“It’s… okay,” her voice is a soothing whisper. Salt that burns but tries to disinfect.
She’s not alright!
“What’s happening?” Sofia’s panic rings in the background.
“I don’t know.” Hector’s worry plagues me more.
I don’t know either! Everett never mentioned… suddenly it’s not my mate in my arms. It’s Everett, dying as he speaks his final words. “I give my magic of time-weaving to you, Titus, to use until you find the Vitalis; then, I release my magic back into the lands. But my magic of foresight, I release back into the world. If you were to see what you must endure, you would grab the sword from my heart and thrust it into yours.”
I would have plunged that blade through my heart if I had seen this.
“No!” I glare at Selene. I see my future in those green eyes. My destiny!
Our love is what poets preach; it will replace tavern songs. Two enemies forced to love, forced to fight side by side to save the world.
I grab her hand, spreading her fingers wide. Fingers that tried to kill me, shatter my heart with an arrow. Hands that loved my body, mended my fractured mind.
These hands are what carry me now. Why do they feel cold?
“Bend your fingers around mine and hold me! Hold onto me!” I roar.
Nothing. No lover’s touch comes from her hand.
Did she know?!
Did she know?
No…
No!
Is that why she fought the bond at first?
I sink my fangs into my wrist and then push my blood into her mouth. She chokes on it, swallowing some. “Drink! It will heal you.”
She tries to swallow.“Titus…” All the blood she drinks is coughed up. “This is different. This can’t be healed. It has to be set free.”
“I don’t understand.”
Her fingers fall limp over mine. “You do.” Blood drips from Selene’s nose. Reaching up, I push it back inside.Stop bleeding! Stop!More slides out.Fuck no!I wipe it away with my sleeve. “Titus…”
I glide my thumb over her cheek. Blush for me! “Come on! Stop looking so pale, Selene,” I seethe.
Her lips turn ashen, dry, and cracked. Bending down, I kiss them, breathing life back into my mate.
Come on, kiss me back with more passion!
I add more pressure as I twist my tongue over hers.
Come on!
She tries to kiss me back… tries so hard.
My tears stain her face. “Whatever is happening needs to stop. Do you understand!” I shake her. “You’re my gods-damn heart, my life, Selene. Selene! Stop this… it hurts… please stop. What happened? Tell me so I can fix it!” I look over her body for damage, but I see no deadly wound.
But her skin is all wrong; it’s too sallow, her eyes are yellowing, her pink lips are blue, her tongue sticks to the roof of her mouth as she tries to reply.
“What happened?” I beg her. I didn’t allow Sable to speak! I stopped her. My fire burned her tongue before she could curse Selene.
