CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Carajo! That pendejo from the standing stone snuck around the edges of the fight to dart behind Dash and Sturrm’s backs.

A meaty hand lands on my shoulder, sending that same weird frisson of disgust through me as it did the first time he touched me. My magic doesn’t reach out, doesn’t want to try to heal this ogre, and that’s a tiny bit of a relief—I’d hate to do anything that made him harder for Sturrm to fight.

“My little witch.” He tosses me to the ground. “You won’t run from me this time.”

I land hard, pain flaring in my elbow in a flash of orange. My magic goes to immediate work, healing me, and I glare up at the gray monster, who fills the sky. I spit, “I’m not your anything.”

“You are now.”

“Hardly.” I roll my eyes. “The way I remember it, you were the one doing the running when Sturrm beat you. Just like he’s going to beat you now.”

“Mouthy bitch.” He raises his axe.

Dash yells, anger filling his voice. Out of the corner of my eye, his horn pierces the neck of an ogre.

Then a loud shriek comes from above, and Bella soars over the meadow, wide wings casting a shadow beaten back by the bright flash of fire as she takes out one of our enemies.

Then there’s only the ogre standing over me. He still brandishes the axe, stopping and starting a strike multiple times, as if trying to get me to flinch. His beady black eyes search my face, looking for fear.

I don’t give him the satisfaction. I’m not afraid. Sturrm won’t let anything happen to me. I know it in my soul.

An angry roar rips through the meadow, like a bear gone rabid. Then Sturrm stands over me, the snarl on his face ferocious. He moves like power made manifest, each strike beating back his larger opponent.

Co?o! The berserker rage has him.

I lie completely still, stunned by him. He’s like some primal god come to life, nothing but muscle and wrath and power.

A ferocious strike, and the ogre bleeds from his shoulder, the same one Sturrm injured that very first day .

Another strike, and one of the ogre’s hands goes flying, his cry of pain sailing through the air with it. It’s the one he just used to throw me to the ground.

A third strike, and Sturrm slices into his enemy’s knee, sending the gray monster lurching sideways.

Sturrm isn’t simply fighting him. He’s fucking dismembering him, taking him apart piece by piece. It’s vicious and primal and the complete opposite of everything I tell myself I am as a healer.

But I can’t look away.

Sturrm fights, not only the ogre of today, but the ogre of his nightmares.

Then, with one last mighty swing, his sword slices through the ogre’s neck, cleaving his head from his shoulders.

Sturrm stands there for several stretched seconds, chest rising and falling as he gulps down huge breaths. The sword still clutched in his hands doesn’t waver, the tip up and ready.

But there are no more opponents. Dash and Bella finished any Sturrm didn’t get to.

“Sturrm,” I say, rolling up to sitting.

His head jerks sideways toward me just the tiniest bit, until one sharp eye can watch me from its corner.

“Sturrm, it’s me. Selena.” I get my feet under me and slowly stand.

He spins to face me, his expression empty, his sword now pointing straight at me. A stranger stares at me, wearing the body of the man I love.

“Uh, Selena,” Bella says from behind me, her wings rustling. “Why don’t you come over here with us? ”

“Don’t turn your back on him,” Dash adds, his voice deadly serious for a change. “Just back away slowly.”

“I’ve read about the berserker rage,” Bella says. “He’s not himself. He’s lost the connection to his mind and soul. He not only doesn’t know you, he also lacks empathy.”

“I can’t leave him.” I shake my head. “I can’t leave him like this.”

“Yes, you can.” A hoof thumps against the ground. “If he were himself, he’d be the first person to tell you to get away from him.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly the problem,” I say. “Sturrm’s been pushing me away—pushing everyone away—for too long, thinking he’s not worthy enough for them to stay.” I meet his dark eyes. “But he’s wrong. He’s the best man I’ve ever known. He’s worth the risk.”

I point toward him. “You hear me? You’re worth it, Sturrm. You’re worth everything.”

I ignore the sword and step toward the man I love.