Page 53 of Wild Games

There. Tingles. I’m certain I felt something.

“Is she okay?” Raven shouts, but I ignore him. His clumsy arrival set this all in motion. If I weren’t otherwise occupied, I’d be kicking his ass.

Another breath. And another.

Her body convulses.

Water erupts from her mouth in a violent rush. I barely get her turned on her side before she’s purging what seems like half the lake onto the pebbles. Her whole body shakes with the effort, each cough bringing up more water, more proof she’s going to live.

“That’s it. That’s my girl. Get it all out.”

I support her head with one hand, holding her soaked hair back with the other as she empties her lungs. With the stone far away, her enhanced healing will start to kick in.

She’s going to be okay.

When all the water is out, she collapses like a rag doll. Her breathing comes in gasps as the colour gradually returns to her pale lips and her eyes find mine, scared and relieved.

I pull her onto my lap, knowing my wolf will raise my body temperature to warm her.

“Jax…” She twists in my arms, her hand going to her inside pocket, then to her face.

“Shhh, Camille. You’re safe. I’ve got you.” I kiss her forehead and tighten my hold on her, hoping my presence will help calm her down. “Catch your breath for a second, then I’ll get you someplace warm.”

She squirms again, searching for something.

“The recording,” she mumbles against my chest. Her voice is ragged, barely a whisper, scraping past her abused throat. “Is the recording...”

I bark out a laugh of disbelief. She nearly drowned, yet she’s worried about securing the evidence.

“It’s fine. You’re fine. Everything’s fine.”

She tries to sit up, hands patting weakly at her jacket pockets. Water squelches from the fabric. “No, I need to make sure...”

I cup her face, forcing her to look at me as I tuck her hair behind her ear and retrieve the tiny earpiece, still miraculously lodged there. When I hold it out, she sags in relief.

“You got them. It’s over.”

Concern flickers across her features as her gaze shifts past my shoulder. The beach looks like a war zone.

Williams lies in a spreading pool of blood, the surrounding stones stained black in the moonlight, while Raven presses his torn shirt to the wounds.

Tanner has dragged himself halfway out of the water, blood pouring from his face, crawling toward the trees.

Camille attempts to stand, but I keep my arms banded tight around her.

“Jax… he’s going to get away.”

I shake my head. He might try, but he won’t get far. The sound of paws pounding closer tells me help is near.

Biting her lip, Camille stares up at me. “This is a big deal, Jax. You’re going to have to testify. You could get in a lot of trouble…”

Leaning my forehead against hers, I inhale, just happy to have her in my arms. I give her a gentle kiss on the top of her head and wait for her frantic mind to calm enough that she really listens to what I’m saying.

“They were going to kill you.” No apology in my voice. No regret. “As long as you’re okay, I don’t care what happens next.”

She studies my face for a long moment, then nods. Just acceptance of what I am, what I did, and what might come next if the powers that be decide I’m too far gone to save. Her hand comes up to touch my cheek, fingers cold but steady against my stubbled jaw.

“Thank you.”