Page 49 of Hellhounds Never Lie

Except inside of standing, I fell. Forward. Face first. Right into Dillon's fiery hellhound body.

And then there was nothing.

ChapterEighteen

DILLON

"Ash!"

No. This couldn't be happening.

Ash’d collided with my hellhound form. Fuck, fuck, fuck. My heart stopped for a moment, then pounded faster than ever. My shout came out as a howl for help as my shift erupted over me. As soon as my hands formed, I grabbed for the little mage. I didn’t want to look, but I had to.

I rubbed my hands over my little witch's face and chest and arms and... He… He wasn't burned. I didn’t know what had happened, but I wasn’t sure if my heart would ever recover. He was okay. I exhaled harshly and gathered him close.

Then my hand hit something wet and warm.

The stench of blood was everywhere. But this… This was Ash's blood. Fuck. I’d sensed something was wrong with Ash, but why hadn't he said anything? I stood with Ash in my arms and bolted for the stairs.

"Help," I shouted. "Ash is bleeding."

And then Van was there, calling for an ambulance and showing me how to apply pressure over the hole—the fucking hole from a fucking bullet—in Ash's back. The local doctor, Roberts I thought his name was, came running over with an old-fashioned medical bag.

"I didn't mean to," Dot cried. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn't think it was that bad. He… He seemed fine. I…"

She was lying. Smoke curled from my nostrils, and I snapped my teeth at her. The only thing keeping me from lunging for her was my need to care for Ash.

She cowered.

“Keep applying pressure,” the doctor demanded, pulling my attention back.

She started muttering insincere apologies again, but her words were lost under my low incessant growling. Finally, someone hauled her away, so I didn't have to listen to her bullshit. If the doctor hadn’t needed me to help him with Ash, I would have shut her the fuck up permanently, even if I doubted Ash would want me to kill her. He was too kindhearted and sweet and…

He was bleeding all over the damn floor.

If Ash died…

No. I couldn’t think like that.

"He touched me," I said as I stared down at Ash. "He touched my hellhound, and he wasn't hurt."

Van sucked in a breath, then grabbed my shoulder and squeezed. "We'll save him, I promise."

"I don't understand. How could he…?" I looked up to meet Van's gaze.

"He's your mate," Van said. "Only a fated mate wouldn't be harmed by your hellhound."

"My mate." My breath hitched. I’d suspected as much, almost from the moment I’d seen him, but having it confirmed like this was bittersweet. Tears streamed down my face.

"Did you hear that, firecracker?" My voice broke as I whispered to Ash. "You’re my mate. Which means you’re stuck with me. So, you have to fight to stay here with me, you hear me? Always. It's going to be you and me. I knew you were special the moment I saw you on that road. I didn't know you would be my home, but I knew… Shit, Ash, you've got to stay with me."

ChapterNineteen

ASH

What the fuck had happened?

I tried opening my eyes.