Page 44 of Fangs
“No!” I shrieked at him. “Griz?—”
“Bones, run!” he shouted over me. “Get up?—”
A bullet hit him in the shoulder, going through the narrow space of the bulletproof vest with terrifying precision. He grabbed at the wound as he went down on his knees, but a second shot went through his neck, and he fell.
Everything was happening so fast, and I was screaming so hard I felt like I was ripping myself apart. I looked back at the trees to see Mac stepping out—rifle held ready—but he paused as his eyes met mine again, brow creasing like he was confused.
“Mac, no!” I screamed, but a gunshot echoed, and he stumbled backward and fell out of sight.
“NO!” My cry tore something free, and blinding light exploded from my body like a wildfire.
I couldn’t see anything, but I could feel them—all the injured bodies dying in the snow. I heard multiple voices swearing and shouting in confusion and fear as my power raced across the ground, gobbling them up and encompassing them. The current flowing through me felt wild and powerful, and Mac’s words flashed through my mind,you’re strong enough to cut a path through mountain rock and wild enough to wash everythin’ away when you rage.
For the first time, I feltlike that river Mac had described. I was every heartbeat and every breath. I was blood and marrow and bone. I waslife.
Muscles knit back together, bullets emerged from bloody wounds, and organs wove themselves whole again. All of them were simultaneously healing faster than I’d ever healedoneperson before in my life. I peered down and could just make out Wolf’s features in the bright light. His eyes were wide with shock as he stared up at me. The pain came a second later—swift and sharp—tearing my insides until tears streamed down my face, and I gasped in pained sobs; but I held it. I held it until that warmth inside of me sputtered, and the blinding light vanished like a silent thunderclap. Icy cold roared through my veins, and I squinted, trying to focus through the pain that wasn’t fading. In the sudden silence, it sounded like my heart was pounding violently in my ears.
“Don’t hurt them!” I gasped, and then the ground rushed up to meet me.
8
Iwoke up in a strange bedroom.
The ceiling above me was made of wooden planks. The fireplace across the room was built into the wall and framed in smooth river rocks. There was framed artwork hanging on the walls. I managed to turn my aching head to see I lay on a four-poster bed and?—
Mac was asleep beside me.
My breath caught, and tears immediately filled my eyes. He sat in a chair beside the bed, his body slumped sideways, and his raven black hair spilled over my pillow. His arm was extended down the bed, his fingertips resting close to mine.
The memory of him getting shot crashed over me.
I twisted, grabbing his hand, and he jolted upright, his wide eyes meeting mine. He blinked.
“Bones—” he breathed my name with so much relief, but I was barely listening.
“Are you ok?” I gasped in a hoarse voice, my eyes running over his body, looking for a bandage or blood or?—
“I’m ok,” he squeezed my hand hard. “Bones, I’m ok. You healed all of us.”
“All of you?” I demanded, my body still thrumming with panic.
“All of us. Everyone is ok,” he confirmed, and I realized he was scanning me just as closely. He met my gaze again, and I was struck dumb at the depth of emotion there. “Gods, you scared me.”
I stared at him, my heart still racing.
“You’ve been out for twelve fuckin’ days.” His voice roughened. “I was startin’ to think you weren’t ever gonna wake.”
I must have heard wrong.Twelve days?I shakily sat up, and Mac helped me adjust to lean against the headboard; he didn’t let go of my hand even after I was settled.
“You healed all ten of us at once,” he continued, and anger filled his face like storm clouds. “Even your brother, who had a fuckin’ gun to your head.”
Oh fuck.
He leaned forward, a familiar fury igniting in his eyes. “He says youaskedhim to kill you.”
My mouth went bone dry.
“Is that true?”
