Distantly, I heard Ryder’s call. He shouted my name, a sound that elated me even though I knew I didn’t have long left. I was smaller and weaker than Ryder. Two bites with this poison would be enough to kill me. I could already feel my heart slowing.
The crackling energy in my chest didn’t fade, though. It grew hotter and sharper. The world became dark. Not because I was dying. Clouds obscured the sky. Darker and darker, the clouds crashed together until a low rumble hummed along the ground.
Had there been any light left in the sky, Harvey would have cast a shadow over me. He looked down at me imperiously. My anger flared. A crack of lightning lashed the ground not far away.
Harvey yelped, startled. I gave a weak laugh. Fury forced my heart to keep beating despite the poison trying to stop it. The sky roared on my behalf. Harvey stepped back and lifted his head so he could take in the darkness above. His eyes were wide and wild.
He didn’t deserve to breathe any longer. I thought about all the times he’d made Haylee and Kelsey flinch. I thought about how he’d chased me down, not just once but again and again. Harvey would follow in his father’s footsteps, but he wouldn’t be able to hide it. He would make a mess of his kills and smear them all over our community.
We would be safer without him.
Light flared across the sky. A thunderous boom cracked. Lightning snaked from the dark clouds and slammed into Harvey. For a brief moment, everything was bright. Then the smell of burnt hair reached my nose.
I gagged as the light faded. Darkness filled my vision, forcing my eyes to adjust again. The smell wouldn’t leave my nose, though. It was worse than the reek of the poison. Rancid burnt hair lingered inside my sinuses. It coated my tongue. My stomach tightened, threatening to make me heave again.
What did it matter? The poison had sapped me of any strength. I didn’t even know if I had the energy to vomit again. I let myself fall back down and stare at the sky. The clouds rammed into one another, constantly churning with light and darkness.
I didn’t get to see my prophecy through. Alvin still sat at the head of the pack. All this time, Alvin had been terrified of me. It seemed he’d had no reason to worry. I didn’t have much more time left.
Just as my eyes began to drift closed, a silhouette entered my vision. Even through the smell of burnt hair, I caught Ryder’s scent. I let out a sigh of relief as he picked me up. My fury ebbed. The defiance that had been powering my heart faded away. My body became heavier. I could barely draw a breath.
“Don’t you dare,” Ryder growled.
His voice drew me back from the brink. I blinked up at him and tried to will my vision to focus. His face was still dark, but his scent assured me that he was there.
He gathered me into his arms. I wanted to warn him that I was sweaty and gross, but my tongue was too thick. Ryder didn’t seem to care. He cradled me gently and held me close to his chest.
It was too late. I couldn’t tell him that, though. Surely, he must have known. There was no coming back from this.
My hound snarled at me. She called me all sorts of names, especially stupid. I had crawled into Ryder’s lap and held onto him when the poison tried to steal him from me. Now, my job was to hold onto the world of the living for him.
He’d come all the way to get me. I had to hold on. Death called, but I pushed back. The heartless cold couldn’t have me yet. I sank into Ryder’s warmth and listened to the quickened beat of his heart.
He was afraid.
If I could speak, I would have told him not to worry. I wished I could reassure at least one of us.
The cold wouldn’t stay away. The poison’s fire had banked. Death’s touch slithered over my body. I shuddered and tried to grasp onto Ryder’s warmth again. I would hold on, but I didn’t know how much longer I could do it.
Ryder
I knewwhat I had to do, but I didn’t know if I had the time. If Cerri wasn’t home, then Ness would be in trouble. The potion crafter had saved me last time. She would know how to brew the antidote that Ness needed.
There wasn’t time to take risks. While holding Ness to my chest with one hand, I pulled my phone from my pocket and turned it on. If Morgan chose now to call me, I would have to ignore him. I fumbled through the browser for Bad Moon Café’s phone number and pressedCall.
I could barely hear the phone ring over the thump of my pulse in my ears. Ness’s chest barely rose.
Move. I had to move.
I began walking back towards Lakesedge. I couldn’t believe how far out I’d taken us in my rage. After dealing with Beryl, I’d lost my temper. I’d hoped to clear my head, but I’d brought Ness right into Harvey’s hands.
Now wasn’t the time to spare a thought for what’d happened to him. I had to focus on Ness. The phone clicked. Vi answered with a cheery greeting that made my stomach flip nervously.
Without preamble, I asked Vi where Cerri was today. The potion crafter heard me and answered for herself. Indecision churned within me. I could go to her, but she might not have the tools to save Ness there. Besides, I couldn’t run full speed in the city proper.
Voice shaking more than I would have liked, I explained the situation to the women. I offered to meet Cerri there, at the café.
Cerri told me not to bother. I heard movement in the background.