Page 76 of The Dire Reaction

An industrial sized propane tank sits adjacent to the building.

Before I know it, an errant round releases a jet of pressurized gas filling the area. The wall of noxious fumes billows out in a visible wave until a spark hits.

Transforming into a fireball before us, the wave of flame and heat blocks all view of the building. Beasts run in every direction, their fur burning on their backs, charred flesh falling from their bodies with every step.

A hellish inferno blocks my path.

Chapter thirty-six

ALEXANDER

Awaveofheatfills the building, choking the air with pungent fumes. Panic races through me.

My mate. I must protect her.

Seeking her through the raging heat, I see she clings to the woman who had just arrived. Their tears match in paths along their cheeks as the air grows too hot to breathe.

My clawed hand pulls at her arm, but she hangs desperately to the woman. Growling my frustration, I pull harder, uncaring at the marks I leave in her skin. I will grovel for forgiveness later, but I must get her out, and my patience is wearing thin.

She jerks her arm from me, opening her wounds, but hugging the newcomer with such fervor I wonder if they’re sisters.

Damnation!

My chest heaves with its quest for air. Does she want to stay and suffocate? I must get her free from this new hell!

Relenting to her demands, I scoop them both into my arms. The woman ceases her struggles upon the soothing words of my queen.

Curling them tightly against my chest, I find a small break in the blazing wall before us. The corner farthest from the source, which is billowing with black smoke, offers the only chance of escape.

Lamenting my choice to not have a secondary exit, I take a deep breath, and run for the gap.

Pain.

My skin is burning, blistering from my side. Excruciating heat pummels against me, melting the flesh from my bones that I struggle to keep between the torment of fire and the delicate skin of my mate.

Each step falters, but I push through. I must save her!

Bursting through to the other side, the cooler air is a temporary relief as I crumple to the ground. My legs are scorched and mutilated, no longer able to carry my weight.

Slowly falling, my most precious cargo tumbles free. Safe.

“Dani!” A human male appears before me, a rifle in his hand, reaching for the woman who pulls herself from the ground.

I can just make out the shimmering image of a vehicle through the waves of heat emanating around us. The air is still hot, thick with the burning gas.

Broken and feeble, I lie before them. My legs uselessly push upon the softened asphalt. The remains of the woman who evaporated just a little while ago is the fresh gore in which I roll.

“Jenny?” the man asks. How dare he address her. I will feed him to my dogs next!

She stands. My mate. My queen. I reach out for her. A soft whine falls unhindered from my throat. My ruined ears cannot make out the sounds that she makes to him, but he nods his acceptance to her words.

A pistol appears in her hand. My beautiful queen. The bearer of my child. She turns to face me. And places the barrel squarely against my forehead.

Chapter thirty-seven

DANI

It’sgettinghardertowalk through the cool halls of the prison. I’m still trying to treat patients as efficiently as possible, but it’s hard this far along in my pregnancy.

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