Catalyst Read online

Chapter 19

  Will heard the blast, but was so taken with Kahli that the change didn't register. He thought the burning runes under his skin were from her touch. Too late, he realized the true reason for the runes burning - Reggie was near.

  When the rock exploded, Will tried to shield Kahli, but they were torn apart from the blast. She was launched toward the opening. Before she was out of reach, Will shoved Kahli past the falling ceiling. Then, he was blasted backwards across the room. Will watched Kahli fall. The ceiling above them cracked open and debris rained down. Large sheets of ice and rock fell swiftly, crashing into the floor with a deafening CRACK. The table where they'd been sitting was flattened. The metal chair legs snapped like toothpicks and went flying across the room like shrapnel. The final blast sent down more of the ceiling, trapping Will under a massive stone of jagged concrete. Frozen earth continued to cave in from above, burying Will alive.

  Then it fell silent. His heart raced, echoing in his ears. The boulder pinned him to the floor. Before he had a chance to call out to her, Kahli screamed. Will's heart felt like it would explode as it banged into his ribs. Holding his hands to the rock, Will tried to squirm out from beneath the stone. Kahli's blood made him stronger, otherwise he wouldn't have had a chance. Pressing his hands against the side of the massive piece of concrete, Will pushed. It rocked slightly. Will worked frantically, trying to get to Kahli before they were gone, before she was taken by Reggie.

  After what happened, he doubted the Regent would allow Kahli to live. Will rocked the stone until he moved it just enough to pull free. Will stood swiftly, his hands floating up to his sides. Snowflakes floated through the air, pure white, until they slipped lazily into the shadows. Before he could take a step, the ground beneath Will pitched sharply. He blinked, trying to stop the sensation from overwhelming him. When he looked down at his leg, it was covered in blood. Blinking again, Will held his hands to his head, pressing against his temples and closing his eyes, but it didn't help. The room spun wildly and brought him to his knees. Will roared as he fell, trying to fight what was happening to him. The crack to his head, the wound on his leg, they both crippled him when Kahli needed him the most. Falling to his hands, Will looked up in time to see Kahli pulled over the ledge, screaming. Reggie restrained her and dragged Kahli away. Before Will could blink again, the world faded to black.

  __

  When Will awoke, he heard something familiar. Warm breath washed across his face, followed by a rank scent that could only mean one thing. Wolves. Will's eyes shot open to see a white wolf hovering over him. The animal's black lips were pulled back into a snarl, but she didn't attack. Will moved slowly, pulling his body away from the animal.

  "Easy," he said in soothing tones. "Easy, girl. "

  The wolf stared at him with amber eyes, its head cocking to the side slightly. Will's pulse roared in his ears. Slowly, he pushed away from the mouth filled with fangs. Will watched the wolf, wondering if Kahli felt the same way about his fangs. His stomach sank when he thought of her. He was supposed to protect Kahli, keep her safe. Will cursed, and pushed up slowly. His leg and head had healed on their own, but the blood must have attracted the wolf.

  Glancing at the remains of the safe house, Will saw the silver foil packets scattered across the ground. One packet was right next to his foot. He bent slowly, reaching for it. The wolf's hackles raised, her fur blowing in the wind. Will didn't have time to deal with this, and he had no weapon to kill the animal. Like all wolves, this one was hungry. Will's fingers brushed against the packet. He tore it open and tossed it to the wolf. Her jaws snapped at the foil as it fell in front of her. Growling from deep within her throat, the wolf looked at Will like she was ready to jump on his chest and rip open his throat, but the scent of the packet distracted her. The beast blinked like it was confused, and then lowered her head, sniffing the packet. Will didn't move. He waited until her nose was inside the foil, her long pink tongue licking out the contents with vigor. The wolf didn't notice him slip away.