Page 66 of The Barbaric Fae's Soul

It was one of the only things I liked about the bastard—the way he reacted in an instant, without considering any alternatives. I’d never been like that, and doubted I ever would be, but I could see the benefit of it.

He streaked through the trees, and I followed behind him. He was faster than me, but he didn’t slow, or wait for me. After so many days without sleep, I didn’t stand a damn chance at keeping up with him. But I didn’t mind that, either.

Because the faster he moved, the sooner he would reach her.

The more quickly he would find my female—my mate, even if she had yet to accept that.

And the better chance there was that she would be alive.

I followed his scent when I lost sight of him—and didn’t realize he’d stopped until I slammed right into him.

He didn’t growl at me as he jumped to another branch, inclining his head toward something below us.

I looked down, and blinked.

And then blinked again.

Dakota was laying on the forest floor, a long way below us. She was coated in mud, and there was a massive red klynna lying beside her, watching her.

Her chest rose and fell slowly, but evenly.

She was alive.

But I took in the mud—and the red tinge to it.

Blood, too.

Fear swelled within me.

The klynna didn’t look like it was trying to kill her. I could see mud on one of its legs and some of its claws—had the damn thingbroughtthe mud to her?

It was just watching her.

And she was breathing.

Alive, and healing whatever wound had bled.

Perhaps if I’d had any ice left, I would’ve tried to fight the beast. But without my magic, there was nothing I could do.

“We’ll have to wait,” Teris said, and I realized he’d shifted back to his man form.

“I can’t,” I told him.

He sighed. “It’s your funeral, brother.”

The words were tired.

Even just a week of fighting the bond’s pull would do that to a man. He didn’t know how different it could feel, when you loved the woman. When you wanted her so desperately. When you knew you’d give anything to spend your life with her.

“I have to make sure it’s mixed properly. That it’s keeping her alive,” I said. “Leave, if you want.”

The man gave me a dead-panned stare, but I only held his gaze for a moment before I jumped from the tree.

My eyes collided with the klynna’s as I landed gently.

Its body tensed, but it didn’t move.

“She’s hurt,” I said in a low voice, lifting my hands slowly to show the monster that I meant him no harm. “I need to check her wounds. To make sure the mud is keeping her alive so she can heal them.”

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