No one moved at first. We simply watched the dragons as Payne attacked them in the sky. It was clear he was exhausted, but there were so many. Joy couldn’t hold her dragon form any longer, and that’s why she was on the ground with us. Plus, she was becoming transparent, too.
Nova stepped forward, which had August saying, “No.”
“We have no choice,” Nova began. “I’m the only one able to destroy them. I’ll definitely destroy Harvest this time.”
“We don’t know what will happen if you try to use that much magic.”
“We don’t have time.” Nova gripped August’s shoulder as she gestured to August’s transparent limbs. “You have fought this fight longer them me. All of you have. It’s my turn.”
“Nova.” There was a plea in his voice.
“I don’t want to die, August, and I don’t want you to fade. I have so much to atone for.”
“Fucking no!” August snapped, his voice a mere croak. “You say you don’t want to die but speak about atonement. You’re not doing that. I swear to fucking—fuck! Just listen to me, please. I just got you back. Please don’t do this to me.” August fell to his knees, and I couldn’t look at them anymore.
My heart couldn’t take another jab. We were fading, but the marked mates. They’d remain there with the outcome of whatever happened.
We watched August beg and plead, so none of us noticed Harvest until he had my hair fisted in his hold and a blade pressed to my throat with the other hand.
“Don’t even think about attacking me, Nova,” Harvest warned her. “Not when you have so many dragons coming for you.”
Just as he spoke, the beasts started lunging from the sky. Nova started blasting them. They started exploding.
“No!” August said.
Luke ported in front of me instantaneously. His gaze flickered over Harvest’s hold on my hair, but he didn’t let on what he was feeling. He remained still, so still that Harvest seemed offended.
“Ah, see now? See how quick he appears when you’re in danger?” Harvest spat beside my feet. “It makes no sense, does it? I mean, look at you, fading away, and he’s just letting it happen.”
Luke stepped forward. I winced as the blade nicked my skin.
“Step any closer and she’s dead,” Harvest said, and Luke stopped.
Luke eyed my neck before his jaws tightened at Harvest. “You shouldn’t have done that. Until now, you’ve been a necessity. You’ve helped me get what I want, but it’s time for you to go back to nothing.”
Harvest put so much pressure on my hair; I could feel the sting of strands snapping from my scalp. “I’m not dying. You are. Get on your knees, or I kill her.”
My eyes widened. Luke did as Harvest asked instantly. Harvest laughed. “You’re not so powerful now, are you? Look at you on your knees for me.”
Luke met my gaze as he said, “I’m not on my knees for you.”
My eyes watered.
Harvest glanced around at my siblings and their mates. “One of you, kill him.” When no one moved, he screamed, “Kill him or I kill her! He’s mortal.”
“And so are you,” Luke murmured.
Before I could process what was happening, Luke’s tail shot out for the blade around my neck. He freaking impaled the tip of his tail onto the weapon so it couldn’t touch my skin. Once I saw blood curdling, I pushed away from Harvest, and Luke struck him like a bolt of lightning.
“You were created from the darkness within me. It’s something I should have never let out.” Luke’s eyes brightened as he yanked Harvest closer.
“No, no. Let go of me!” Harvest thrashed in his creator’s grip, fear overtaking his already pale features until his skin turned an ashy, sickly blue.
I staggered back, horrified, watching as Luke’s jaw…stretched. It dropped lower and lower, joints cracking and popping like bones breaking under pressure. It didn’t stop. It was like watching someone unroll a rug—if that rug were made of a nightmare.
Harvest’s screams tore through the air as the fire snuffed out on his head. His wide eyes pleaded for life. He clawed at Luke’sarms, ripping through skin and muscle until blood ran freely—but Luke didn’t budge. He never loosened his grip.
My mate didn’t look like himself anymore. He didn’t even look like somethingfromthis world. His mouth hung impossibly low, unhinged beyond any natural anatomy—even worse than the banshee’s. I knew what he was about to do. My stomach turned, but I couldn’t look away.
