my palms against the thin mattress and pushed myself upright. The room tilted briefly but then steadied.

The man stumbled back a step, rubbing his eyes as if he couldn't trust what he was seeing. "This is..." His voice trailed off as he dropped his hands. "Your vitals are perfect. Heartbeat strong, breathing clear." He shook his head in disbelief. “I've treated supernaturals for twenty years, and I've never seen anything like this." His gaze darted to the door then back to us. "You need to leave. Now. If anyone discovers I've brought you in without documentation..."

Ryker nodded, already helping me swing my legs off the bed. "We're going. Thank you for your help."

"Wait." The man hurried to a cabinet and removed two clean scrub tops. "Both of you, put these on. You can't walk out covered in blood."

I took the smaller offered garment and turned my back to him to change out of my ripped shirt.

Ryker’s jealousy oozed through our bond with that sludgy feel. He stood between me and the doctor as he put on his own top, making sure the man couldn’t see me.

In a hurry to leave, I removed my shredded shirt and pulled the top over my head. The fabric was cool against my skin, a stark contrast to the memory of fire that had consumed me just minutes before.

The doctor unlocked the door and peered into the hallway. "Coast is clear. Go now, and for everyone's sake, please be careful. I don’t want to have to volunteer for a night shift again and not be needed."

Sudden laughter escaped my lips at his exasperated tone; then I instinctively flinched as my body braced for the pain that should have followed. Nothing came. No stabbing sensation, no burning fire. Just...normal.

"Thank you," I said, meeting the doctor's tired eyes. "I know you risked a lot bringing us in."

"Just go," he muttered, checking his watch. "And try not to get stabbed again."

Ryker's arm wrapped around my waist as we slipped into the corridor. His touch was gentle but insistent, guiding me forward with quickened steps. The bond between us hummed with his residual fear and overwhelming relief.

When we made it back outside, he paused and linked, Can you walk on your own?

Actually, yeah. My legs were surprisingly steady beneath me.

The night air hit my face, cool and refreshing after the sterile hospital atmosphere. Ryker's hand remained firmly at the small of my back as we emerged into the parking lot where Reid, Sun, Briar, and Ashlyn stood outside the truck, waiting.

Briar rushed forward first, her face melting into relief as she took in my steady stance. Before she could reach me, Ashlyn darted past her with surprising speed, her small figure illuminated by the parking lot's harsh lights.

"I told them," Ashlyn exclaimed, throwing her arms around me. "I knew the fire inside you would make sure you’d be okay!" she proclaimed, beaming up at me.

I stared at her, stunned. How could this child know about the fire I'd felt coursing through my veins? Before I could form a response, the others surrounded us, their faces a mixture of disbelief and relief.

"What the hell happened in there?" Reid demanded, his blue eyes scanning me for injuries. "You were practically dead when we put you in the truck to come here."

Sun stepped closer, her gaze analytical. "No one recovers from a wound like that in minutes. Not even shifters."

"The doctor couldn't believe it either," Ryker added, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Said it was medically impossible."

They all stared expectantly, waiting for an explanation I couldn't give. Greats-gandfather had made it clear that I wasn't supposed to share.

I shrugged, avoiding their questioning stares. I tried to choose my words carefully so it didn’t come out as a lie. I had to believe that the explanation could potentially be true if I didn’t have my fae side. “Maybe the knife didn’t hit anywhere serious, and it just needed to be removed so my shifter magic could kick in."

Do you not think we should tell them? Ryker linked.

Maybe, but I don’t want to decide right now because, at the end of the day it doesn’t change things. I didn’t want to be deceitful, but I needed to understand why Greats Grandfather didn’t want me to tell anyone about my heritage.

I agree. We shouldn’t rush into anything.

“We need to meet up with the others. Anyone up for riding in the bed of the truck?” Reid arched a brow.

Considering how hot my skin felt, being in the cool wind sounded amazing. “Me.”

“That means me too,” Ryker answered, tugging me to his side.

We all climbed in, Ryker and me jumping into the bed of the truck. I glanced at the illuminated hospital sign, the name snapping me to attention: Ridgemont Memorial.

I inhaled quickly. "We're two towns over.”

Ryker tightened his hold on me as the truck rumbled to life beneath us. We couldn't risk going to a hospital in our territory. If those vampires tracked your scent or blood trail, they'd find you.

The truck lurched forward, and I braced myself against the metal bed. The wind whipped through my hair as we picked up speed, carrying away the lingering scent of antiseptic and blood.

Makes sense. The vampires who'd attacked us had been determined to kill me, but I didn’t want to tell Ryker that.

I edged closer to him, seeking his warmth and touch. My hand slipped on something wet beneath me. Frowning, I glanced down and froze.

A puddle of water glistened in the dimming light, diluted red around the edges. My stomach lurched, but my chest expanded.

Someone had tried to clean up my blood before I got back.

My fingers traced the damp metal, feeling the residue of what should have been my end.

Ryker's eyes followed my gaze, and his hand covered mine, pulling it away from the bloodstained water.

Briar tried to clean it while we were inside. She didn't want you to see it when you came back.

I leaned into my mate, drawing comfort from his solid presence as the truck rumbled beneath us.

He pressed a kiss to my forehead as he linked with our entire pack, She's alive. She's going to be okay.

Thank Fate, Xander replied.

I knew you were too stubborn to die, Gage added.

I’ve been so worried, Kendric connected.

Briar interjected, After this, I’m getting quality sister time.

You bet, I answered.

Ryker's thumb traced circles on my wrist, his touch grounding me as the truck bounced along the road. Every few seconds, he kissed me and nuzzled my neck.

Suddenly, Xander reconnected to all of us, Cassi's recovered enough to perform the location spell on Adara. She found her, but... shit, Ryker, you're not going to believe where the queen is."

The truck hit a pothole, jostling us. Ryker's fingers dug into my side, steadying me while the silence stretched between us and Xander.

Just fucking tell me, Ryker commended as his frustration spiked.

She’s hiding in the wolf shifter royal palace, Gage answered.

The shock hit me like ice water. The royal palace? I swung my gaze to Ryker, whose face had hardened to granite. His jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle jump beneath his skin.

Are you sure? His rage simmered, ready to explode.

Kendric confirmed, Cassi said there's no mistake.

A wave of fury rolled off Ryker, so intense it made my skin prickle. His face darkened as he stared into the distance, processing this new betrayal.

That fucking palace. Right where she massacred our pack and the royals. He growled. The vampire queen is using it as her hideout?

Gage's voice cut through our link, bitter and hard. "It's a deliberate insult to every wolf shifter alive. It's the supernatural equivalent of giving us the middle finger."

Ryker's shoulders stiffened. I can’t wait to kill that bitch.

She's mocking us, Briar added.

The wind whipped around us as the truck sped along the dark highway, but I barely felt it now. My mind raced with the implications of what we'd just learned.

There was only one thing we could do. We need to move tonight, while we have the element of surprise.

Ryker's head whipped toward me, his eyes widening. Fuck no. Absolutely not. I almost lost you already once tonight.

That was the thing. I wasn’t asking his permission. I straightened my shoulders, ready to fight.