“Raya!” I yelled, but my voice was only one of many crying out.
What in the Fates?
I couldn’t even see my hand in front of my own face.
I stayed still, unmoving until the darkness faded, allowing me to see again. I twisted around, trying to regain my bearings.
Then I heard it. An agonized scream I recognized all too well.
It was only then that I saw her. Lana, holding her dagger lodged in Kade’s chest, screaming a sound I would never unhear for as long as I lived.
Chapter 43
Lana
Anumbing cold spread through my body as I lay on top of my mate.
Gone.
Kade was dead.
I hadn’t let go of the stupid fucking dagger yet. I couldn’t.
Letting go meant it was finished.
Illiana.
The light, still depleted from purging the darkness from the world—from Kade—writhed inside of me.
My eyelids were heavy as I lay my head on Kade’s chest.
I could lie here with him. Go with him. Follow to where he swore he’d wait for me.
Perhaps I should.
Wind whipped through my hair, chilling me to the core.
“No,” I said out loud, though my voice came out strangled and hoarse.
Again, the sensation came, crawling over me.
“Leave me alone,” I hissed at the wind around me.
My body stopped drowning in pain the third time the wind whipped through my hair. Enough that I lifted my head from Kade’s body, the motion painful, as if I was ripping out my soul.
When I looked up, time had slowed. The battle continued, but for this short blink of existence, I saw everything.
The noise of my breath exhaling echoed too loudly in my ears. My hair blew across my damp face. Despite how broken it was, my heart still beat. Slow. Alone.
Ian fought, facing in my direction as if he meant to make his way toward me. Raya was close behind, the pain etched on her face unbearable to see.
Another breeze caressed my face as I noticed Storm running toward me, fire haloing his entire body as he barreled through the army.
Storm.He’d be devastated.
I blinked again, my hand twitching slightly on Kade’s chest while one still clutched Apollo.
Beyond Storm, Kalliah sat on the ground, Jax lying with his head in her lap, as Leif fought a dark one next to them. Jax was strangely still as Kalliah moved above him, unbothered by the oncoming attacks Leif faced protecting them. Fates, I couldn’t tell what was wrong.
