Chapter 39

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

ORION

T he collapsing stopped mere feet away from us, the cloud of smoke sucked downward into the crater.

That lovely landscape had been transformed, now resembling an impact sight from a meteor. Or at least the kind I'd seen in films. No trace of Dawn showed itself. Not a single hint of pink, only the clouds of smoke and ashes floating into the sky.

It was over. It was really over.

"Put me down please," I said to Cate.

She did, holding on to me as my legs gave out from under me.

"Let's get you healed," Basil tried to suggest.

"Miko first. You have to help him." I crawled to my mate as Paige laid him on the wet grass. "Miko, please. You can't leave me…" The tears came hot and fast, a kernel of grief forming painfully close to my heart. "I… I can't… I can't be in this world without you."

Basil looked him over. "I'm not sure he will make it. The injury is?—"

"Don't you say!" I snapped.

"Orion, I?—"

"Don't you say anything until he draws breath." All sense of reason left me. And it could stay in the ether. "He has to live. He has to…" I howled, a vessel for heartache and agony. "He has to live!"

My cry burned my lungs, tearing my vocal cords. The sobs came heavy and fast. My tears were an uncontrollable, endless downpour.

Love didn't end this day. Love flourished today. Love carried on in a new…dawn.

Basil lay beside my mate, getting to work. He threw an arm and leg across his magnificent body and pressed his lips to his stubbled cheek, fingers splayed across his skull.

He closed his eyes, the soft hum of his healing power drifting from him.

"Please spare him…" I begged the stars. "Please spare him…"

He is his own special sunshine, I continued with my pleading on the inside, watching Miko's eyelids. Not the skippy, happy kind. But one of steel and warmth, a man of solidity. Hard on the outside, the best kind of softness on the inside. He's perfect. He's everything. He's made for me.

No sign of life yet.

He saved me, he turned my life upside down in the good way. He made my heart beat like it should again. He gave me something more to fight for other than home. Why put us together, only to wrench us apart? What's the point? I have so much to show him. It's not his time…it's not…his time…

I didn't care about any selfish crap. Let me be selfish, let this desperate wanting overtake the agony in my arm.

Where was his heartbeat? Why couldn't I feel it anymore?

"If you're taking him, take me…" I whispered, rainwater washing my tears away.

People were speaking, trying to comfort me. I let it fall to the side, not caring about anything until I saw him move.

"Come on, Miko," I heard James say.

"You heard your beta," I sent to my mate. "Wake up. Just wake up."

His eyes fluttered open.

I passed out.