Chapter 8

Chapter

Eight

Callista

M y vision wavered, the world around me blurring at the edges. I blinked, trying to focus, but the throbbing in my head made it impossible. My thoughts were sluggish, my senses dulled, as if I were moving through a dense fog.

The call of the dagger was physical, a gnawing ache that spread through my chest and into my limbs. I wanted to scream, to claw at my skin to make it stop, but I was trapped in my own body, a prisoner to its demands.

This was why I was here. The silver glint of the dagger replayed in my mind's eye, and I tried to take a step forward, but my legs wouldn't obey. I was frozen, my muscles locked in place as if held by invisible chains.

What was happening outside the tent? Helplessness washed over me, a wave of despair that threatened to drown me. I was powerless against the dagger's call, a puppet dancing on its strings. The pain was relentless, an all-consuming fire that burned through me, and if I didn't do something soon, it would consume me completely.

Then suddenly I was moving. Flying forward. I dove through the side of the tent, landing on the dirt in front of Lana and the intruder scuffling.

I only had eyes for one thing.

I locked onto the dagger in the dirt ahead of them and launched to my feet. It was there. I needed to?—

A strong hand clamped around my ankle, dropping me to the ground. I spun, my eyes stinging from the scrape of gravel across my knees and the palms of my hands. "Let go of me!"

I clawed at the stranger's arms, my nails digging into his skin, but his grip was unyielding, even as Lana worked to wrest his arm back to his side.

I blinked. Did he only have one arm? Or did Lana?—

"She's going to hurt herself!" The man growled. "The dagger seeks her blood!"

Lana hesitated. "What are you talking about?"

"She's marked, cursed."

Lana's eyes burned as she scanned my face. "Callista?—"

"Let me go!" I kicked as hard as I could, and the man grunted. His hand flexed just enough that I pulled my leg free. I only got a few feet before he landed on top of me. "Lana!" I cried for her, fighting him with everything I had, but she didn't answer. He was too strong.

"Stop." He somehow gathered both my wrists into his one hand and pressed them to my lower back. "I don't want to hurt you?—"

"Says the man who snuck into our tent!" I seethed, my cheek pressed against the dirt. I tasted sand, breathed it in. Why was he doing this? Why wasn't Lana stopping him? "I need it. I need to?—"

"Stop." His voice came from just behind my ear.

I kicked and twisted, but he held me tight until my strength began to wane. My arm felt like it had been boiled in acid. Sweat poured from me, soaking my clothes, and tears leaked over my cheeks.

Lana dropped to her knees next to me. "Callista, please explain?—"

"I can't." My voice was a whisper, the words barely audible. "It hurts."

Kael's grip loosened slightly.

"What can I do?" Lana asked.

I shook my head, my mind spinning. I didn't know what to do. The pain was unbearable, a constant gnawing at my insides. I wanted to claw at it, to tear myself apart and end it.

Lana stood and walked to where the dagger lay in the dirt. I whimpered as she crouched and lifted it from the ground.

And it all stopped. The pain, the burn, all of it. Gone.

I closed my eyes as my entire body drooped.

"Callista." The man knew my name. I drifted, the relief so stark that it nearly put me to sleep. "Hey." He patted my cheek.

My eyes fluttered open. "What did you do?"

He stared down at me, his brow furrowed. "I didn't do anything."

"The pain. It's gone."

He looked up, then moved off of me, his hands still loosely circling my wrists. "Can you stand?"

I nodded, my throat tight, but when I tried to push up from the ground, my arms gave out.

"What's your name? And who sent you?" Lana started the inquisition.

"Kael." He ignored the second question as he looped his arm around my waist and tugged. With his help, I steadied myself on all fours, then lifted to my knees. He stood and pulled me with him.

I didn't want to touch him. He'd been in our tent, he'd tried to kill me, and he'd brought that thing?—

Rowan charged into our site, his dark hair tousled from sleep. Jasper and Will emerged right behind him, their eyes wild, raring for a fight.

My alpha crossed to us in three steps. "Drop her."

Kael stiffened. "I can't?—"

"I said drop her!" Rowan sent a jab to Kael's jaw, and he stumbled back.

I, once again, landed hard on my knees in the dirt.