I’m not ready to leave my soulmate.
I haven’t arranged a safe, worthy pack for Freya. I haven’t brought my own court back to life or avenged it.
I am not fucking ready.
I’m sorry.
Sorry.
Then my ravens beat furiously in a black cloud around Sobek’s head, and Barnabas rams his antlers into the Alpha’s stomach.
Under the double attack, Sobek finally lets go of me.
I fall to the ground, coughing. I clutch at my neck, which is ringed with bruises. I slowly open my eyes.
Then I wish that I hadn’t.
I am staring directly into Barnabas’ blue eyes.
A single tear escapes, running out of the corner of his eye, before chasing down his cheek.
His head is twisted to the side, shoved into position, while Sobek feeds from his neck.
Barnabas’ blood soaks in a puddle around him.
It soaks into my hair and wings, dying them scarlet.
I can only see Sobek’s curls, as his head is buried against Barnabas’ neck. Worse, is the sucking, snarling sound, as he savages Barnabas’ throat.
I growl, attempting to force myself up, but Barnabas snatches desperately for my hand, forcing me to still.
“Stay with me,” he mouths.
Stay, while he dies…
It’s so little to ask.
It’s too much.
Too fucking much.
It’s watching Ciara being turned to ash in front of me all over again.
Feathers, blood, and ash rain from the night sky. The moon is veiled by smoke. The devils have ambushed the only family that I have, my brothers and sisters in the army. My kingdom is falling…
I shake, frozen.
I can’t…I can’t…
Yet I haven’t stopped squeezing Barnabas’ hand.
“Please…” Barnabas’ voice is faint and threaded with pain.
His eyes are glassy and dazed.
I pet his soft ears.
I can only give him this comfort. He knew that this is how tonight would end.
