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Every movement sent pain shooting through Jaz’s back. It raced down her legs and turned her stomach. She fought to keep from screaming out every time a jagged ache punched her.
Adrian didn’t need any more stress.
She blacked out from time to time, then he’d jostle her unintentionally and she’d cry out.
He’d whisper, “Sorry, babe.” Intelligent man that he was, he knew to keep moving.
When she came awake one time, she tried to determine where they were. It seemed as though he’d been carrying her forever, but the cave should only be ten minutes from where they left the bike.
All she could see was blurred darkness.
She’d never told anyone about this hideout. She’d never gone straight to it before either. Usually, she’d spend two days moving around, going up trees, backtracking, whatever it took to keep someone off her trail.
If someone followed them, Adrian would have to deal with it. She could barely feel her wolf. Tarski had stopped talking once the titanium went in. She pushed energy to help Jaz even when they both knew the metal alone could be a death sentence.
Adrian stopped. “I think we’re here.”
She let out a breath pent up in her chest. “Let me see.”
He eased her down into his arms.
She couldn’t help the gasp of pain.
“I’m so fucking sorry, babe.”
Her vision cleared. His agonized gaze stared at her. She tried to smile. “I’m okay. Let me see.”
He would not put her down. Swinging around with her still in his arms, he lifted her shoulders.
“You found it, Adrian.”
“Great. What now?” he asked in a panicked voice.
“Set me down.” She must look bad. This man had an iron will, which was why she knew he could fix his wolf bond.
When Adrian had her on the ground, she pointed and told him how to find a release for what appeared to be a wall of stone. Following her instructions, he moved rocks aside then found the catch and lowered the cover shielding the entrance to her cave.
He flicked on a small LED that came from some pocket on those cargo pants.
“Go ahead of me. Five feet in ... flashlight on right ledge below ceiling.” She had to stop to draw another breath. “Then find lights on the ground inside cavern,” Jaz said, fighting to stay alert. She’d throw up but she had nothing in her stomach.
“Lights?” That’s all he said before he hurried in and quickly located the flashlight. Seconds later, he’d turned on two of her battery-operated lamps, revealing a room beyond the short tunnel.
When she found Kaiser’s location, she’d followed her Kodiak family’s advice to first set up a safe spot before meeting him. They’d made her promise to do this.
She’d thought it a waste of time at first, but she figured it would be nice to have a hideout if she couldn’t stay near Kaiser. Her Kodiak clan leader said she would be too far away for them to reach her if she needed her people.
Now, she thanked their wisdom to be prepared for the unexpected.
When Adrian came back to get her, she’d keeled over on her side. He carried her in and sat her on the ground near the entrance. “How do I close the opening?” His voice sounded more rattled every time he spoke. “Wait, I forgot the water bottles. You need water.”
“Water here. Find rope. Tie inside of cover. Pull shut.” She stayed upright by pure will. She sure as hell did not want to fall backwards against the spike even if nothing stuck out.
Adrian vanished.
She heard noises and a curse, which made her smile, then he returned. “Locked up. I see a bed roll. Let me open it out and get you face down before you fall over. Then we take that metal out of your back.”
Speaking was beyond her now.
Time didn’t exist. Only taking the next painful breath.
Lifting her face down over his arms, he lowered her to the blanket. She wanted to tell him if cutting out the titanium paralyzed her and she couldn’t heal the damage, not to blame himself. He carried so much guilt.
Her lips moved, but no words came out.
Material ripped down her back.
He talked to her the whole time. “I found the water and I’m heating my knife. I would give my right arm to have anesthesia.”
She couldn’t follow his words, but just his voice comforted her.
The last words she heard were, “Please forgive me.”
Excruciating pain followed. She screamed a blood curdling sound. It stole the last of her strength.
She wanted to die right there.
Anything to escape the fire in her back. Her mind hit its limit and she let go.
