KALLE

"Elia!

" Gahrye gasped.

The poor woman shivered on all fours on the carpet at the end of her bed and Kalle's breath stopped. She looked terrible. She was pale. There were dark circles under her eyes. Her arms were too thin, but her stomach… her stomach was very round.

"Can't… hold it,

" she said through gritted teeth.

"You have to… have to take me… I'll try to help, but… can't stop sh-shift—

"

"Can you hear me when you're shifted?!

" Gahrye gasped, rushing to her and taking one of her hands. A dart of pain sliced through Kalle's chest. Of course he had to speak with her. He had to leave Kalle to help Elia—she knew that. But this moment… right now? He'd thrown himself away from her without a thought when… when they might not get another moment together.

Shaking her head, Kalle pushed away the selfish thought. It had been her instinct to run to Elia, too. And Gahrye was vowed to her service. Of course he ran. He had to. It was the right thing for him to do.

But as she saw him, palms up, getting close to her, that urgency and concern on his gorgeous face, Kalle was hit all over again with the overwhelming sense of loss so her vision blurred.

Elia turned her face up to him, her eyes still fierce and golden, and she nodded.

"I c-can, hear you but… but it's getting weaker. This world is killing me, Gahrye. I can't—

"

"I know, I know. We'll get you out! Hold on!

" Heedless of anything but the need to get Elia back to the Portal, Gahrye leaped up and raced back to Kalle who was shaking, but she shoved the bag into his hand and sobbed his name. He grabbed her to his chest and whispered,

"Forever, Kalle. I'll wait forever.

"

She grabbed his face like it was a lifeline in the water, trying so hard to remember the certain warmth of his skin under her hands, the rough prick of his stubble under her palms. His eyes widened and he stared at her, his mouth slightly open. Kalle planted a kiss on him, then pushed him back a step, nodding.

"Go. Just go. Get her out of here,

" with the tears hitching in her throat.

A broken cry broke in Gahrye's chest, too, but after a breath staring their love at each other, he turned on his heel.

"I still need my—

"

But they were both looking at Elia now, who'd made a strange noise. She was quivering, both hands back on the carpet, her eyes screwed closed.

"T-take me b-back,

" she said through clenched teeth, every muscle in her arms and back standing proud as she rippled and fought off the shift.

"If I'm g-gonna d-die… wanna d-do it over th-there.

"

"Elia, just a few minutes. If we can get you to the Portal you won't shift while you're in it. You'll keep—

"

She turned her head and opened her golden eyes, her forehead furrowed.

"T-too late,

" she whispered, and tumbled into the beast.

Gahrye let loose a string of curses. He dropped the bag and the lioness whipped away from him, around behind the bed, to crouch below its level, her shoulders pressing up to shadow her head as she peered around the end of the bedframe to stare at him.

Gahrye's shoulders slumped and stared at her, his breath heaving in his chest.

"I know you're in there. You listen,

" he said through his teeth.

"You have to follow me. You have to come with me. I'm… we're just waiting to find out how we can do this. Either you need to make the Beast stay with me, or we'll wait outside the Portal and you need to fight, Elia! Fight harder than you ever have in your life. Take yourself back. The minute—the second you shift, we'll go through. But we have to get out there and she can't flee from us… she can't hurt us. You have to control her, somehow…

" he trailed off, shaking his head as the lioness let a low growl roll in her massive chest.

Then he turned to face Kalle and she could see his fear. His despair.

"Gahrye, don't! This isn't your fault!

" she cried and crossed to him to pull him close. They wrapped their arms around each other and plastered themselves together.

Gahrye's hand was fisted in her hair and his other fist clenched behind her back. His breath tore in and out of his throat. He kept muttering curses under his breath, but he held her so tightly… Kalle wished for more.

When he dropped his head to her shoulder, still panting and cursing, she shook her head, then took his chin in her hand and forced him to meet her eyes.

"We'll figure it out,

" she said.

"We'll make it happen. There's no point blaming yourself—or anyone else. If she can't control it, she can't control it. You're right. We'll get her out there and we'll wait. And the minute… the minute she's back you'll go.

"

Gahrye eyes were red and wild.

"I can't take a grown lioness into the garden in a city,

" he said.

"She might kill someone. And the more she's forced into her beast instincts, the harder it will be for her to get back.

"

"Well, like I said, we'll figure it out.

"

They stared at each other and Gahrye's expression changed from frustration and fear, to grief and love.

"I couldn't have done this—even this much—without you,

" he said.

"You're the Creator's gift to me, Kalle.

"

Her lip began to tremble and she wanted to panic. But instead, she swallowed the tears back and made her voice calm.

"And you're mine,

" she said simply.

"Now… I'm going to call Grandma and see if she's had any luck. And you're going to get these bags out to the door, and then we're going to figure this thing out.

"

He nodded.

"I love you, Kalle.

"

"I love you more.

"

He just shook his head..

"Not possible.

"