His agonized scream echoed through centuries. “I’m sorry—I’m so sorry—kill me?—”
“No,” I mourned, grief eating through every bone. “No, Kratos. That would be mercy.”
I laid my hand on his heart, my magic trembling and broken. “I curse you to remember. Life after life. Era after era. Until she—the girl who carries my soul—sees the truth.”
My voice cracked as the mark flared.
And until you understand what true love requires… You will always be too late.
I came back to myself screaming.
Not figuratively. Actually screaming.
My men jerked their heads toward me—each of them going feral in an instant, searching our surroundings for danger. Jet pulled me in front of him and clutched me to his massive chest in desperation.
“Nexi, what the fuck is going on? Did you see something?” Nathan shouted.
“She’s hurt. She’s broken. I feel it.” Zane babbled, jumping off his horse and pulling me from Jet’s death grip.
“Her mark flared,” Jet rumbled. “I saw it. I FELT it.”
Oren pulled me away from Zane and held me tight enough to hurt. “Baby, look at me—breathe—just breathe.”
My fathers ran over, each of them confused but ready to defend my invisible enemy.
Only my mother seemed to understand. Her face, filled with heartbreaking concern for me, gave me the strength I needed to overcome the panic.
Tanya jumped off her horse, eyes wide. “Are you okay?”
I could still feel the blood. The broken Faction. Kratos’s desperation and Lilibet’s heartbreak.
Oren cupped my face. “Reverie. Say something. Anything.”
My voice trembled. “I saw Lilibet.”
Everyone froze.
“And… Kratos.”
Oren’s voice deepened. “Kratos? As in the Ancestor who?—”
“No,” I stared into his eyes intently. My chest hurt like I’d been stabbed. “Not an Ancestor.”
They all stared.
I swallowed. “Kratos was part of her Faction.”
“Like us?” Zane took one of my hands in his.
“Yes,” I choked.
“And he…” Zeke hesitated. “He betrayed her?”
My throat closed.
Oren brushed a tear from my cheek with shaking fingers. “Baby… what exactly did you see?”
I looked at him.
