“Just because you said it,” I grind out, “doesn’t mean I’ll obey.”
“Stupid wolf,” Emrys growls. “Stop antagonizing the vampire and do what’s best for you for once, will you?”
“Stop taking his side.” I’m grinding my teeth so hard I think I might break a molar. I bite down on my finger and use the drop of blood to touch the ward, unlocking the spell.
My door opens and I almost fall inside the room before someone grabs my arm and keeps me upright.
“Whoa.” It’s Emrys. He steers me inside. “Come on, let’s get you into bed, sunshine.”
I don’t want to lie down with them around me, but I don’t have much of a choice. The damn demon leads me to my bed and shoves me down on it.
The magic sizzles in my blood. I’m the closest to the old magic than any of them. The fae like to think they are the creatures of earth magic, but that’s us, the clay wolves, the creatures of the wilderness. Sindri doesn’t have to stop himself from shifting every month like we do.
’Nuff said.
“Meds.” Emrys glances about and reaches for the bottle on my nightstand. “Did you take any today?”
“Yeah, this morning.”
“How many can he have in a day?” Mia takes the bottle from Emrys’ grip. “Here it says maximum four per day.”
“I already took four,” I grit out. “But it’s not working.”
“Damn.” Emrys throws his hands in the air. “That’s a bust.”
Sindri sinks into my only chair, in front of my desk. “A bit spartan, this room. Where are the comfortable divans? This is truly a mutt’s room,abesh.”
“Fuck you,” I mutter, closing my eyes, clenching my fists as another wave of agony goes through me. My teeth are long enough now to cut into my lips and blood is running down my chin. “So fucking sorry my room hasn’t got fancy old furniture like yours. Not all of us are debauched princes.”
“I am utterly debauched,” Sindri declares, sounding pleased with himself. “Absolutely depraved. Will someone go get my drugs?”
“I still think giving him fae drugs is dangerous,” Ashton says. “We should be cautious.”
“Fuck being cautious,” Emrys says. “I’ll go get the drugs. Be back in a sec. Hey, Sin, did you change your wards?”
“Yeah.”
“Good boy.”
“Abesh k’emel.”
“Tu habuelita.”
“My grandmother?” Sindri stares at the door through which Emrys has gone. “Isn’t that what it means?”
“I think it’s an insulting comeback,” Ashton says.
“Oh. Nice.” Sindri grins.
Goddammit. I’ve never taken fae drugs, but if they can stop the shift…
Another surge is starting and I hear Ashton groan. I arch on the bed, my skin stretching over my bones, my vision changing, tunneling. Every little detail on my ceiling seems to pulse and come into hyperfocus, the rest of the room growing blurry.
“Jason. Jax. Hey.” Mia puts a hand on my chest, and I want to tell her she should stay away—in case I shift fully, in case my mind turns first and I attack her.
But I like her hand there, and although it doesn’t stop the shift, I relax slightly, some coolness spreading through the fire. It allows me to slump back on the mattress, take a breather, tell myself that the guys will find a way, will at least stop me if I shift, before I go on a rampage.
That they’ll protect Mia from me.