The mating bond wailed, and I reached for Sybil, her name tearing from my throat. I wrestled against the vines, against Samian and the others holding me down as I watched Sybil’s blood, her life force, pouring out of her.
A vicious curse dragged my attention from my mate. Ambrose stood at the edge of the room, fury twisting his features. Beside him stood that fucking traitor, his skin gone pale as he stared at Sybil with sickened disbelief. I could see the regret flickering in his gaze, as if he hadn’t meant for any of this to happen.
Shouts sounded from outside the room, my men quickly moving toward us. Ambrose grabbed the back of Ezra’s shirt, pulling him away to escape. Samian groaned beside me, raw with grief, and my eyes returned to Sybil as she took one last, shuddering breath.
Her magic faded, her body falling to the floor. Samian’s vines pulled away as we all rushed to her side. Pulling Sybil into my arms, I gently caressed her cheek, whispering for her to wake up, for this to all be a terrible dream. But she didn’t move; her heart was no longer beating. My blood burned with rage as my head snapped up, my gaze clashing with Samian’s.
“You knew,” I seethed. “You fucking knew!” I gently laid Sybil’s body down, then turned on Samian, slamming him to the floor and pinning him beneath me. I raised my fist and drove it into his cheek. “How could you? How could you let her do this?” Tears streamed down my face as I struck Samian again and again. “Why didn’t you stop her?”
“Kieran,” Queen Cassia barked.
I jerked my head toward hers, snarling and baring my teeth. I didn’t fucking care who she was. Queen or not, she was the one who told my mate to die, the one who made her into a fucking martyr.
I went to move when Samian stopped me, his hands pulling my face down to look at him. “Listen,” he whispered, his eyes lining with silver. “Fucking listen.”
I bared my teeth, fury burning through me, but I did as he told me. I opened myself to the room, straining to listen—and then I heard it. Felt it tear through my soul.
A heartbeat, weak and barely there.
My eyes snapped back to Samian, widening when another one sounded. Both of us turned to Sybil in time to see her skin healing as her chest rose with a quivering breath. I shoved myself off the ground and pulled Sybil close, pressing my ear to her chest, hope surging as her heartbeat strengthened. A shocked laugh escaped me, and I turned toward the queen in disbelief.
“Only in death will she rise to become the one she was meant to be,” Queen Cassia murmured.
Chapter 44
Sybil
Iopened my eyes, blinking against the bright sun shining around me. I stared up at the pale blue sky, bewildered, watching the clouds drift overhead. My body felt heavy, almost numb, unwilling to move from this spot. A balmy wind brushed against my skin, feeling warm and calming, and I closed my eyes, relaxing at the feel of it. I breathed in the fresh air, my hands twitching and curling around soft blades of grass. My brows furrowed as my memories came rushing back all at once. The devastation on Kieran’s face, Samian, Daelan, and Ivara struggling to hold him down, the burning pain of my magic piercing my skin.
Sitting up, my hands flew to my chest, roaming down to my stomach, feeling for any wounds, but found none. I looked up, my gaze searching the field, looking for my mates—for anyone, really—but the field was empty. Standing, I looked behind me, my hand returning to my chest, clenching my shirt as apprehension coiled tight around my heart. Familiarity with the field struck me, and I suddenly realized where I was. This was the place of my magic, the place I returned to time and time again to find peace, to reach for my power within.
Did this mean I was alive? But if that was the case, why was I here and not in the real world?
Movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention, and I looked to the left. A shadow stood unmoving, watching me from afar. I rubbed my chest, an echo of recognition pulsing deep within, as if my soul knew the shadow, calling for its return.
“Sybil?”
I gasped and spun around, coming face to face with Samian. Crying out, I rushed toward him. We crashed together, hitting the ground in a tangled mess of limbs and frantic kisses. Samian held me tight as our laughs turned into sobs. I wasn’t sure how much time passed until our tears stopped flowing, but when they finally stopped, I gazed into his eyes, taking in the deep blue and green. I ran my thumb over his scar, my heart tightening at the sight. I had been so sure I’d never see it—or him—again.
“Am I alive?” I murmured, swallowing down the fear lodged in my throat.
“You are,” he said, pushing off the ground. He helped me up, pulling me to sit between his thighs. “You’re alive, but in a deep sleep. We’ve spent the entire week trying to wake you; however, your body is still healing from your ridiculous plan.”
Cringing, I twisted to face Samian, my heart fluttering with nerves. A week, a whole week, has passed since that moment. “Is Kieran mad?”
Samian chuckled and shook his head, his face hardening. “I’m sure you will have some words when you wake up. But I think you should ask if I’m angry.”
I gave Samian an awkward, weak smile. “Are you?” I asked, my hesitation heavy in my voice.
“I’m furious, Sybil. I’m beyond furious.” Samian’s eyes darkened, his gaze piercing as it locked onto mine. I turned my head to look away, but Samian grasped my chin, forcing me to stay. “Why did you not tell me your true plan?”
“Would you have honestly helped me if I did?”
Samian sighed and released my chin, his forehead resting against mine. “No, I wouldn’t have helped. I would have tried to stop you in any way I could.”
“Exactly,” I breathed. “I tried to break the bargain, but it was the same as before. The vines were too painful to hold on to. I knew that if it happened again, I’d have to find another way to protect you and Kieran. But if I had told you that part, you would have tried to stop me, and who knows what would have happened. I may have harmed you, Kieran, Daelan, or even Ivara. I couldn’t go through that again, not after Vivi.”
“We could have lost you, Sybil. Youdied. We watched you take your final breath, we heard your heart stop beating, and couldn’t do a godsdamn thing about it. Kieran thoughtIhelped you with that, that I pushed you to your death. It took him a few days to even look at me afterward.”
