Page 75 of Challenged Mate
It all happened so quickly.
I was almost to the street—less than ten feet—when the remains of a heavy light fixture detached and fell. Right on me.
I cried out when it hit my back. I fell onto my stomach. The weight of the metal fixture pinned me down. I pushed up onto my hands and knees to dislodge it. But it was too late.
The building gave one last groan before the central beam running the length of the coffee shop snapped. It caved inward, bringing the rest of the building down with it.
Twenty-One
BLAIR!
My eyelids fluttered, but they immediately closed when I saw the dirt and dust billowing around my face. It took a moment to realize the building had collapsed on me.
I didn’t know how long I’d been unconscious. Light glowed through my lids. My head was ringing, and every inch of my body was pinned down. But, surprisingly, I felt okay. My back hurt from where the light fixture had landed, but other than that, I was fine.
“BLAIR!”
The agonized roar tugged deep in my soul.
“BLAIR!” Asher yelled again. His shouts were accompanied by several other voices calling my name, but his was the only one that penetrated the fog clouding my mind.
Asher would find me. I knew he would. I just needed to wait. And I needed to not move.
It was by the Mother’s grace I hadn’t been seriously injured in the collapse, but that could change with one wrong shift of debris.
So, I held stayed still, keeping my eyes closed. But I did manage a small shout, “I’m here!”
“Blair!” Desperate hope dripped from my name. With my cheek pressed against the ground, I felt the subtle vibration of footsteps drawing closer—dislodging surrounding debris.
“Talk to me, Blair. Where are you?”
“Here,” I repeated.
Movement drew closer.
Asher and I called back and forth two more times before he found my location.
“Hang on, Blair.” Asher huffed. Something crashed in the distance. I imagined Asher tossing the debris separating us like a pile of pebbles.
I kept my breathing even, trusting Asher would get me out. Dust scratched my throat, but I was able to breathe with little to no trouble. Another miracle.
Above me, I heard several voices discuss how to go about freeing me without causing a cascade of debris that would cover me again.
I could do nothing but wait, periodically calling out to Asher to let him know I was still okay.
I couldn’t tell how many minutes passed until I felt the pressure on my left thigh lift. Then my right.
I fought the urge to wiggle my feet. Holding still, I let the shifters above me continue their work.
I winced when the light fixture was lifted off me. I’d have a bruise, for sure, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I’d cracked my spine. Thank the Mother for shifter healing.
At last, I heard my mate’s relieved sigh. “Blair.”
I opened my eyes and saw Asher. He was shirtless, but I barely noticed his muscular torso. He was lying on his side, placing his electric blue eyes right in front of mine. Less than two inches separated our lips.
I wanted to close the distance…badly.
“Hi,” I whispered.
