Page 122 of Faerie Hunted

Her eyes fluttered open. “Michael.” She tried to lift her arm to touch his face and failed.

“We need to get her help immediately.” Livvy straightened, her expression clinical as she stared down at the wounded queen.

In the next beat she was on the ground as well with her fingertips probing the wound. She hissed when the point of the sword touched her skin.

“We should take the sword out,” Bronwen said. She wrung her hands.

Livvy shook her head. “It’s the only thing keeping the bleeding to a minimum right now. None of us are strong enough to cauterize the wounds if we pull it out, and I’m willing to bet something in the shadow guardians’ magic will prevent us from doing so anyway. Those weapons are meant to kill.”

Bronwen limped closer and the motion drew attention to her own wounds. The dark pain in my calf throbbed in response.

“In her dire condition, she needs to be taken to a fae hospital immediately,” Livvy added.

Laina tried to speak and coughed up blood. “No fae hospitals,” she warned. “They won’t know how to care for this. They’ll report us to Cosmo.”

Mike curled around his mom without touching her. “I know where to take her but it’s far.” He let out a harsh laugh. “Of course it’s too far.”

“You have to go with your mother, to get her to safety. We can’t leave her here and we’re wasting time debating it,” I told Mike. “Bronwen can fly ahead and find help, bring them here. The minutes count. She’s connected to this place now, right?”

Onyx shrugged, unsure what to say.

Bronwen pursed her lips. “Shifting might be able to help heal my own wounds. It’s only a small nick.”

I shot her an appreciative look. When the chips were down, she was always willing to step up to the plate to help. “Come back for us when you can. I’m sorry to ask it of you—” I began.

“Stop.” Bronwen swiped her hand through the air. “We’re all doing what we have to do. We all have a part to play. I’m proud to do mine. For the pack.”

Her gaze encompassed everyone, from Onyx to Livvy and Noren, to Mike and Laina. The swell of pride surprised me deeply.For the pack.

Before I could say anything, before the tears pooling in my eyes sprang free, Bronwen screwed her eyes shut and shifted. Magic pulsed and in place of her body stood a crow.

Beady black eyes met mine and she squawked before taking off through the break between stones.

“I hate this,” Mike admitted. He tried to help Laina up and she screamed, stopping all movement. “I hate that we’re splitting up again.”

His voice splintered.

It was necessary. Parting ways was the only logical step to take but we were on the same page. Hating every situation that pushed us apart rather than drew us together.

I held his gaze for a beat longer before I bobbed my head. “You’ll be okay?”

“I have no choice.” He tried to muster up a grin and failed miserably. “Go on. Hurry back to me.”

I made no promises but my heart stayed behind with the two of them even as Livvy tugged at my elbow to get me to move. Mike and Laina remained behind while I, Livvy, Onyx, and Noren headed deeper into the temple.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. Why did it always have to happen this way? I limped along until Noren moved forward to help steady me.

Why did someone always get hurt?

The ruins were deceptive. From the outside, they resembled a henge-type ring with an empty space in the center and no roof. But the further we hiked into the gloom between towering stones, the more the walls constricted and a ceiling formed out of the play of dark on light.

It had woven from nothing into substance before I realized anything changed.

An opening in the floor way up ahead led to a staircase winding deeper into the heart of the temple, whatever was hidden on floors below this one.

I tensed, waiting for another round of shadow guardians to come at us. When nothing happened, I touched my toes to the first stair riser.

“Waiting for the booby traps, Indiana Jones?” Onyx teased breathlessly.

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