Page 41 of Levi

Hannah knew all about the serum. All of Nick’s hires did. They were briefed on it just before a job, and it was always emphasized as a last resort. But the man of her dreams was just shot, directly in the chest, possibly near the ventricles of his heart.

She took a fierce step toward him, which would make any average person step away. But Nick wasn’t the average person. He had dealt with many bodyguards like Hannah, and it took a lot to intimidate him.

“Ask them,” Hannah said, pointing into the room. “Ask them where the bullet went. We have no other options, Nick. Please, I’m begging you.”

Nick rubbed his face hard and ran a hand through his hair. He wasn’t an old man, nor was he a fresh egg. His position at the agency had certainly aged him, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worst.

“I’ll get Zeke,” Nick said.

Hannah nearly burst into tears right then and there. But she wrapped her arms around herself, containing the pain the way she was used to.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Nick sprinted down the hall to the elevator to get to the floor of the lab. Zeke was almost always in there, testing out the serum, trying to alter it in the most unimaginable ways. She hoped he would give Nick the serum because every second counted, and every second meant Levi was closer to death.

Hannah peered through the glass, trying to breathe deeply and comfort herself. But some situations were beyond comfort.

Nick returned with Zeke, and they both ran down the hallway and past Hannah. Nick gave her a reassuring nod as they entered the operating room, pushing past the curtains and handing the lead surgeon the serum.

Between the flutter of the curtains, Hannah saw that Levi had passed out again. His mouth was open, and his beautiful eyes closed off to the world. She did what she could to think positive, but it wasn’t in her nature.

Everyone she had ever loved had been taken from her. Her father, her mother’s love, and next would be Levi. A pattern was a fucking pattern for a reason.

She watched as the surgeon administered the serum into Levi’s arm. There wasn’t a change, but Hannah knew the results took time. Nick and Zeke left, making sure to close the curtains tightly behind them.

“It’s done,” Nick said to her.

Hannah curled her body inward, then realized that she was praying for Levi’s recovery. He may not like that he had to become a shifter, but she hoped that her affection for him would be enough to forgive her for her rash decision.

18

LEVI

The whispering of long dry grass hissed against Levi’s mind. There was stillness and peace but also an edge of anxiety. Something had happened … or was about to happen.

Where am I?

Levi blinked hard, swinging his head back and forth. When he could finally focus, he saw the sky was a dark violet-blue. Even though he could see glittering stars and a full moon, the plain before him was as bright as if it stood under the midday sun.

He turned in a small circle, trying to get his bearings. Behind him, the flat plain extended a short way, only a couple of yards. Beyond it, there was nothing but darkness. It wasn’t even a night sky as there were no stars.

It was a frightening void with shifting clouds of blue and purple that could barely be made out against the pure black. Levi shivered and turned his back on it, thinking that the grassy plain was almost friendly in comparison.

The field seemed to sing to him, encouraging him. Levi was uneasy but not quite scared, not yet. All of these insane details were beginning to add up in his mind, and he laughed at himself.

Levi shook his head, realizing that he must be dreaming. The moon was far too close, close enough to touch, big, and round against the dark sky. He could even see the craters scattered across the surface, and he was enchanted by the way the light caught in them and reflected back to the stars.

He stood for a moment, feeling the wind blowing against his back. It rushed by into the field, making the grass whisper again. Something was calling him.

Levi looked down at his hands, frowning. They did not feel like his hands. When he clenched his fists, he felt nothing, but he could see he had control over them.

This is some weird shit.

Again, the wind rushed around him. Levi knew that it was asking him to follow. He started across the field, realizing that against the far horizon, a dark, jagged mountain split the skyline.

Levi knew that was his destination, but it looked dark, sharp, and frightening. He didn’t really want to go there.

The wind danced around his head, whispering even more insistently. He had no choice. This was destiny.

---