Page 105 of Faerie Hunted

“Get Tavi out of here now!” Even on his back, Will’s thought was for me. “Fight these fae assholes for my niece!”

His concern, whether he meant it or not, stoked the flames of Livvy’s fury. She roared, her magic blasting out of her and carving a hole in the floor.

Laina’s arms banded around my waist and dragged me toward the door, her spellwork keeping the betas and delta in place. I shook my head, digging my heels in and skidding on the marble. The soles of my sneakers found no purchase.

“We can’t leave them like this!”

I lost my balance and dropped hard on my knees, bones creaking and my head dizzy. Black spots danced in front of my eyes as pain shot through my system.

“Come on, Tavi, move!” Elfwaite grabbed hold of my forearm and tugged with disproportionate strength to her small size.

Barbara’s Band-aid was disintegrating, piece by piece…

She’d warned me it wouldn’t last forever. The attack lasted too long to do me any favors before the dizziness began to subside and Elfwaite hauled me up. Laina was blocked from the door by one of the wolves, his teeth bared in a snarl at her.

He’d somehow managed to break free of her spell.

“You don’t want to do anything,” she warned.

I found my balance again and thrust myself between them before the beta made a move.

A pain-filled screech sounded and when I looked over, Will had a claw-tipped hand wrapped around Livvy’s throat.

“You couldn't just stay dead,” he growled in her face.

“You pawned my daughter off on a monster.” Livvy fought back with a fury I never would have imagined.

Laina reached for my hand and our fumbling fingers linked together.

“Go for the door,” Elfwaite whispered in my ear. “I’ll distract them for you.”

“I can't leave my mom.” I begged her to understand. “She needs me.”

“If you don't get out now, they’re not going to let you leave. Her Majesty’s spell will only hold for so long before the rest of the pack arrives.”

She was right. Elfwaite wasalwaysright.

My instincts roared for me to do something but when I reached again for my own halfling form, the change refused to come this time. My wolf may be close but initiating the shift was impossible.

Another wave of dizziness rocked through me and I tilted forward, held in place only because of Laina.

“Tavi, hold on,” she urged roughly.

I felt eyes on me but I didn’t care. None of it mattered when I felt the ending gaining speed, ready to crash down on us and take everyone in this room down.

Laina tightened her grip and hauled me toward the door as my head lightened in the opposite direction. I stumbled over my feet before I regained my composure.

A hasty yell toward Livvy broke through the sounds of growls but I didn’t have the strength to look back to see if she followed.

If she could even tear herself away from the fight.

I felt like shit.

Whatever quick fix Barbara had slapped on my malady was almost gone.

My next breath filled with the sweet scents of night and memories of childhood. Something cracked behind us but Laina refused to slow, Elfwaite no more than a flash of pink ahead.

“Keep going, Tavi. My magic will only hold for a short time here,” Laina urged. Her cheeks darkened with a blush as she fought to keep the spell in place and help me along as well.

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