Page 149 of Ravenous

Must catch him. He’ll slaughter her. As he did that last one.

The Witchwood rose before Thane, Strix Keep a dark promise in the distance. He sped through barren trees, scent light guiding him.

But something thudded wrong in his chest: Where were the traps Ditch had promised? The wards. The snares. The Witchwood yawned exposed. Had her enemies undone her protections too?

Then Straegan veered sharply.Awayfrom Ditch’s sublime thread?

Aye, his brother followed a pulsing lure, one Thane had scented in the past but couldn’t place.

His beast stilled. The threat had shifted. Something else called to Straegan.

But Ditch’s intoxicating scent overwhelmed Thane, irresistible. The moon amplified it, driving his beast wild.

His steps faltered on the last, thin tether of reason. Even knowing the impossibility of it, Thane fought to regain control. Yet his beast would never give up this night. It knew that Thane’sanything—up to a pointhadn’t been working, and it had a plan to protect Ditch totally.

Forever.

Gods almighty, if she canna defend herself, it’s going to take her through the portal.

Chapter 57Dagny

Labor.

It hit like a sword strike. She woke to a wrenching contraction and the sickening realization that her mate’s side of the bed was cold and empty.

“Torben!” The scream lodged in her throat as another wave of pain folded her over. Her water had broken, and the sheets were almost all blood. The room spun.

Something is very wrong.

She tried to stand, but her legs failed her, sending her to her knees on the fur rug. She struggled to rise. Couldn’t. Pain doubled, then tripled…each contraction hitting faster and faster, as if her body raced to get this child born.

She crawled from the back room and screamed for help. Where was Torben? Why had she fought with him? They never fought! She’d sent him away.Take more than a minute, she’d told him.

Control. Breathe.Safely birth this baby.She could handle pain, but the thought of her child being hurt choked her. Her lungs seized.

Torben, where are you?

Her body had changed for pregnancy; she could only hope her mind had too, because horrible thoughts filled it. Horrible feelings.

Dread.

And it centered on Torben. As her mate, he should sense her distress. Yet he still hadn’t returned from their fight. He was probably out bartering for apresent to make up for their quarrel. Of course, he would return soon. She told herself this.

She’d made it halfway to the cave door when snow crunched outside.Ah, Torben, thank gods!The flap opened, and she cried, “Quick, love, get the midwife…”

“There’s no time for a midwife, child,” Hulda said, cheeks damp with tears. “You’ll be executed before then.”

Clarity hit Dagny like a bolt tapping the Channeler Stone, shaping her forever. “Like Torben?”

Hulda gave a sob.

Shock. Cold. Emotions gone frozen. Even Dagny’s Berserkerage seemed struck into quiescence. Her physical anguish too. A relative graze.

Hulda whispered, “And Arctos is gone as well.” She cried harder.

“Who did these deeds? Who is coming for me?”Who will I kill once this babe leaves the comfort of my body?Another contraction racked her as the head began to crown.

“Yrsa and Torben both entered the ravines earlier, but only she returned, blood all over her. She often goes to meet Prince Co?tin. They’ve been working together. Lovers of a sort.”