It took from me what it needed to secure the prison, and I was helpless, unable to pull away or resist its strength. By the time Shadow got to me, there was barely even a shred of conscious thought in my head.
Exhaustion forced my eyes closed as the fortress of binding power did its job, binding my powers and using them to bolster itself. It stole the essence of my being, sucking it down greedily and without remorse for the life it stole.
In my desperation not to die, I clung to the bonds in my chest. Shadow. Angel. Midnight. The creatures. My connection to them was the one thing still tethering me to this world, but even with their immense power, it wasn’t enough to stop the inevitable.
I dragged them down as far as I could before understanding that this was killing them too.
Maybe under normal circumstances, the bonds would have saved me, but Shadow and Angel were weaker than they’d ever been, Midnight was no longer my mist, and the creatures were too far away. So, facing the risk of destroying us all, I found the strength to let them go. The strength to accept my fate.
Contentment flooded through me at the thought that at least Dannie would be stopped. My wolf howled one final time in my chest, and I hugged her soul to me so that we wouldn’t leave this world alone.Always together,I whispered.I love you.
She whimpered but didn’t fight. We knew that our energy, as it turned out, was exactly what they’d needed in their cage to truly secure Dannie. It was the last gift we could give the worlds. The last gift we could give our loved ones.
We could die for them, and I would hold no resentment in my soul for it.
When the power was gone, my heartbeats slowed, and as they finally faltered, I was released from the cage, falling back into Shadow’s arms. His hands and power were the last touch on my body, and the last breath I took was mingled with his as he pulled me close, desperately trying to save me with whatever strength he had left inside.
It was too late, though.Love…
My heart stopped before I could finish.
My time was done.
47
Shadow Beast
For two thousand years, I’d been the raging beast who’d walked in shadows. Alone. Always alone. I’d learned to rely on no one, to trust very few, and to ensure that above all else, I protected myself.
Then Mera Callahan had appeared, busting into my damn life, and touching the deepest recesses of my dark soul. She was an incessant ray of light, never ceasing, never giving up space in my head, and every single time she upset the balance, I wanted to fucking kill her. To save the heartache I knew she would bring to my world.
At least three times I’d held her life, her precious, delicate life in my hands, and each time I’d been too fascinated and struck by the unique tendrils of her essence to do what needed to be done. She’d challenged me when no one else had, and for that, I’d spared her.
By the time I’d recognized that this fragile creature, with her smart mouth and innocent soul, was to be my undoing, it was too late to change our fates. I craved her with the sort of intensity that would have scared the life from her if she’d been aware of it.
Mera thought she knew my desire.
She knew nothing. I wanted to possess her mind, body, and soul.
Every damn part of my Sunshine belonged to me, but like always, the fates had other plans.
I’d felt the sneaking tides of time running out for us, and even as I held her closer, binding our souls in a way that only a true mate could, they still came for her.
The mate to my soul. The fire to my fire. My Sunshine.
Before I could tear through the binding that held her, the fortress claimed its victim.
Fire exploded from within me as I struck at the golden prison, not caring that my actions could free the creature below. The fortress had Mera’s power, and I wanted it back.
I spared no thought of the greater good, the concept not mine to claim. I was greedy in my love, and I would burn the fucking worlds to the ground to keep Mera with me.
My Sunshine who had sacrificed herself, her power and future in a bid to save us all.
With her limp body clutched in my hands, rivers of fire and mist and rage flowed freely from me. Any exhaustion I felt was long gone as I dragged this power up from the realm, claiming energy that was my birthright.
Destruction built within my veins and I willed it on.
The rumble of the land beneath me was the first indicator that I was tearing the Shadow Realm apart, plucking each string of mist that formed its foundation and watching each one fall. Not caring as this world broke, I tucked Mera into my side, using my free hand to reach for the Danamain. No longer would I ever refer to this abomination as my mother; she’d lost that right—and her life—the moment she’d hurt Mera.
