Chapter 26 DANE 1/5 I woke on my back , naked on cold , hard , wel ground .


    Pain screamed through my right shoulder .


    Sick heat seared through my veins .


    I tasted metal in my mouth .


    I groaned .


    Dane ! Aurora knelt beside me .


    Her hands were cool and dry .


    on my feverish , sweating forehead .


    Dont try to get up .


    They had someone hiding in the trees .


    You were shot with a silver bullet .


    Fuck me .


    No wonder I felt like death .


    Did it go through ? I asked .


    They left it in long enough to make you sick .


    Then they pulled it out .


    No wonder my shoulder felt like it had been sliced down to the bone and set on fire .


    Aurora pulled her hand away .


    Only then did I open my eyes .


    It didnt make much difference .


    All I could see was darkness .


    It was cold .


    I reached for my wolf .


    Transforming would help me heal , and it would keep me warmer .


    But he whimpered and moaned and wouldnt emerge .


    There was Chapter 26 too much silver in my body .


    I was stuck as a human , possibly for days .


    Where are we ? I asked Aurora .


    I dont know .


    Some cave deep in the mountains .


    They lowered us down this small cliff and left .


    I havent heard anything since .


    If theyre guarding us , theyre probably outside the cave .


    She paused , then said , You could probably jump or climb out in your lycan form .


    Can you shift ? No.


    Another pause .


    I realized how cold it was .


    The wet kind of cold that seeps into your bones .


    Already my fingers and toes were like ice .


    How long have we been down here ? I asked .


    Hours .


    They lowered food down .


    A thermos with something .


    hot inside .


    Maybe soup .


    I havent had any .


    I dont know if theyd poison us or not .


    Though … if they were going to kill us , they could have done it .


    Theres not really a point in dragging us both here , then digging the bullet out of you , then feeding us .


    I grunted again , surprised at her insight .


    Or maybe this was all a setup .


    A scheme .


    But if it was , why was Auora down here , too ? What could she possibly gain ? My trust ? Was I supposed to believe all these Chapter 26 3/3 forces were after her so that Id finally break and believe she was on my side ? But then why disappear for five years in the first ce ? And then there were those children .


    Where did they fit in ? I remembered Auroras pain as she shouted at me that Id never trusted her .


    Never given her a chance .


    I had good reason for that .


    Anyone would agree .


    But … should give her a chance ? There couldnt be anything between us .


    Not with Evelyn expecting my child .


    But we could be allies , at least .


    Maybe I shouldnt be allies with a woman I dreamed about taking to bed .


    Hearing her moan .


    Making her pant , sweat , writhe .


    Hearing her scream my name … I heard her make a small noise , like a shiver she was trying to hide .


    I moved to push myself up and realized there was fabric draped over my body .


    The sweet scent of lcs drifted from it .


    Whats this ? My sweater .


    Its not much , but its all I have .


    From the sound of her voice , she was sitting a few feet off to my left .


    I have clothes .


    You dont .


    I touched the soft fabric .


    It was barely a scrap .


    Hardly enough for modesty , let alone warmth .


    You should get the thermos .


    Chapter 26 4/5 Drink the soup .


    Youre right .


    They wouldnt go to the trouble of keeping us alive just to poison us .


    I heard her shifting around .


    There was the sound of a metal lid.


    unscrewing .


    The scent of broth made my mouth water .


    You should go first , Aurora said .


    Youre injured .


    Im not .


    I was immediately suspicious .


    I opened my mouth to say something , but Aurora spoke first .


    Here , Ill drink some first , so you know Im not working with the Reeds to poison you .


    Its dark .


    I said .


    How will I know ? She made a sound that usually went with her rolling her eyes .


    Then she touched my shoulder , felt her way down my arm , and took my hand .


    First , she dipped my fingers in the open thermos so I could feel how full of warm liquid it was .


    Then she moved my fingertips to her throat .


    Then she tilted her head back and drank .


    I felt her throat move as she swallowed .


    When she was finished , she put my hand in the thermos again .


    It was lower .


    She moved my hand to her face , her clothes .


    They were dry .


    She hadnt dumped it and pretended to swallow .


    I pushed myself up as best I could with my injured shoulder and propped myself against the cold cave wall .


    Aurora passed me the thermos , and I drank , too .


    Chapter 26 5/5 It was just chicken broth .


    Nothing special .


    More likely to make ne feel my hunger than to fill my belly .


    But it was warm .


    I drank what I thought should be a little less than half , then I handed it back to her .


    Finish it .


    She did .


    When she got to the end , there was a long pause .


    Dane … I think … From high above , Esther Reeds voice cut through the dark , as if shed been crouching there all along , waiting for us to wake and drink .


    I told you Id prove youre just as low as the rest of us .


    Now youll see .


    Mother , Aurora called out as if down here , shed forgotten Esther Reed was never her mother at all .


    What did you give us ?