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“Don't!” Rylan's voice stops me before my fingers touch it.

I glare at him. “It's silver. I need to get it out.”

“I know, but she's not healing.” His eyes drop to the blood soaking Arlene's shirt. “That dagger could be slowing the bleeding right now. If you pull it out and the wound doesn't close, she could bleed out before we get her home.”

“It's fucking killing her.”

“And removing it could kill her instantly.”

A growl tears from my chest as my wolf slams against me. Remove it. Hurting mate.

"I can't."

Help mate!

"I'm trying!"

“The poison.” Selena's strained voice makes me look up. She's clutching her stomach, her face pale as Rylan lifts her into his arms. “Arlene still has poison in her system. Her wolf was already weak before Candice stabbed her. She was getting stronger, but she wasn't healed yet.”

I look back at Arlene. Poison is already running through her body. Her wolf is already weak. Now she has a magically enhanced silver dagger buried in her chest, feeding even more poison into a body that isn't healing, and I have to leave the fucking thing inside her.

“Darian.” Rylan's voice hardens. “We need to move.”

I lift Arlene against my chest, keeping her upper body as steady as I can. Her pain crashes through our bond so hard my breath catches. “Fuck.”

Her lashes flutter. "Darian..."

"I'm here."

"Hurts..."

Tears burn my eyes. "I know, baby. I'm sorry."

My wolf pushes against me. Give.

For half a second, I don't understand what he means. Then I do.

Energy.

Mates can share energy through their bond.

I reach for Arlene and send a pulse of my Alpha energy through our connection. Her body jerks in my arms, and fear shoots through me until I feel her heartbeat strengthen against my chest.

“Arlene?”

Her wolf flickers inside our bond. Weak. Exhausted. But there.

Mate.

My wolf surges toward her. Take.

Her wolf reaches for the power we're offering. Here...

Arlene's eyes crack open, and relief hits me so hard my knees almost give out. "I'm here. Take what you need."

I send her more. Her heartbeat steadies, but my legs immediately feel heavier. Fuck. I pull some of the energy back, and strength returns to my body.

More, my wolf demands.