Page 50 of Knotted By the Triad

Her eyebrows rose. “This is really not the time for that.”

“Zuri.”

“Daemin, you’re bleeding badly, and there’s a glowing shard in your side. Why I’m out here isn’t important. You are.”

I’m important to her.

My weakened dragon practically purred in approval. I'd deal with why Zuri was here later. First, I needed to get her somewhere safe.

Zuri turned to Allie. “Go to the warehouse and get help. It's just over the slope. Keep straight. You won’t miss it.”

Allie's eyes widened. “I'm not leaving you here.”

“You need to find Kai. Or Zian. Or one of their guards. I don't care who you find. Just tell them Daemin's hurt.”

“Princess, I'm not leaving you alone with...”

“With my husband?” Zuri asked.

Allie stopped. Zuri apparently realized what she'd said because her mouth snapped shut. But it was too late. Something warm moved through me despite the freezing pain spreading through my body.

Husband.

I liked that word on her lips far too much. I wanted to be her husband in every sense of the word. I wanted to belong to only her. I didn’t need or want a harem. I just wanted Zuri Bane, the woman dressed like a cute assassin and who’d dared to go up against a shifter in his dragon form.

Zuri cleared her throat. “He saved us. I'm not leaving him here alone.”

Allie's gaze moved between us before she reluctantly nodded. “Fine. But I'm coming back.”

“I know.” Zuri grabbed the brown envelope from the ground and shoved it into Allie's hands. “Take this.”

“Princess...”

“I can't carry that and help him. I may lose it. And after everything we’ve been through, we can’t lose this.”

Allie tucked the envelope beneath her clothing, pulled Zuri into a quick hug, and promised she'd be fast before disappearing through the trees. I watched until I could no longer see Allie. Good. One less person to protect.

Now I only had to worry about Zuri. Then I heard it. A branch snapped somewhere in the darkness. My head lifted. Zuri didn't seem to notice, but my dragon did. Even weakened, my hearing was good.

Leaves rustled somewhere beyond the trees, followed by another crack farther to our left. Then came the faint sound of something moving through the underbrush. It wasn’t Allie. She'd gone in the opposite direction.

Another sound came from the darkness, followed by a low animal growl. Whatever it was, it was drawn here by the smell of blood. There was enough of it covering the ground to attract every predator for miles. My dragon pushed against me.

Home. Take her home.

Yes, I needed to take her home. I needed to get her to safety. I pushed myself upright.

Zuri immediately grabbed my arm. “What are you doing?”

“Leaving.”

“No, you're not. You can barely stand.”

“Something's out there.”

Her head turned toward the trees. Another branch cracked in the darkness, louder this time. Zuri moved closer to me. That settled it.

“Help is coming,” she whispered.