Donovan kept trying to attack him, ram his feet, anything, but the beast’s leathery skin wasn’t the least bit hurt by claws or teeth. I was running as fast as I could and Donovan was attacking Bhrunyz, but nothing was working.

Bhrunyz was on a mission to kill me, and he wasn’t going to stop until he’d finished.

The beast got close enough to swipe me again. Pain burned through my left side. My skin grew warm as hot blood rushed from the gash.

Donovan slammed into the beast. My mate was getting desperate and it was going to get him killed. I had to think.

Running was getting me nowhere. It didn’t matter how fast I ran or how long I could keep it up, Bhrunyz wouldn’t tire. He wasn’t going to stop.

That meant that I had to stop.

I turned around and sprinted to Bhrunyz. Donovan was still trying to knock him over but having no luck.

My only thought was that Donovan had gone after Bhrunyz’s arms, legs, neck, and head. But when I’d hit his face with the table, Bhrunyz had bled. So it was possible to hurt him.

My best bet was to go for his stomach. It was basically suicide, but I was basically already dead. It was only a matter of time. If I was lucky, his middle would be soft. Even if I didn’t manage to kill him, maybe I could get him to retreat.

I watched Bhrunyz’s arms, waiting for an opening. Donovan ran at him, distracting him, and I had my in.

I leaped onto his stomach. My claws ripped into his soft, fleshy stomach. Black blood oozed out as I fell to the ground.

Something crashed through the field toward us, but I was paying attention to the beast standing over me. He yelled again, but this time there was no magic. He was hurt. I’d hurt him.

But I was hurt, too. I tried to get up, but couldn’t move.

Bhrunyz lifted his arm. His long razor-sharp nails hovered a foot above my head.

I opened the bond wide and poured love through it. I was going to die, and Donovan needed to know how I felt.

A metallic crunch echoed and glass shattered down on me.

I didn’t know what happened, but Bhrunyz disappeared.

He was gone.

Relief rolled through me, leaving me feeling empty, cold, and exhausted. I whimpered, but I couldn’t lift my head.

Donovan’s fear beat at me. “Meredith,” he said as his face came into view. He’d shifted. His hands shook as he felt along my sides. I tried to shift, but I didn’t have enough energy. I couldn’t do anything but feel my body as it throbbed in pain. The air was thick with the coppery scent of my blood, and I knew it was bad.