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I reach through our bond again. Nothing. My wolf slams against me so hard my claws threaten to break through my fingertips. Can't feel her! Can't feel mate!

"The runes did this before."

No runes.

"Something else is blocking us."

Find mate!

"I'm trying!"

My voice echoes through the hallway, but I don't care who hears me. I follow Arlene's scent around another corner, breathing it in with every step. Blood. Silver. Arlene. The bitter taste of my own blood fills my mouth when I bite the inside of my cheek hard enough to break skin, trying to stay focused through the panic.

Her scent gets stronger, and relief hits me so hard I almost stumble. “She's here.”

My wolf whines inside me. Can't feel mate.

"She's here."

Can't feel her!

I stop in front of a closed door. Arlene's scent surrounds me now, stronger than it's been since I woke up. I shove the door open and see her lying on a bed across the room.

“Arlene.” I cross the room so fast my hip slams into the side of the bed, but I barely feel it. My hands are already on her. One wraps around hers while the other cups her face. “Baby, wake up.”

Her skin is cold beneath my palm.

I freeze.

Arlene's skin used to hold so much warmth. I could bury my face against her neck in bed and feel it against my cheek. I could wrap myself around her and steal her warmth until she complained that I was making her hot. Now I rub my thumb across her cheek, waiting for the warmth I know better than my own.

It isn't there.

“No.” I cup her face with both hands. “You're cold, baby.”

Mate! Wake mate!

The dagger is gone. Her chest has been cleaned and bandaged, and the blood that covered her during the run is gone. The lingering scent of silver still clings to her beneath the antiseptic, but I can smell Arlene under all of it.

My mate is right here.

I reach through our bond again. Nothing. I send Alpha energy toward her, searching for the connection I used during the run, but I can't find it.

“No. Come on, Arlene. Take it.” I push harder until my weakened body shakes. “Take my energy. I have more. You can have all of it.”

Nothing happens.

Can't feel mate! Something wrong with mate! Wake her!

"I'm trying!"

I slide one arm beneath Arlene's shoulders and the other beneath her legs. “I've got you, baby.”

I lift her from the bed and pull her against my chest. Her head falls against my shoulder, and panic rips through me. Arlene's lifeless body lies in my arms without a breath or movement. There is no warmth coming from her. No rise and fall of her chest against mine. No restless little movement because she can never stay completely still for long. Even worse, there is no mate bond connecting us. I can smell Arlene. I can touch her. I can hold her, but I can't feel my mate.

Mate?

“No. No, you're just cold.” I tighten my arms around her lifeless body, trying to press my warmth into skin that used to hold so much of its own. “I've got you. I'll warm you up.”