“Stella! Emett, take care of Emett, please! I have to go! I have to go.” I’m pushing past the people standing in my way before I can catch what anyone is saying because there’s only one thought in my head.
I need to see Severin. I need to get to him, make sure he’s okay. He has to be okay!
By the time I stumble into the hallway, I’m running, pushing everyone out of my way. My head swings left and right trying to find the way out, to him, and I take off down the stairs, my feetbarely catching the ends of each step and my heart shakes with cold dread.
I have no idea how much time passes or how far into the arena I’ve ventured when I collapse against the railing at some stairwell, crying and hyperventilating.
I never wanted to see him again, and now I’m not sure I can survive without him. How did that happen?
I keep running until I see a man who looks like he works here. “Where is Severin?” I stop him, my hands clutching to his arms.
“Miss, are you okay?”
“No, no I’m not. Where is Severin? Where is he? There was blood!”
The guy’s eyes turn wide and panicked because I’m sure I look like a madwoman right now, shaking him, crying and pleading all at the same time. He starts looking around but there’s no one else here.
“Take me to him! You need to take me to him.” I start shaking him.
“Miss!” he shouts sternly. “You need to come with me!”
“No! No, no, no, I need Severin! You don’t understand.”
The man starts leading me away but he should know better than touch someone who’s just catching her last breath as it’s slipping from my grasp.
20
I think I love you
Severin
“SAVA!”Extonshouts,pushingpast the guys as he barrels into the change room. “Fuck! I should’ve killed that fucker back there!” He sends his stick flying into the wall for the second time today as he tries to reach me, but Doc stops him.
“Quinn, slow the fuck down! I’m trying to put these damn stitches in.”
Exton winces. “How bad is it?”
“I’ve had worse—”
“No, you haven’t,” Doc interrupts with a pointed look. He’s wrong, these stitches are nothing comparing to the ache I’ve felt in my chest when I saw my Aurora and Emett standing there, watching me with tears in their eyes.
They came. She came when she never wanted to see me again. The poison that keeps on giving me life.
My team may think Zima’s at fault—and he is—but it wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t goad him.
My cage’s been destroyed, my heart torn to so many pieces I’m not sure how it’s beating any longer, and I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t fucking breathe since the moment I left Iris Lake.
I was slowly bleeding out and I needed a shark to end my fucking misery.
Until I felt her.
I felt her back there. I knew she was there. I heard the sweet sound of her voice in the midst of thousands. My lungs filled with her scent, and I could breathe again…but it was too late.
Yanis was already on a war path and delivered what I’ve been silently asking for.
The team settles around in their spots, their volatile energy still bouncing off each other as they undress and rest.
“How did the period end?” I ask.
