Page 115 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

“No,” I agreed quietly, shaking my head as I cradled the soup in one hand, inhaling the rich scent. The spoon settled into my stiff fingers, and I practically moaned when I brought it to my chapped lips.

“Damn, that’s good.”

“I’ll pass the praise to the chef,” he said flatly.

“Extend my gratitude to Rose as well, please.”

“Least we could do,” he replied, still watching Ally like he could will her back to us with enough focus.

My vigil hadn’t been entirely solitary—Alec and Fae had come and gone, as had Rose and Kingsley. Around midnight, half a dozen of their wolves had padded down to settle around us, keeping silent company while I took the chance to relieve myself, wash up, and grab coffee before rushing back with a thermos in hand.

The sun rose, and the pack melted back into the woods with the blanket of darkness, leaving us in that lonely kind of silence that only two people could make feel endless.

And with every hour Ally stayed locked in her visions, my prognosis worsened. Nothing good could come from being stuck there this long.

The color in her cheeks was fading, my anxiety was tightening like wire.

Kingsley seemed to notice the same thing. “She’s flagging.”

“Yeah,” I breathed.

“Why?” he asked, curt and sharp, irritation spiking down my spine.

“It’s been at least thirty-six hours of this kind of energetic output.”

“Right. But you’re not pulling on your reserves.”

“No…?” I answered, earning a look that said I was one dumb son of a bitch.

“Feed her, August.”

I stared at him, still wolfing down the soup like a starved animal. He shook his head.

“Jesus. You two really are new to this whole Bond thing. You can funnel your power into her without her needing to channel it. That’s the whole point, Porter.”

“How?” I asked, already rising to my feet. If there was anything I could do—anything—I’d do it.

“Soul Bonds weave two souls together. You can draw off or lend power at will. Once you’ve practiced, you don’t even need to be near each other to do it. Just find the weak point in your own well—that’s where she begins. Or at least, that’s how ours works.”

I held the bowl out to him and nodded when he took it. Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I nodded again. “Okay.”

“Breathe, Porter.” I did.“Center yourself. Connect with your power. I’m sure it feels infinite, judging by how you register to the pack.”

Chuckling darkly, I muttered, “Was that a compliment, Commander?”

“Just stating fact. Focus, August—she needs you.”

I nodded, closed my eyes, and sucked down a breath of frigid air. I dove into the well of power at my center, hunting for that weak point in the wall.

Nothing.

“I can’t feel her,” I grumbled, anger bubbling fast beneath the surface.

I was so fucking sick of feeling useless.

Sick of being a liability. Sick of living with the truth that in no life had I ever been enough to save her. It had to be different this time. I had to be different this time.

“Where is she, dammit?”