Shifted Fate (Amy)

I sat down after Ternen was done. My magic was waning from being pushed out and snapped back to me. The toll on my body was starting to affect me. I dropped my head between my legs to stop the room from spinning, and to push the bile back down. My mom rubbed my back as I breathed through another wave of

nausea.

"You're okay baby." Her voice was soft.

"We can do this another night." Rick waved me off. "Go to bed, regain your strength. There is no need to push yourself this much, not for me." He tried to reason with me, but he didn't understand what was on the line.

I shook my head. "No. I'm okay." I gagged, the bile making it to my mouth.

"Amy, look at yourself. You are not good. You are about to throw up all over the floor." Rick came over to me. "I can wait."

I pulled my head up, and I could feel the tears burning behind my eyes. Frustration so thick coated me. I wasn't this weak, and I hated that my body was betraying me like this. "You don't understand." I cleared my throat. "I have to."

"You don't. I promise it's okay that you don't get to me tonight." I shook my head and lifted a hand. He smiled at me and grabbed my hand. "Don't hurt yourself for me. Not after everything I did to you."

I sighed as I watched sweat break out on Rick's forehead. "No, you

misunderstand me." Rick winced.

"What do you mean?" His voice sounded a little strained.

"Vince knows." My voice trembled as Rick leaned against the table for support. Another wince, and a shaky breath from Rick, had everyone growing quiet.

"Knows what?" Rick's eyes were a little too wide. He grunted and then stumbled a step, slamming his hip into the table.

"He knows you guys have run. He was searching for you until he felt the runes break on everyone." I sat up and my mom helped me stand as Shelly came over and grabbed Rick.

“What's going on?" She looked at Rick. His breathing was coming in small gasps. His hand went to his neck, and he screamed. Shelly looked to me. "Amy?"

Rick looked at me and he screamed. "No." He shook his head, then he dropped. "Amy!" Shelly screamed.

"Get him on the table...quickly." I called as I grabbed the tiny knife from the box. I had a ghost of a smile as shook my head. Fucking Carl. "Roll him on to his stomach." Ternen and Toya had lifted Rick on to the table and then turned him over. "Shelly, I need you to trust me."

She blew out a breath and walked around the table to sit at the table that Carly sat on and grabbed Rick's hand. "Do it. What ever you have to do. Just save my mate."

"Okay." I pressed the one inch knife at the base of his neck, right over the brand. This had to be precise. I braced my hand on hid head,

steadying it. Then I pressed it net

through his skin, severing his spinal cord. "Rick, I command you not to heal."

Toya went to press a towel against the wound, but I stopped her hand. "Are you

just going to leave the knife in?" She sounded confused.

“I have to. If I take it out, he will die.” I took a breath. "He might stop breathing, I winced when Shelly jolted up. "Don't do that." I held i my hand. "Any jarring movement can shift the knife and kill him. Stay stiff. Pray to the goddess. And hope that I can break the bridge inside of him."

I turned to Nix for the last time, and I could see both her and Megan were exhausted. “Last time." They nodded.

"Last time." Nix sank down so I could climb up onto her. "Let's go save this idiot." Megan snorted. We trotted through the trees. Saving our energy for whatever we were to face over in Rick.

"Do you think it is another leech?" Megan's voice was tired, but hopeful.

I shook my head. "I don't think so." We ran until the woods shifted from my trees with light streaming through the canopy to darkness. Same trees, but dark shadows, grew all over the place.

"This doesn't feel like a dangerous place." Nix was cautious but still moving through the trees.

I sent out feelers, but she was right. It didn't seem dark because it was malicious like the others. This seemed like a quiet, restful place. "What is this place?"noveldrama

Megan trotted around us. "This is a place like where I lived before you spoke to me. A safe place to stay hidden. A place to recharge, heal, and relax."

I looked around, but Rick's wolf was nowhere to be seen. "Where is his wolf?"