“You cannot do this.”
A nasty hiss works its way up my throat as I pin her to the ground, snarling in her face. Dover is there in an instant, but Jace appears in front of him, pressing a cautionary hand to his chest.
“You will bring back something unnatural that you will have to kill all over again if you do this,” Mar says calmly, despite my assault.
“I have no choice. I can’t lose him.”
“You cannot do this alone,” she pleads.
“Thenhelpme.” A loud sob severs my words. I try again, whispering, “Help me.”
“I don’t know how.” She hesitates for a moment. “But I know who might be able to.”
I fall back onto my heels, releasing her.
“Who?”
She sits up. “My coven.”
84
JACE
7 DAYS
“Let’s go.”
Serena shoves to her feet, the tears drying on her blood-streaked face as an eerie calm befalls her.
“Jace, get his other side,” she orders. I give her a wary look.
“Serena—”
“GET HIS OTHER SIDE!”
Her shout rebounds off the tower walls. She glowers at me, fangs bared, her fingers sparking tiny flames. She doesn’t seem to notice. She is possessed. There is desperation in her like I’ve never seen. Reasoning with her in this state will be impossible.
This is my fault. Mine and Zadyn’s. We thought we were protecting her by locking her up. Zadyn succeeded in getting the armies to retreat. But once they find out it wasn’t Kylian who gave the order, they will be back.
It was a temporary solution with catastrophic consequences.
Dover takes the blanket off the cot in the corner to shroud Zadyn’s body. Even though I think this is a terrible idea, I help lift him.
Serena stops at her room to change and grab Arden’s grimoire, then meets us on the lawns where Furi waits, sending blaring howlsup into the cresting sunrise. My eyes snag on the two bodies bounding toward us.
“Who is that?” Sorscha asks, noting the covered body. Eaton stands beside her in silver armor, breathing hard, his hair windblown.
I turn to him, shaking my head. The realization settles in his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
He sheathes his sword and takes a step toward his friend’s body, his face twisting in confusion and rage. Sorscha claps a hand over her mouth.
“What happened,” Eaton grits.
“I did,” Serena says without looking back. “And I’m going to make it right.”
Eaton watches Dover and Kai load Zadyn onto Furi’s back, his face a mask of shock.
“You have to stay here,” Mar says to me.
