“Dante,” I called, seeing his eyes dim as they lifted to me. “Maybe you should?—”
He collapsed against the floor before I could ask him to stop. He’d given Isis everything he had.
“Dante!” I yelled, rushing to his side as the others stopped.
Trying to wake him up, my hands gently slapped his face, while an anguish stronger than anything I had ever felt sliced through my being. The possibility of losing him destroyed me. I couldn’t lose him, not now that I’d finally found my true mate.
My wolf howled in pain inside me, crying for him.
Bands of shadows suddenly surged from every recess and corner, the others immediately moving out of their way, but I remained by Dante’s side—knowing that his darkness, like him, was part of me. The shadows curled around me on their way to him, before swirling over his form and engulfing him… The next second, he was gone.
They had taken him from me.
“No!” I gasped, fearing the worst.
D’s hand took mine, his thumb rubbing my palm to soothe me. “He’s going to be fine, Natasha. TheTwilighthas him now.”
“He really will be,” Vanessa assured. “Shewouldnever let anything happen to him.”
Blinking, I glanced between them. “Anastasia?” I asked confused. “I mean, the Viscountess?” I corrected when their reproaching gazes went to the Fae.
Bjørn just shrugged, his focus remaining on Isis.
“No. His Goddess, Hecate. Of all theLords of Twilight, Dante is her greatest creation. That’s why he’sMr. Cocky.” Vanessa snorted. “She’ll never let anything happen to him.”
“Whenever he overexerts himself, the darknesstakes him,” D explained. “The Goddess knows his soul too well, so you could say that she built a safeguard into his power. It’s also why he’s so reckless with it.”
“He knows theTwilightalways has his back.” Vanessa rubbed my arm to comfort me.
Sighing, I nodded, but although I understood, it had been scary as hell seeing him disappear like that.
“We must let her rest now,” Bjørn suggested, removing his hands from her chest, and D let go of me, gently lifting his wrist from Isis’ mouth at the same time.
Although she was unconscious, she seemed almost like herself when I glanced at her. Unfortunately, there were still signs of weakness and exhaustion in her. She’d been through too much.
“I’ll take her to her room.” The Fae announced a moment before heblinkedwith her.
I stood right after. “Which room?”
“Give them some time. I’ll take you to the room later,” Vanessa offered. “They both need rest.”
My wolf’s growl made it out of me, loudly, causing her eyes to widen. I knew she was used to Wolf Shifters; however, I didn’t think she understood how much her statement upset me.
“I know you mean well, Vane, and you’ve always tried to help, but you guys already forced me to leave her side once. I’m not letting you again.” My gaze shifted to D’s. “Where is Isis’ room?”
A troubled sigh left him, but he nodded. “This way.”
When we walked past Dante’s room, I stopped briefly and opened the door, half expecting him to be there, surrounded by his darkness.
“He’s with theTwilight,” D reminded me, so I began following him again.
Except, I didn’t understand what that meant. Was he deep in the darkness somewhere, in a void, or up in the endless night of the cosmos, floating amid stars like the ones in his tattoo?
Our steps took us to the other side of the apartment, and the only room found there. Offering me a small nod, D left me there, in front of the wooden door. I lifted a hand to knock, suddenly feeling like maybe I shouldn’t. Maybe they were right, and I should let her rest.
“You are welcome to come in, Natasha,” Bjørn’s voice reached me from the other side, and I frowned, turning the knob slowly.
The first thing that caught my attention once I stepped inside, was how soothing and nature-inspired the space was, filled with golds, creams, and soft warm tones. It felt like Isis, the realization bringing a small smile to my lips. The second thing that caught my attention when I focused on the bed, was the way the Fae lay beside her. She was safely under the covers now, his body protectively curling around her while he lay over them.
