“Non, we will not leave him.” Naomi’s voice was filled with sadness. “I will take him.”
I fought to control my emotions. My battle with Marinette had taken too long. I had no idea how long I’d been out, but it was too late. I’d lost him. Danny had tried his best to protect me and he’d run out of time. I let it happen. “Naomi, his wolf form is too big for you to handle on your own. I’ll carry him out.”
Rourke broke through the deteriorating circle right as Ray landed in front of us. Rourke crossed the expanse in no time. Then his hands were on me, helping me to my feet. “What’s going on?” he asked. I couldn’t speak. “Jessica, what’s happened here?” He glanced down at Naomi and Danny.
“Um”—Marcy cleared her voice behind me—“we lost Danny. He was poisoned with the bokor’s curse and he… just ran out of time.”
Ray walked over to Naomi and bent down to look at Danny. Naomi immediately tensed, tightening her hold on her mate.
“It’s okay,” Ray told Naomi, his voice quiet and soothing. “I’m not going to hurt him. I just want to take a look.”
I turned to Rourke, resting my forehead against his chest. “His bond to me has vanished,” I murmured. “I can’t feel him any longer. He’s dead.”
“It’s true,” Ray added. “He’s gone. He’s not breathing and his heart isn’t beating. All his functions have shut down.”
I lifted my head off of Rourke as Naomi eased Danny onto the ground in front of her. Right then my father and his wolves entered the circle.
My father’s voice boomed over the quietness. “What’s going on here?”
“Danny is gone,” I answered.
My father came forward and bent on one knee, his hand going into Danny’s fur to check. “Well, he certainly isn’t breathing, but he’s still in his wolf form”—my father glanced up, meeting my gaze—“but wolves always shift back to human when they die.”
Naomi nodded. “He just passed. I am certain he will shift soon.”
Her quiet fortitude rocked me and I had to tamp down my anguish once again. If she could handle herself with such grace, I had to do the same. I moved to her side and took her hand while we all waited for Danny to change back.
Ray shook his head, regret in his voice. “What a loss. And there was nothing I could do. It’s clear he was cursed, but I didn’t see anything to get rid of inside him. It’s not like it was with Jessica’s father. There’s nothing to take out, but his soul is hanging on by a thread, so go figure.”
“What do you mean there’s no curse? There has to be,” I sputtered. “That’s what killed him!”
“Nope, his body is clean,” Ray said. “No curse.”
I cried as I broke away from Naomi’s grasp and plunged my hands into Danny’s fur once again, pouring my power into him, searching for Marinette’s magic.
Ray was right.
The curse was nowhere in sight. But that couldn’t be right. How could it have disappeared?
Rourke stood behind me, and my father moved in next to me, putting his hands on Danny’s head. “Jessica,” my father addressed me. “I know this is hard for you. Losing a wolf always is. Daniel Walker was bonded to you. Because of that, I cannot help him. But he’s still in his wolf form. I’m not saying it will work, but there might be a chance. Try to save him if you can.”
“I’m trying”—tears rushed down my face—“but his bond to me is broken. I can’t feel anything. I’m transferring my power to him and he’s not waking up. His heart is not beating.”
“Jessica.” Rourke knelt down next to me. “We all know you’re doing your best. Keep trying, we have time—not a lot, but we can spare a few more moments. There might be something we’re missing.”
“I’m trying to find it,” I said miserably, “but there’s nothing here.” Do you sense anything? What killed him? I asked my wolf.
Tyler burst into the clearing. “Hey,” he yelled, “water is filling this place up like a bathtub and there are more than a few gators out there that seem interested. We have to get going. I sent some wolves back out to gather the boats and come around to this side—” He stopped dead in his tracks. I knew the instant he figured out what had happened. “No. He can’t be dead. It’s not possible.” He dropped to his knees beside me, as Rourke moved to make room, his eyes furious. “Why aren’t you helping him?” he accused. “He’s not dead! He can’t be dead. You have to fix this! You’re his Alpha, for chrissake.”
Grief wound its way through my heart. Tyler was right. I’d let Danny down. I was his Alpha and I’d sent him here on his own to fight a battle he couldn’t win.
My father responded for me. “We are doing all we can. Jessica is pouring power into him right now. He’s unresponsive, and has been for some time.”
“I’m so sorry, Tyler.” I bowed my head. “I don’t know how else to help him. He was like this when I woke up.”