My hand closed around cool metal, and I ripped the chain from her neck. Fey magic tingled along my skin like a million ants were walking on me. “Bhrunyz. Go back to your lair.”

Everyone okay? I held my breath as I waited for him to answer.

Yes. He said after a moment. We’re fine. He left.

Holy shit. I needed a second. All the air whooshed out of me, and my side…

I’m coming to you now. I’m bringing the pack medic.

That’s good. Because I’m not doing so hot. I sagged down onto the floor, finally feeling every bump, scrape, and slash. The hours of running and terror. It was over.

But my fucking arm. I swallowed. Getting that fixed was going to be a total bitch. My brothers had told horror stories about Weres who’d healed broken limbs and lost motor function.

I closed my eyes. I’d deal with that later.

“You.”

My eyes flew open. Blood ran down Saoirse’s head. She stood above me, looking a bit too much like Carrie for my liking.

I tried to lift my arms, but they weren’t listening to me. I couldn’t even roll over. All the adrenaline was gone. I didn’t have anything left.

“You’ve lost,” Saoirse said.

“Maybe. But so have you.”

She tore off her clothes and shifted. In wolf form, she bared her fangs at me.

I knew what was coming. If I couldn’t make myself get up, then it was lights out. I tried to move again, but there wasn’t anything I could do. If you could hurry, that’d be good.

Almost there.

Now would be better.

Saoirse jumped at me with fangs ready to rip open my throat.

Donovan crashed into her in midair. I smiled. He hadn’t wasted any time. A crack echoed through the room as Donovan grabbed her head and viciously twisted it. Saoirse’s limp body bounced as it hit the ground. Her head lolled to the side at an unnatural angle.

I melted into the floor. “Shit. You have some timing.” My words were slurred, and I hoped it was just from the exhaustion.

Donovan knelt by my side. He hadn’t bothered with clothes in his quick shift, but he didn’t seem bothered by that. His focus was on me. He started to say something, but his voice cracked and he stopped.

“I’m sure it looks much worse than it is.”

“Meredith…” His hands shook as he brushed a piece of hair from my face. Even if his fear hadn’t been slamming into me, I would’ve known he was afraid from his scent. It was all I could smell.

“Don’t worry so much. I’m going to be fine.” I’d faced down Bhrunyz twice and hadn’t died yet. I wasn’t giving up now.