blood erupted from his mouth. I screamed and tried to dive for him but Hunter held me back. Riah’s gold eyes rolled into the back of his head. His skin paled.
“NOOO!”
Riah gasped and his eyes flashed open but his skin was turning gray.
“Save him. Save him. Save him,” I heard myself whisper over and over.
“I can’t let go of this,” Tegan shouted.
“YO, Kess get the head!” Easton flew in front of me and grabbed one of Riah’s legs. “Boss, get the other?”
Tennessee leapt over and picked up Riah’s other leg. Kessler hurried over and slid his hands under Riah’s shoulders. He counted to three and then they lifted him off the ground. Riah screamed out and my legs gave out under me. Hunter caught me before I hit the ground but I barely noticed. My eyes were locked on my soulmate.
A cold wave of energy shot out of him and then blue light flashed—
“NOOOOO!” I screamed and jumped on top of him. I knew they were carrying him and he was heavy enough as it was, but I had to. He was dying. His spirit was leaving his body. “STAY INSIDE THIS BODY!”
Paulina cursed in Spanish. “GET HIM TO KAT NOW!”
In the corner of my eye I saw Cooper and Deacon grab ahold of Riah’s body but I didn’t look. My magic was weak, too weak, but I would risk Witch’s Shock if it meant saving him. I pushed with everything I had. Golden glitter spread from under my trembling hands and into his chest.
“Look at me,” I shouted through the hot lump in my throat.
His eyes found mine but the golden color was fading.
No. Please. Don’t do this to me.
I have suffered. I have sacrificed. Let me keep him. PLEASE.
The world passed by me in a blur. I saw nothing but blood and tears. Felt nothing but the searing hot pain in my chest.
“On the bed now!” A woman yelled, but I didn’t know her voice.
Tegan shouted something and then a bed appeared right under him.
And then everything went blurry. Noises faded into a solid hum. I felt my bones rattling in my body. My muscles spasmed into knots. My stomach tightened and rolled. I tried to breathe but no air would come in. My lungs were burning. The lump in my throat grew bigger, hotter.
“SAFFIE!” Tegan screamed. “GRAB HER!”
Large hands gripped my arms and I felt myself get lifted, but I saw nothing.
Rainbow magic flashed in my face.
“I call the Maiden, Mother, and Crone, to calm this spirit, heart and stone,” Tegan chanted in my face. “By flame and breeze, sand and sea, ease this soul by power of three.”
The blur vanished in an instant. I was standing at the foot of Riah’s bed while Henley helped a woman I didn’t know do…something. Tegan was saying something but I couldn’t listen, not over the heavy pounding of my pulse.
Red smoke wrapped around my face. I gasped and jumped back – and then the noises in the room crashed down around me. Deacon’s face hovered in front of mine. Purple eyes flashed. “Hear us, Saffie. Answer our questions.”
“What questions?” I heard myself say flatly.
The woman I didn’t know looked up from Riah’s shoulder. Her brown eyes were soft and kind – but fiercely focused. “What demon got him?”
I frowned and shook my head.
“I need to know what kind of demon got him so I can treat it properly—”
“Not a demon,” I said in a rush as the memories of those awful monsters filled my mind. I licked my lips and tried to think of the right words but my brain was moving too slow, like it was full of sludge. “It was…it was that thing. From that movie…that Bentley put on before…before…that thing…big lizard…bird…chicken thing – I don’t know!”
Deacon leaned into my view again and that red smoke returned. “Describe the movie for us?”
“The – the – the theme park one! With the big animals that ate people!” I shook my head and tears spilled. Then I pictured the movie, the one with the animal that looked like the one that got Riah. “BLUE! It’s name was Blue! Had the tail whippy thing!” I threw my arm behind me and acted out the way the beast’s tail moved.
Willow threw her hand out and the animal stood in her palm. “This?”
Tegan’s eyes widened. “Velociraptor?”
“YES!” I gasped and snapped my fingers. “THAT ONE!”
“How the hell did you get attacked by dinosaurs?” Savannah shouted from somewhere nearby.