Chapter 211

• Sierra, at a distance of maybe twenty feet from me, across my field of vision. She’s impaled on long sharp claws at the core of her body, right at the point where mine is failing. She’s held in midair as she scrambles to fight back limply, unhook herself from a grey male’s torturous hold, and seems to be whimpering in agony. He stumbles to one knee, shaking his head as though trying to drown out and recover from the now quiet Carmen’s aftereffects, but he doesn’t release Sierra from his grip.
• Carmen…. It’s Sierra!!! I shriek out in the link, moving to make to go to her but falling as my lack of air pushes me to instant black vision. I lift my chin weakly, focusing as best I can through the blur, more concerned for her at this moment and silent sob out in relief as a flying wolf hauls her out of the death hold she’s in. It drags her backward, yanking the claws from her lungs as they fall into the undergrowth, and almost instantly, my own inflate in response. Relief and oxygen swell inside my body, making me lightheaded, and I slump again as my lungs finally work.
• Our life bond means her pain when close to death is my pain, and it seems to still link to Colton even if he is under a spell. He stops clutching and gasping in the same way I was, indicating he, too, has been released, and I know that means nothing good for me. I force myself to get up, on shaking limbs, slowly with determination to face him, knowing recovery of us both will be rapid as Sierra heals in the blink of an eye. I hold my ground, fixated on his huge body, as he rolls to his upright position with an easy move and locks soulless black eyes back on me. Without an ounce of hesitation, no delay, he comes at me again, full fury and ready for round two.