Chapter 26
Chapter 26 DANE 1/5 I woke on my back , naked on cold , hard , wel ground .
Pain screamed through my right shoulder .
Sick heat seared through my veins .
I tasted metal in my mouth .
I groaned .
Dane ! Aurora knelt beside me .
Her hands were cool and dry .
on my feverish , sweating forehead .
Dont try to get up .
They had someone hiding in the trees .
You were shot with a silver bullet .
Fuck me .
No wonder I felt like death .
Did it go through ? I asked .
They left it in long enough to make you sick .
Then they pulled it out .
No wonder my shoulder felt like it had been sliced down to the bone and set on fire .
Aurora pulled her hand away .
Only then did I open my eyes .
It didnt make much difference .
All I could see was darkness .
It was cold .noveldrama
I reached for my wolf .
Transforming would help me heal , and it would keep me warmer .
But he whimpered and moaned and wouldnt emerge .
There was Chapter 26 too much silver in my body .
I was stuck as a human , possibly for days .
Where are we ? I asked Aurora .
I dont know .
Some cave deep in the mountains .
They lowered us down this small cliff and left .
I havent heard anything since .
If theyre guarding us , theyre probably outside the cave .
She paused , then said , You could probably jump or climb out in your lycan form .
Can you shift ? No.
Another pause .
I realized how cold it was .
The wet kind of cold that seeps into your bones .
Already my fingers and toes were like ice .
How long have we been down here ? I asked .
Hours .
They lowered food down .
A thermos with something .
hot inside .
Maybe soup .
I havent had any .
I dont know if theyd poison us or not .
Though … if they were going to kill us , they could have done it .
Theres not really a point in dragging us both here , then digging the bullet out of you , then feeding us .
I grunted again , surprised at her insight .
Or maybe this was all a setup .
A scheme .
But if it was , why was Auora down here , too ? What could she possibly gain ? My trust ? Was I supposed to believe all these Chapter 26 3/3 forces were after her so that Id finally break and believe she was on my side ? But then why disappear for five years in the first place ? And then there were those children .
Where did they fit in ? I remembered Auroras pain as she shouted at me that Id never trusted her .
Never given her a chance .
I had good reason for that .
Anyone would agree .
But … should give her a chance ? There couldnt be anything between us .
Not with Evelyn expecting my child .
But we could be allies , at least .
Maybe I shouldnt be allies with a woman I dreamed about taking to bed .
Hearing her moan .
Making her pant , sweat , writhe .
Hearing her scream my name … I heard her make a small noise , like a shiver she was trying to hide .
I moved to push myself up and realized there was fabric draped over my body .
The sweet scent of lilacs drifted from it .
Whats this ? My sweater .
Its not much , but its all I have .
From the sound of her voice , she was sitting a few feet off to my left .
I have clothes .
You dont .
I touched the soft fabric .
It was barely a scrap .
Hardly enough for modesty , let alone warmth .
You should get the thermos .
Chapter 26 4/5 Drink the soup .
Youre right .
They wouldnt go to the trouble of keeping us alive just to poison us .
I heard her shifting around .
There was the sound of a metal lid.
unscrewing .
The scent of broth made my mouth water .
You should go first , Aurora said .
Youre injured .
Im not .
I was immediately suspicious .
I opened my mouth to say something , but Aurora spoke first .
Here , Ill drink some first , so you know Im not working with the Reeds to poison you .
Its dark .
I said .
How will I know ? She made a sound that usually went with her rolling her eyes .
Then she touched my shoulder , felt her way down my arm , and took my hand .
First , she dipped my fingers in the open thermos so I could feel how full of warm liquid it was .
Then she moved my fingertips to her throat .
Then she tilted her head back and drank .
I felt her throat move as she swallowed .
When she was finished , she put my hand in the thermos again .
It was lower .
She moved my hand to her face , her clothes .
They were dry .
She hadnt dumped it and pretended to swallow .
I pushed myself up as best I could with my injured shoulder and propped myself against the cold cave wall .
Aurora passed me the thermos , and I drank , too .
Chapter 26 5/5 It was just chicken broth .
Nothing special .
More likely to make ne feel my hunger than to fill my belly .
But it was warm .
I drank what I thought should be a little less than half , then I handed it back to her .
Finish it .
She did .
When she got to the end , there was a long pause .
Dane … I think … From high above , Esther Reeds voice cut through the dark , as if shed been crouching there all along , waiting for us to wake and drink .
I told you Id prove youre just as low as the rest of us .
Now youll see .
Mother , Aurora called out as if down here , shed forgotten Esther Reed was never her mother at all .
What did you give us ?