a's

side Chris, planting both palms over his

grab my medical kit. The four of you, get that motorcycle off him, b

work on his injuries. I secured a bandage around the gash in his leg to stem the bleeding, and then carefully examined his chest. After loca

more alarming than the last. I had no idea how long I worked on him, but g

blood stopp

kward into the muddy water, my chest he

e another to me, their fa

She was telling the tru

n earlier hesitated before finally finding

ut as a rough rasp, and I barely recogn

et, barely aware of her surroundings as the fever raged through her. The moment she spot

." I scooped her into my arms

truck. A grizzled older rider climbed out and gave me a sharp, questioning look. "Y

ng to dodge us. You really thin

examined my makeshift bandage before carefully chec

anyone had tried to pull him free, he wouldn't have su

he ground. One by one, everyone's attention shifted toward the riders who had pinned me

onds before finally saying, "Come on, get in the truck

truck bed, I cradled Nova against my chest while keeping my other hand firmly pressed against Chris' wound as he

ravely stretched her arm toward me anyway. "It

ered open. Rather than turning toward me, he st

girl... she'

r him toward her, but his strength g

its neon sign glowing with the words "Ashbound Motorcycle Cl

first clear look at his face. His sheer size was staggering. Two riders had to support his upper body while another

verwhelming my senses, I could

mething long dorma

in years, not since the day I'd

.

's vice president. "Chris got two fractured ribs and a minor concussion

as clearly too short for him. His long legs extended past the ma

ed a faint movement beneath his eyelids. Hi

inally up. How

and he managed a faint, ras

esitation and drained the entire glass in a matter of seconds. As he lowered it, his attention s

ou were trying not to hit us. I've taken care of your injuries, and my

, though his gaze neve

medical kit, but before I could walk aw

y in his voice. He wasn

g despite the light. A faint twitch of his nostrils followed, as if he were searching for a familiar scent, trying to make s

ght to me. The smell of scorched charcoal and chilled iron reached

n the garden all those years ago. Back then, that feeling had led me to

led against my wrist. The contact sent a sudden spark racing up my arm and straigh

th the faded gray mark along my neck, reminding me that th

ldn't expect the Moon Goddess t

and then tugged my collar aside to exp