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I shoved my fingers through my hair and squeezed my eyes closed, trying to get a grip on my control. I reached out for my mate through the connection we had through feeding. I could track her via her blood, but not when she was in the air and still in motion. She was still alive, though, I was positive of that.
“Are you sure they weren’t bats?” None of this made sense.
“I know what a bat shifter smells like. I’ve never smelled anything like that before.”
We paced the forest for the next hour, waiting. “Where the fuck are they taking her?”
Relic shook his head, focusing inward, using his tracking abilities as well, and on constant alert. He spun to me right as I finally felt her. Relic shifted, exploding into his hellhound form, and followed me as I sprinted deeper into the forest.
She’s alive, I said over and over again.
I’m coming, petal.
I’m coming for you.
CHAPTER 37
Rose
I blinked, then blinked again.
Complete and utter darkness surrounded me. Rough wood was at my back, the air musty, smelling like timber and dirt. I was lying down. I lifted my arm, more wood, on all sides.
A coffin.
I shoved at the wood above me. It didn’t budge. Someone had buried me alive. Oh goddess. Breathing hard, I pushed at the lid, screaming out, scratching, trying to tear at the wood above me. My head spun, and I struggled for breath, each inhale shallower than the last. I was hyperventilating.
I couldn’t stop, couldn’t breathe. I was going to suffocate.
* * *
My eyes snapped open. It was colder. I’d passed out. I had no idea how long for. I was still underground. I tried to stay calm. It wasn’t easy.
I froze when a scratching sound came from above, followed by a low growl. Voices. There was something up there. The voices were muffled and strange, but with all my sight gone, my hearing heightened. I realized the sounds had been going on for a while, while I’d been regaining consciousness. I opened my mouth to scream, then slammed it shut, as my other senses increased. I could smell them. Demons. There were demons above me. They’d found my scent and were looking for me.
If Zinnia was right, being buried alive couldn’t kill me. The demons above me couldn’t either, unless they managed to remove my head. I could pass out, though, and my oxygen had to be low. There was a possibility of me never waking back up. This was my only chance.
My mind spun. This grave, whatever it was, had to be pretty shallow, but there was too much dirt on top for me to open the lid. There was only one way out of here that I could see.
Taking a deep breath of precious air, I called out. “Hey! I’m down here!”
There was a burst of activity, the growls growing in volume. They’d heard me. I called again, banging my fist against the lid. The muffled sounds increased. They were digging.
I only had a matter of minutes before they uncovered me, before they pulled off this lid. I didn’t think I was injured, I couldn’t smell blood, but even still, I wasn’t some great fighter. I’d only have seconds to run for it, and even then, I might fail. I thought back to all the spells Mom and Else and Gran had taught me before I became too sick to join my sisters in their lessons.
Mags said never to underestimate basic spells and incantations, and I just had to survive long enough for Ronan to reach me. Relic would have called him, and they’d be searching for me.
The fear grew when the sounds of the demons above got louder. I called on my magic. They were almost at the lid. Goddess, help me get through this—
Something scratched directly on the outside of the lid. Then another, and another. There was a hoot of victory, the growls becoming frenzied. They were about to pull off the lid.
My body felt hot and my head spun as adrenaline pumped through me. My magic swirled wildly. My ears and fingers tingled, along with my fangs, as they slid down. Something in me, my subconscious, tapping into my base animal instincts. My body knew there was danger and was readying for it.
I pressed my hands against the lid, ready to shove, preparing for whatever came next.
* * *
Ronan
