it impossible to hold him to me.
Especially when he was suddenly ripped away from me.
I felt loss hit me as my breathing hitched and my eyes attempted to open. Reality was trying to push its way back in, but I wasn’t ready just yet. Something big had just happened, and while I didn’t fully understand what, I knew I had to mark Ledger before I could feel normal again. He was mine. He marked me, which meant I was his and he was mine. I had to mark him back. I had never felt so driven by an animalistic urge before.
“Shit.” Ledger’s low snarl almost sounded pained, and the sound had my eyes snapping open in search of him. Instead I found Anani leaning over me, his icy arctic eyes filled with concern while he cupped my jaw. I could see that he was talking, but all I could hear was Ledger’s dragon that was creating a low rumble that filled the space. My head began to spin and my neck pulsed, causing a growl to break through Ledger’s mouth from somewhere nearby. It caused my need for him to push forward in a surge once again, and when I tried to sit up and Anani applied gentle pressure to my shoulder, the legitimate growl of frustration that broke through my lips had his eyes widening in surprise. It was something I would have to say sorry for later.
I had to find Ledger first.
Ledger let out a pained groan as an ache began to cover my entire body, a voltage-like sensation causing me to grip Anani as I felt my heart jump in my chest, almost coming to a halt. My teeth pulsed again as a small sound broke from my chest like a needy pained cry. My phoenix began to move its wings in an attempt to get out, heat pulsing over my skin as my breathing turned panicked and my vision spotted. I searched the space around us, using our connection to search for Ledger, knowing that he was nearby. Right out of touch.
“Maya.” Anani’s voice was soft and filled with concern.
I met Ledger’s gaze, finding him on the other side of Henry, who was blocking his path to get back to me. His gaze was black, the whites of his eyes completely gone, and his lips were stained with my blood. There was a stark hunger and need to his gaze, and I could tell he felt it also. We couldn’t survive without completing this bond.
It was far too strong.
That instinctual need immediately had me on my feet as Anani tried to grab hold of me, his fingers grazing my skin as I slid past him and darted forward. I let out a cry of frustration as Marco caught me around the waist, my hands reaching out for Ledger, who had tried to step forward towards me. Henry had a hand on his shoulder and was talking in low tones that didn’t matter to Ledger, his entire body trembling with the same power that mine was. I tried to push past Marco, but he just held fast. He didn’t understand. He wasn’t going to let me mark him, and that had to happen.
I was being burned alive, and if I didn’t mark him, there would be nothing left of either of us. A whimper of pain broke through me, turning into a small cry as my knees nearly broke and tears leaked down my face.
“Fuck.” Marco’s voice sounded filled with pain. “Maya, baby girl, I need you to breathe. Just for a minute—”
His words were lost on me, because all I could see was Ledger and the pain echoed in his expression as a jolt of something seemed to pass through him.
“Marco, you have to let her mark him.” Croy’s voice broke through everything, his tone firm despite his energy feeling weaker than normal, possibly from the portal. Relief poured through me, hoping that Marco would listen to him. His wolf was circling around me protectively, and I found myself wondering if he would help me. Help me get to Ledger. I trembled as both Marco and Henry’s dominant magic saturated the air further at his words and panic resurfaced, realizing they weren’t listening to him.
“Not here, not right now.” Atlas’s rumble was so serious compared to normal, and I found myself hating his words.
“Please.” My voice was nearly broken as my skin began to surge with heat, flames flickering right outside the corner of my eyes