Forever Bound Series 1-4(38)

Soon the fire would take her.

Elsa would make sure she stayed close enough to hear the bitch’s screams.

***

The scent of smoke reached her, thick, cloying, and Allison froze. Her heart thudded wildly in her chest, pounding hard enough to shake her.

She turned slowly. The smoke…it was coming from the right. Allison could see the dark streak of gray in the sky. A forest fire? Hell, that couldn’t be—

Flames crackled. But that crackling came from behind her, to the left.

Her gaze jerked toward the sound.

More smoke. More fire. And that blaze looked like it was racing right toward her.

No…no…

“Allison!” The roar was her name. A roar loud enough to push across the crackling fire. “Allison!”

Cade was coming for her.

She spun around, seeing only smoke and fire now. So much. Too thick. She began to cough. This…wasn’t right. The afternoon had been fine moments before. Clear. Calm. She’d been the one running wild and—

“Allison!”

She choked, but managed to cry out… “Cade!” And, oh, damn, was that fire racing toward her?

She jumped back, barely avoiding a wild surge of heat. The fire was so close now. It seemed to be heading right for her.

Because it was. Understanding was like ice in her veins.

Freaking witch.

There wasn’t anywhere to run. The flames were all around her. No, not just around her.

Allison screamed when fire licked its way up her arms. She dropped to the ground, rolling and slapping at the flames. But more flames just came, burning her, burning…

“I’ve got you.”

She was still screaming so she barely heard the words. He had to tell her three times, then Allison managed to glance up.

Cade was there, pulling her against his chest. And it hurt. She hurt. Deep blisters covered her skin, and the smell of burnt flesh—her flesh—had her stomach rolling.

“Hold on,” he told her as he rose, tucking her body close against his. The movement hurt, but she locked her teeth to hold back the cry.

A wall of fire blocked them. There was nowhere to go. No—

He bent his head over hers. Curved his body so that he was covering her, and he leapt right through the flames.

Allison heard the rush of the fire—a wild whoosh of sound—and the burning breath of the flames blew over her body.

Then they both hit the ground. They fell in a tangle of limbs, spinning, rolling, falling down a hill. Faster, faster.

She didn’t feel the bumps. Didn’t feel the bruises. But when they fell into the too-chilled water of a lake, oh, sweet hell, yes, she felt that.

And she just sank beneath that cold water. Her eyes wanted to sag closed. Why was that so wrong? She’d rest a few moments in the sweet cold, then everything would be fine.

Something grabbed her. Her eyes flew open. Through the murky water, she could just make out Cade’s form. He looked furious, his eyes glowing. His hands wrapped around her shoulders, and he pulled her toward him. A powerful kick from his legs sent them shooting toward the surface. Allison couldn’t get her own legs to move and was grateful for her wolf’s strength.

And it was only when they broke the surface and when his gasps for breath filled her ears that Allison realized…

I’m not breathing.





Chapter Six


Fuck, f*ck, f*ck no.

Allison’s eyes were wide open. Staring straight at him, but the woman wasn’t seeing him. She wasn’t breathing. Her body was ice cold.

A shudder shook his frame as Cade lowered her to the ground. “Come on, sweetheart,” he muttered as he pushed back her wet hair and ran his fingers over her face. “Breathe for me.”

Blisters and deep burns covered her forearms and hands. Her legs had fallen victim to the fire—he’d seen the wounds.

So much pain.

Too much.

She wasn’t breathing.

He wasn’t letting her go like this. Not like this.

He put his mouth to hers. Damn she was cold. Her lips were like ice against his.

Cade blew into her mouth. Take my breath, sweetheart. Take it.

Nothing.

He gave her his breath again. Come on, Allison. Don’t leave me.

He pushed air into her mouth once more.

And she jerked beneath him. His head lifted and he stared down at her, desperate, wild.

She’d coughed up water and seemed to be breathing now. Her eyes actually saw him. But she was still so icy. So pale.

And hurting so much.

His canines had stretched when he’d first caught the scent of smoke. The wolf within had known that danger stalked Allison. His claws had come out, his teeth had prepared to rip and tear—he’d been ready to do anything in order to protect her.

Anything.

He lifted his hand and slashed his wrist with his teeth.

“C-Cade?” Her voice was a broken whisper. “Why…don’t hurt…”

He put his wrist to her mouth. “Drink.” Because if she didn’t, he could still lose her.

Allison shook her head. “N-no.” Her body shook, trembling hard, and he knew shock when he saw it.

Fire was a particular bitch for vampires. They burned far faster than humans. Faster than any of the other paranormals.