“Huxley. Look at me.” Her vision swam, her throat raw.

His aura had faded to all but an ember.

She stroked his cheeks, her lips trembling. “I love you. I’ll mate with you, quire-griffin style and all. I’ll fucking mate with you. But only if you hold on.”

Her breath hurt, going in, going out, from her aching throat all the way down to her chest, to the epicenter of a pain so cutting it might annihilate her.

“Please,” she whispered.

His lips parted. Silver-gold shimmered as he opened his eyes just a slit. Breath rattling in his throat, he met her anguished stare. “Holding…on.”

She choked on a sob of relief. Her fingers tender on his skin, she caressed his jaw, his temples.

Raising his hand, he touched her lips. “Tell me…” he rasped. “Need to…hear&helli