Page 106 of The Stone Initiation
“Back up,” Orix growled before laying him on the bed.
Serath’s usual fresh forest scent was laced with the stench of decay and death. “Move.” I shoved Orix out of the way and climbed onto the bed beside Serath.
“What the—” Orix reached for me and something inside me snapped. My vision bled red as I turned on him, teeth bared chest vibrating in a warning growl.
“Back up,” Selas said from the doorway. “Let nature work.”
“What if they—”
“In his condition? Don’t be stupid,” Selas spat.
Orix threw up his hands and took a step back mutteringfucking hell.
“She’s in protective mode,” someone said. “We keep the door open, and we check in and hope this works.”
They continued to talk, but I zoned out of the conversation, my attention focused solely on Serath.
His face was speckled with blood. His torso covered in bandages that leaked black goo. He was slipping away. I could feel it. I needed to be close, to feel his skin against mine. My beast approved, purring in encouragement. I undressed quickly. His legs and torso were bare, boxers covering his modesty. Enough skin for me.
His eyes snapped opened suddenly and a low growl rolled up his throat, it exploded from his lips in a pained cry, and he began to thrash.
“Shit!” Orix took a step forward, but Selas held him back, her eyes on me.
“Cameron, it’s up to you now.”
Serath, bucked and writhed, lashing out at me as I tried to get close. I took a blow to the cheek and another to the side of my head before managing to slip under his arm and sling my leg over his thigh. He stopped fighting but continued to squirm in pain. I put my arm around his waist and pressed my body against his side to maximize skin on skin. He needed this. I wasn’t sure how I knew that this was the only way to help him, it was simply instinct.
He groaned and stilled. I pressed my cheek to his bicep and closed my eyes, focused on the undeniable thrum of energy between us.
“I’m here.” My voice dropped an octave. “I’m here. Hold on to me. Stay with me.”
My skin pricked and warmth seeped into every point of skin-on-skin contact. My head grew fuzzy and floaty, and my limbs grew heavy, then darkness dragged me into its arms.
* * *
SELAS
It’s been six hours since we brought Serath back to the academy and he’s still alive thanks to Cameron, but the female has fallen into a deep sleep. Did Prasan’s research miss something vital? What if this saves Serath, but kills her?
She’s a halfblood, a nobody in the grand scheme of things, but there’s an energy about her, a sincerity and inner strength that I can’t help but admire. Fate is cruel for not giving her all the tools to be the perfect guardian that I know she could have been.
“I’ll take the next watch,” Orix says.
A shadow darts across the floor, I tense and then relax as the feline Orix seems to have adopted rubs against my leg.
“Taz likes you,” Orix says.
“You named him?”
“I know, I know, bad idea. But…he’s so freeaking cute.”
“You can’t keep him here, you know that, right?”
“I know. I’ll take him to the sanctuary soon.”
Taz pads across to Orix who crouches to allow the feline to climb onto his shoulders.
This is what softens me toward this male. His care and empathy toward these creatures. The way his aura brightens when he’s around them is beautiful.
