close to him. He breathed, then turned to check on Gus, only to have his worst fears realized.
“No!” Riggs bolted toward Gus, who was running toward the pegasus with a beaming smile on his face, his little hands outstretched. Riggs ripped at his shirt as his shift began to take over. It happened fast, as it always did for him. He kicked off his shoes as he ran and then was on the ground moments later, four paws running instead of two feet.
His pants were nothing more than shredded fabric, the force of his shift ripping his clothing to pieces. Gus turned to Riggs as he shifted and began toddling toward him instead.
Everything changed again, a sudden suction of magic surrounding him. Riggs couldn’t breathe. He stumbled, still too far from Gus to help. Something choked him, wrapping around him with a strength that brought him to his knees.
“No!” Victor’s voice sounded far away.
Riggs heard Gus crying and tried to move again. He had to protect them.
“Maida, halt! They are no threat to you. He was protecting the cub. Look. See the truth of my words!” Loch’s voice seemed far away too.
Black spots formed before Riggs’s eyes, and he heard a strange crunch that sent piercing pain through his side.
“Bear!”
Gus’s little hands were on his face. Riggs tried to move, but it sent searing pain through him again.
“Riggs.” Victor fell to his knees beside Riggs’s head, scooping Gus into his arms as he moved. “Breathe. Come on.”
Riggs tried. By the Goddess, he tried. Whatever held him tightened once more.
And then an outraged roar filled the air.
Victor sent a worried glance toward it, and then he turned to shield both Riggs and Gus with his body.
Riggs wanted to protest, tried to tell Victor with his eyes to run, to get Gus away, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t focus anymore.
“Bear!”
A pop of magic sounded again, and suddenly Riggs could breathe. He sucked in a frantic breath and tried to move, but the pain in his side worsened. He let out a grunt, and the rush of the shift poured through him.
He gasped through the change, as fur became skin once more, unable to figure out what had happened. He lifted his hand to his side, but even that much sent a surge of pain through him.
“Don’t move,” Victor said, his voice soft and urgent. “Just… stay still, okay? It’s okay.”
“Gus,” Riggs gasped.
The little guy leaned down, tears in his eyes. “Bear.”
“I’m okay. Your bear is fine.” He wasn’t. It still hurt to breathe. It hurt more than he wanted to confess. “Victor.”
“I know. I’ve got you.”
“I thought he was going to get trampled,” Riggs gasped, his voice weak as he struggled for more air. “I…”
Victor touched his face. “They’re coming over. Stay still for me, okay? Nick is going to be furious, and I need you to stay calm and not make things worse until he can get us out of this mess.”
“It hurts to breathe,” Riggs whispered. His chest ached with the effort. He couldn’t seem to draw a full breath, and each one grew more and more difficult.
“Okay. Shit. Okay.” Victor turned, and all emotion cleared from his face in an instant. “Alpha, Riggs is seriously injured. He needs assistance.”
Nick and Maida appeared above him. Riggs tried not to react to the sight of her, but he couldn’t help his flinch. He let out another gasp, his chest gurgling with effort. Gus began to cry in earnest, and Riggs moved his arm just enough to brush against his little foot.
“Do what you came to do and get out,” Nick snarled. “Injuring a member of my pack within seconds of getting here? Fuck that noise. I’ll go see the Lady myself. I can’t believe she’d let you get away with this shit. Fucking hell.”
Maida giggled. “You are as passionate as the Lady showed me. It is a delight.”
Only Loch’s hand on Nick’s arm held him back. From his angle, Riggs could see the strength of the grip the fae had on Nick.
“Maida, what task did the Lady give you?” Loch asked, eerily calm and collected. Riggs recognized the amount of control the former captain had on himself. He’d seen it only moments before in his mate.
She beamed, and the sight sent a shiver of fear through Riggs. The wheezing in his chest deepened.
“The Lady sends her regards,” Maida said gently. She bowed her head to Nick, then opened her cloak.
Loch gasped, his mouth falling open in shock. A small figure fluttered