Chapter 7

Cristian crossed his arms casually over his bare chest. He looked completely unfazed by Harlan's aggressive, lethal posture.

He taunted Harlan in a smooth, mocking tone. "A mere dirt-bound tiger cannot protect such a rare, exquisite treasure. You are outmatched, cat."

Harlan roared furiously in response. He took a heavy step forward into the deeper water. His muscles bunched, preparing to strike a fatal blow.

Cristian chuckled darkly. His pale body began to shimmer with a volatile, silver primal energy. The water around him churned.

He locked his gaze on Cadence. He promised her with chilling sincerity, "We will meet again very soon, little bird."

With a sudden, explosive splash, Cristian shifted back into a massive serpent. He vanished instantly into the fast, dark currents.

Harlan remained entirely tense. His muscles were coiled tight. He scanned the dark water for several long, agonizing minutes, waiting for another ambush.

Satisfied the immediate threat had retreated, Harlan relaxed his stance. He waded to the shore and shifted back into his human form.

He rushed up the bank to Cadence. He pulled her shivering, traumatized body into a desperate, bone-crushing embrace.

Cadence buried her face into his warm chest. The adrenaline crash hit her system hard. She trembled violently against him, unable to control her shaking limbs.

Harlan aggressively cursed the Serpent-Shifter aloud. His voice was laced with genuine panic and self-reproach. He had failed to keep her safe.

He quickly helped Cadence pull her modern clothes back on over her damp, cold skin. His massive hands were shaking slightly as he fumbled with her zipper.

He scooped her into his arms. He absolutely refused to let her walk the distance back to the village.

They returned to the stone hut in silence. The evening air turned sharply, bitingly cold as the sun fully set behind the mountains.

Harlan wrapped her tightly in multiple heavy furs on the stone slab. But Cadence's violent shivering did not stop. Her teeth chattered loudly.

He paced the small hut like a caged beast. He was furious at his failure to secure the perimeter perfectly.

Cadence tried to reassure him with a weak smile. Her lips were blue. She could not form words through the chattering of her teeth.

As the night deepens, Cadence's shivering suddenly transitioned. Her skin erupted into a heavy, unnatural, burning sweat.

Harlan pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. His eyes widened in horror at the intense, dangerous heat radiating from her skin.

He realized the combination of the freezing river water and the extreme psychological shock had made her severely ill. Her human body was failing.

Panic overriding protocol, Harlan rushed out of the hut. He sprinted at top speed toward the Shaman's dwelling in the center of the camp.

Cadence tossed and turned on the rough grass bed. Her mind slipped rapidly into a terrifying, feverish haze.

She mumbled deliriously in English. She called out for her grandfather. She begged for modern medicine, asking for aspirin and a glass of cold water.

Harlan burst back into the hut. He dragged a sleepy, bewildered Silas Finch by the arm.

Silas knelt quickly beside Cadence. He placed a hand glowing with soft green primal energy directly over her chest.

Silas closed his eyes. He focused his healing energy. His brow furrowed in deep concentration as he scanned her internal body.

The green light flickered erratically. It faded completely into nothingness. Silas pulled his hand back with a heavy, defeated sigh.

He shook his head grimly. He looked at Harlan. "Her malady is a cold evil. My external energy cannot purge it from her blood."

Silas stated flatly that she lacked primal fortitude. "She must rely entirely on her own weak vitality to survive the night. I can do nothing."

Harlan dropped heavily to his knees. He clutched Cadence's burning hand in both of his. Sheer, paralyzing terror gripped his heart, squeezing it tight.