Free Trust (Chasing Shadows) by Mia Fox

is a morning necessity, where do I fall?”
    “Five times higher,” I would answer.
    She tried to wiggle out of my grasp. “Only five times? That doesn’t really seem good enough to postpone a cup of joe.”
    “Make it ten times,” I said, squeezing my leg around hers so that she couldn’t escape.
    “Only ten?”
    “Ella...”
    “Yeah?”
    “You’re a million times better,” I answered quite seriously and kissed the tip of her nose.
     
    Then, a kiss on her nose was quickly abandoned for running my lips down her neck and then some. But right now, I couldn’t be selfish and I also knew that in order for Ella to survive, Ethan had to as well.
    “Ella, Ella,” I called until she stirred awake. She needed to help him. Now.

Chapter 26 - Ella
     
     
    There was something different about Nate’s tone. Normally, I woke up to his sexy voice, a low huskiness that spoke of desire. But this was different. He sounded nervous and slightly impatient as if he had been trying to wake me to no avail.
    “I’m here. What’s wrong?”
    “Are you okay? You’re not too cold?”
    “Well, it’s cold out there, but I’m okay here,” I said embarrassed, realizing that Nate was here watching me and I was wrapped inside Ethan’s sleeping bag.
    “Nothing happened, Nate.”
    “That’s not what’s bothering me. Besides, that isn’t my place, not anymore.” I raised my head to look at him and took in his furrowed brow. Gorgeous as ever with his green eyes that were lined with dark lashes, but there was something else in those eyes. A sadness, but also hope. They drunk me in and I wished with all my heart that things were the way they used to be.
    “Don’t say that, Nate. I never want to hurt you.”
    “You never could. It would hurt me more to think of you wasting away your life. Ethan needs you right now...”
    “What?!” I was not going to have this sort of conversation.
    “Ella! Not like that. Look at him.”
    That’s when I noted that Ethan’s breathing was uneven and ragged. Panicked, I turned to Ethan and realized that he was burning up.
    “How could I not have realized?”
    “You were still out of it from everything you’ve been through.”
    “His body feels like it’s on fire. What’s wrong with him?”
    “Snake bite. You need to get the venom out of his hand before it spreads further into his bloodstream.”
    I gently lifted Ethan’s injured hand and my eyes opened wide at the sight of its extreme swelling. I gently touched my hand to his brow.
    “Do it now, Ella. There’s no time to waste.”
    “What are you suggesting?”
    Nate indicated Ethan’s pack. “He has a scout knife in there. It’s not the sharpest, but it’ll work.”
    “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me. I can’t hurt him!”
    “Ella, you’re going to save him.”
    I took a deep breath and nodded, more to myself than Nate. I needed to get my head in the game. Ethan had already done so much for me. He came back after I left him here. He braved the cold and ensured that I didn’t die of hypothermia. He risked his life for me. And now, his life was in jeopardy.
    “Ready,” I said, waiting for Nate to give me further instructions.
    He pointed to the place where two fang marks were visible between Ethan’s thumb and index finger. “Make one incision there.”
    I held the knife in my hand and gingerly felt the sharp tip with my index finger. This was going to hurt.
    “You’re doing this to help him, like he helped you. Do it now. There isn’t time to waste.”
    I placed the knife against one fang mark and lightly traced to the other, preparing where to cut, but I shook my head. “I can’t cut him with this. I just can’t.”
    “Ella, you have to or he won’t make it,” Nate said firmly.

Chapter 27 - Ethan
     
     
    I could make out the sound of Ella talking to someone she imagined to be close by. A feeling of total despair hit me. I was too weak to do anything to help her and she was obviously hallucinating again. I