7. Mia

SEVEN

MIA

My heartbeat drummed in my ears, each thud echoing through my skull. Something had bitten me. I'd felt its sharp teeth sink into my ankle. Blood trickled from the bite, pooling into the grass near my foot. A screeching noise filled the air, followed by what could only be described as the beastly sound of a roar.

What the hell was happening?

I pressed the blanket firmly against the wounds on my arm. They ached, but I noticed the bite on my ankle didn't.

Which didn't make sense.

Weaving my fingertips through the cool damp grass, I attempted to center myself. Dark spots collected at the edges of my vision. I was on the verge of passing out. As I pulled in a deep breath, the scent of wet earth mingled with the sharp, metallic scent of my blood. The desire to vomit rolled through me.

Another loud roar—this time sounding more cat-like than the one before—sounded from somewhere close.

What was that? Where was Lorenzo?

I twisted to glance behind me, but a wave of dizziness slammed into me from the movement. Saliva pooled in my mouth and the darkness feathering the edges of my vision intensified. My body felt foreign. It was heavy and weighted.

However, I could feel warmth, too, pulsing through my veins, spreading from the bite on my ankle. My eyes fluttered shut, and I struggled to open them again. The warmth was lulling me to sleep.

Either that, or I was dying.

When strong arms wrapped around me and pulled me from beneath the picnic table, I didn't put up a fight. There was nothing left in me. The heaviness of my limbs had weighed me down, and the exhaustion I felt had me barely able to open my eyes.

"Lorenzo?" I whispered.

"Yeah, it's me," he said, his voice calm and soothing. "I'm here."

Relief washed through me, and I melted against him. He lifted me into the air, carrying me away from the picnic tables.

Alarm nipped at my insides.

"The birds. Watch out," I muttered.

"They're gone," he replied, his tone low. "You're safe from them."

Why was there so much pain in his tone? Was he injured, too?

I tried to keep my eyes open, so that I could make sure he was okay, but the warmth trickling through my veins had engulfed me. It pulled me under, drowning me in a comfort so peaceful I never wanted to leave its embrace.

"Rest," Lorenzo whispered as a featherlight kiss was placed on my forehead.

He kissed me was my final thought, before I surrendered to the blissful warmth and darkness that pulled me under.