And I’m going to die.
It’s a certainty. My future standing before me, completely inescapable.
I’m not afraid.
My voice almost dies in my throat, lowering to a whisper as I slump forward. Cold, aching waves spread through me, and my heartbeat slows to almost nothing.
This is it. Goodbye, my love.
“Sadie!” I hear Rhys scream, far too close. I open my eyes and see him kneeling in front of me, hanging onto my shoulders. Threads of power join us together, tendrils of magic from the bonding ritual. I feel the spell surrounding us both as his strength connects with mine.
“No, Rhys,” I choke out. “It’s not enough—you’ll die, too.”
“I don’t care,” he cries, shaking me. “I can’t live without you—I love you!”
Tears pour down my face. I’d break the ritual if I could, but I know it’s too late for me, and if I broke the connection now, the effects might reverse and kill the entire pack.
Including Rhys, and I won’t let that happen.
“Please,” Rhys begs. “Please don’t leave me and our baby girl, our beautiful daughter. Don’t die, Sadie.”
“Daddy?” Cassie’s voice shatters through my pain, panic ringing through every cell of my body.
“Cassie,” I gasp. “Get out of here!”
She shakes her head. “Mommy… is Rhys really my Daddy?”
“Yes, baby girl,” I choke out. “Rhys is your Daddy.”
Cassie smiles and reaches out to take his hand. Then she turns to me and takes my hand.
“Don’t die, Mommy,” she says, very softly. “I won’t let you.”
A massive rush of power streaks through my body, a raging flood of white light that crashes from the top of my skull all the way into the ground. It feels like fire destroying every last cell, and I scream as I hold tightly to Rhys with one hand and my daughter with the other. The three of us form a loop, and the power flows through me, balanced by Cassie and grounded by Rhys.
The wave flows through me into the ground, and the mixture in the bowl fizzles out. As the purple smoke clears, I hear excited voices from the hall as more people wake up and the pack begins to celebrate.
“Never do that again,” Rhys groans, throwing his arms around me. “I have never been more afraid in my entire life. What the hell were you thinking?”
“I had to save the pack,” I say. “And this was the only way.”
“I love you,” he says, shaking his head. “I can’t lose you.”
“I love you, too,” I answer, kissing him softly.
Cassie squeezes both of our hands, giggling. “No one’s going away,” she says, very seriously. “I have a mommy and a daddy now, and we’re going to be a family and be happy!”
“Yes, baby girl,” I laugh. “We sure are.”
Rhys and I hug Cassie between us, feeling the harmony that exists between the two of us and the healing love of our child that is strong enough to break all curses.
Chapter 25 - Rhys
Bright sunlight dapples down through the leaves of the trees, heralding the soft breeze that cools the sweat across my brow. The smell of smoky barbecue sauce and sizzling beef ribs wafts up from the skillet in front of me, and I take a deep breath, relishing the scent and the low growl in my stomach.
“Are they ready, Daddy?” Cassie asks, bouncing up and down next to me.
“Not yet, sweetheart,” I say. “Do you want a hot dog instead?”
