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Her knees buckle.

“ARLENE!”

Darian runs.

I move at the same time, but not toward Arlene.

The runes aren't separating me from Selena anymore.

Our bond crashes back into me.

Fear. Pain. Panic. Grief.

Then another wave hits.

A contraction.

Mate!

Selena cries out and clutches her stomach, but she's still reaching toward Arlene.

“Arlene!”

Darian reaches his mate before she hits the ground. He catches her against his chest and drops with her, one arm wrapping around her back while the other steadies her body around the dagger still buried in her chest.

I run for mine.

Another contraction hits Selena before I reach her. Her knees buckle, and I catch her against me.

“Rylan, Arlene!” She grabs my shirt and tries to turn in my arms. “Arlene!”

“I know.”

“She took it for me.” Tears stream down her face as she fights to look around me. “The knife was coming for me. She took it for me!”

“I know, baby.”

“Arlene!”

I pull Selena against my chest as another contraction builds through our bond. Across the clearing, Darian cradles Arlene in his arms.

“Stay with me.” His voice carries through the night. “Arlene, look at me.”

Her hand moves weakly against his chest.

She's alive.

Good.

Keep her alive.

Selena tries to move toward them, but I tighten my arms around her.

“Let me go. I need to get to her.”

“No.”

“Rylan!”