tightens further in response as his right reaches past me so he too can grab a huge handful of Eliph’s mane.
It’s just shy of making it difficult to breathe, but I feel secure at least—as long as he doesn’t tighten his hold on me any further.
Just in case, I give his wrist a pat. “That’s tight enough.”
It loosens just a smidge so I can get a little more air, and I turn back to glance at him as he nods, his lips pressed tightly together.
“All right. I’m ready then,” he announces with only a hint of unease in his voice.
“You heard him, Eliph. That makes two of us. Let’s get this over with already,” I say even as my legs tighten around his barrel, just barely keeping myself from screwing my eyes shut as well.
Whatever happens, I want to see it and face it head on. Even if that’s being sucked through the worlds. I will be doing this shit with my eyes wide open.
I feel his sides expand as he breathes in deep. His head lowers, his neck stretching out in front of him. A pearly color tints his fur, and a mute glow slides up his horn. The glow is so pretty that for a moment I’m captivated, my eyes widening as it gradually grows brighter until I’m forced to squint against its brilliance. I jump, however, when electricity starts sparking from the tip, and I’m grateful for the strong arm banded around my waist that’s keeping me seated.
Bolts of lightning dance before him, their frequency increasing as every spark of energy in the atmosphere attempts to gather at the tip of his horn. I cringe, anticipating the concussion that’s sure to eventually come.
The explosion of light is deafening. There’s nothing that could have prepared me for it. Not only does it white out all sound, but it surrounds us with such a blinding flare that everything around me is consumed in that light. I wouldn’t even know that we’re moving into it if it weren’t for the feel of Eliph’s muscles bunching as he leaps forward, and immediately that white light blinks out, replaced by a suffocating void of darkness.
A scream lodges in my throat as we seem to float through space itself. All around me, I can make out tiny specks of light like thousands of stars. It’s beautiful, but I feel like I can’t breathe. Not even the gossamer wings that now suddenly extend from Eliph’s sides as he propels himself through the void can detract from the terror rising within me. My back arches, and my hands leave his mane to clutch at my throat as I desperately attempt to draw in air. Only Grimsal’s arm anchors me, and even then I can feel my mind spiraling into darkness until another blinding flash of light expels us into a sunlit world.
I drag in a grateful breath before I collapse against the male behind me, my eyes closing as unconsciousness washes over me.
Chapter 12
Eliph
I stand stiff-legged, remaining steady as Grimsal eases my mate off my back. It is difficult for me since I want nothing more than to hold her in my own arms, but there’s nothing I can do but wait patiently until he has her safely on the ground. I crane my neck around so that I can anxiously watch over her as he lowers her carefully into the grass. I try not to move and risk jostling her. Only my tail twitches anxiously, whipping lightly from side to side.
My breath catches in my throat, and I cannot breathe as I stare at her. Her head hangs. Her face, ashen and drawn, drops away from me. Unreasonably, I fear that she will never wake. I am afraid that I will never hear her scold me again or see her eyes heat with temper, warm with affection, or dance with laughter. It terrifies me more than anything in all the centuries of my existence has ever frightened me.
The moment she is safe, I shift back to my fae form, dropping to crouch at her side. My hands are trembling as I run them over her face and arms, reassuring myself that she’s fine and whole. Her panic in the void between portals had nearly overwhelmed me, despite my attempt to shoulder as much of her terror as possible. My inability to take on the burden entirely, forcing me to witness my mate’s descent into her own mind, far away from me, had nearly broken