“Love, we weren’t killed,” I murmured, moving toward her and wrapping her in my arms.
“I keep letting my guard down, and look what happens.” Her tears soaked my robe, and I clutched her tighter to my chest as a wave of grief smacked through the bond. “First Ash, then Samantha, then Shay and her entire party…andalmost you.” Her sobs and breaths as she cried into my chest filled the room.
Agony filled my bones as I stroked her hair, wishing I could take away the pain and grief. I glanced at the others to see them all watching her with sorrowful eyes.
“Love, none of this is your fault,” I murmured in her ear. “We’re still here, and we will figure out what to do next. We aren’t done yet. Thisisn’tover. Matthieu hasn’t won. We will get through this together—all of us—just like a family should.”
“Family,” she croaked, sniffling against me before raising her head to look at all of us, tears flooding her eyes. There was determination pushing through our bond as she took a small step back. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m not usually so emotional.”
“You don’t usually find out you have an absolute fucking creep stalking you for centuries either,” Jasper growled.
“And you don’t lose people you care about every day, either,” Casper added.
“That’s true.” She turned and walked over to the cauldron, watching as the potion continued to simmer and bubble. The mist had cleared, leaving behind a thick, purple liquid that smelled both sweet and spicy. “I think it’s ready.”
We shared a concerned look before I went over to look at the potion that was definitely successful.
A burst of excitement shot through me as I glanced back at them. “It’s ready.”
“Which means we can kill him,” Fawn murmured in awe.
“Almost.” Silas placed his hands on her shoulders in a comforting manner. “We still need to retrieve an abominal femur and craft the weapon.”
“But we’re closer than we’ve ever been,” Casper told her, flicking a bolt of light at Silas’s ass, making him yelp and jump.
“What was that for?” He rubbed his butt cheek with a scowl.
“For not making it sound positive,” he said clearly, gesturing at Fawn.
Silas’s mouth formed an O before he frowned. “Sorry, Fawn. We’re going to kill him, you know.”
“I know.” A shiver tore through her, and Jasper pulled her into his arms, kissing her forehead.
“For the record, we’re going to be fine, goddess.”
“I hope so.” She clung to Jasper, and her spirit almost cried out for us. “I’ve never feared losing my own life…until now.”
I rubbed her back, trying to soothe her, too, and Silas gently rubbed her arm while tenderness radiated through the bond. Casper’s light wisp caressed her other arm as we all sent comfort to her through the bond.
Her fear made sense. After my fathers were killed, and I met the guys, I was always scared I’d be killed and be useless to them. If it happened, there was nothing I could do to stop it. It was the worst kind of sinking feeling in my chest, and I hated that she was feeling it.
“You won’t lose us, love. And we won’t lose you. I promise,” I told her, feeling the spirits themselves surging through me with my words.
“I’m scared,” she confessed, burying her face in Jasper’s chest. “I’m scared that he’s going to find us, and he’s going to hurt you allagain. I can’t watch that again.”
“We’re scared, too,” Casper murmured. “Worst moment of my life was watching Matthieu put a blade to your skin.”
She sniffled. “I’m scared that we won’t stop him in time.”
“We will,” Silas vowed. “We have the potion, now we just need the weapon.”
“What’re we waiting for?” Jasper growled, determination filling our bond.
10
FAWN
As we stoodatop the freezing, snowy mountaintops of the Abominable Mountains, a haunting whimper weaving its way through the crystalline air.
