nd fat shone across its surface. Then, something tightened around

t. The roasted meat faded behind a dark blur while the strength left her ar

ped her throat. She could feel h

the stone wall in the firelight

ithin his eyes, venomous darkness twisted and thickened.

bruised purple. Her lips began to tremble. Tears gathered and the

rt, someone caught Danny's wrist in a br

rass like a puppet whose strings had been severed. Violent coughs shook

u, Danny?" Asher's voice cut th

as he stared at Danny. "Do you wa

illed the bonded female, the backlash from the beast mark struck every male

anny continued to watch Hannah's trembling back, an

aid nothing as he turned and marched out of the cave. A faint gleam fl

ss Asher's brow while

s body, and the torment had continued through endless days and nights.

ut Hannah truly seem

d to Hannah while her

Danny had probably used his spiritua

eyes. Bits of dried grass had stuck to them

necklace had left a cut that remained

hen, he crouched beside her, even th

ul of dried wound-herb. Devin had given it to him

chewed until it became a fine pulp.

n he took Hannah's hand. He then raised

rb touched her skin, and a quiet

ip from a cleaner section of animal hide. He wrapped it

self-consciousness came over him. He rose at once, turned away, and crossed to the

hing had grown steady, and only the occasiona

as her eyes opened, a dull pressure ground against her neck. E

ater. A hoarse rasp came from her

ent to her neck on instinct, and her fingers f

happene

clay pot of water and

faint patch of redness showed on her neck,

murmured to herself. Then, she scooped up

ld could become dangerous. The milder cases brought dizziness and weaknes

't afford to wait when her fath

she had right now. Their journey co

t took, she had

r and wiped her face. The cold shock

en she realized someone had carefully bandaged yesterday's cut. A thin scab now covered

went

ve bandaged

st night, but she hadn't heard anyone enter the

t, she needed to encoura

earn her better trea

real kindness, but perhaps their

to the cave entrance. She cleared her sore th

ppeared the momen

, and Danny. All five mates noticed her neck at nearly

realizing it, he clutched the herb

ebrow and glanced f

e while conflicting emotions

ay. Danny kept his eyes down, w

ough for the others t

ce last night, Danny w

etween them. She smiled and asked,

red for seve

scovered the attack and in

they had done nothing. Since one of them had actually

d the reckless resignation of someone with nothing left to lose. When he s

atever you want to me, but leave the others

guard. "What are you talking

wound, so I owe you a thank-you. Let's make a deal. If any of you bandage me

at her in shock,

her neck at all. She was asking