Page 26 of Smoke and Mirrors
“Where are they taking him?” I demanded, struggling against the tattooed arms that held me. The team of EMTs began carrying Connor off the stage. Nigel was saying something into a microphone I couldn’t understand.
“To the hospital,” a deep, velvety voice rumbled against my ear. “They said we can follow.”
“I need to go,” I protested, pushing against the warm, broad chest to no avail. “I need to be with him.”
A flash of pale hair caught my eye and only then did my composure break. Or the shock wore off, I wasn’t sure.
“HUNTER!” I cried through a rattled sob.
His golden eyes fixated on me, filled with worry and concern. Whoever held me finally let go and I ran to my tall, beautiful wolf.
“What happened?” he asked as I crashed into him, ugly-crying into his chest. “I heard screaming and a bunch of commotion up here.”
“Connor fell,” someone spoke with an accent from behind me. “He hit his head and is being rushed to the emergency room.”
I turned to see Razvan standing there, arms crossed with a grim expression on his face. My mind reeled. Was he the one who pulled me away from Connor?
“We can follow them, though?” Hunter rubbed my back. His heartbeat against my cheek was the only thing keeping me from losing it.
“Yes, that’s what they said.” Razvan paused. “I take it you don’t have a vehicle?”
“No, but I can follow the scent and run over there. I need to tell my pups where I’ll be.”
“Bring them. I’m sure they’ll want to see Connor too when he wakes up.”
Snippets of conversations drifted in and out of my awareness, but all I could do was hold onto Hunter and think back to right before the show started.
I shouldn’t have left him. I should have stayed. Maybe I could have talked him out of going onstage. God fucking damnit, I knew what he was dealing with and still left him to go make out with Hunter. How selfish could I be?
“Hey, little fox.” A thumb stroked my cheek and my head tilted up to gaze at Hunter’s handsome, angular face. “Raz has a truck. Would you be okay riding with him to the hospital and I’ll meet you there?”
“I need you,” I clung to his shirt. “Please don’t leave me.”
“I’m not, Mel. I promise.” He lowered his forehead to mine. “I need to tell the kids, then we’re all coming to keep you company. You’re not alone, Mel. You never will be, not anymore.”
Maybe it was his tone or the fact that I could feel him speak from pressing against his chest, but his words got through to me. Everything filtered out of my frantic, worried mind but his words cemented in there like anchors. They kept me grounded and holding onto what little control I still grasped.
A calmness came over me and I nodded, meeting his eyes to show that I understood.
His lips curved into a small smile as he kissed me, brief but full of sweetness and comfort. “Go with Razvan,” he told me gently as he stepped away. “I’ll be right there. I promise.”
“Okay,” I whispered, watching his back jog away before turning to Raz.
He merely jerked his head to the side and proceeded to walk in that direction. “Follow me.”
I did as he instructed, moving my legs robotically across the stage. Thanks to Hunter’s calming presence, my surroundings began to filter in as my panic subsided.
Everyone was leaving. The crowd moved in a single massive swarm toward the exits. Holy shit, there were so many people! I couldn’t catch anything but murmurs, but they had to be disappointed. Maybe Nigel announced the show being cancelled? Some audience members stayed where they were, watching us curiously as if we’d go back on like nothing happened. Not a snowball’s chance in hell.
Razvan walked quickly off the stage and through the carnival grounds to his campsite. I hurried to catch up, trying not to teeter over in my heels. He never slowed enough for me to walk beside him and maybe that was intentional. Less awkward that way. Neither of us would feel forced to talk.
“Give me a minute,” he muttered when we reached his campsite. “I have to unhitch my trailer from the truck.”
“Okay.” I stayed by the fire, which had burned down to embers at this point.
He unhitched the truck in what had to be under a minute. I wondered if his dragon strength had anything to do with it.
“Let’s go.” He opened the passenger door and walked around the front to hop in the driver’s seat.
