Kane roared and flung Crispin to the side. I watched in horror as my husband slammed into a nearby tree. A sickeningcrackechoed in the air.
Scrambling over the grass to where Crispin lay, I sobbed, tripping over my wet dress. “Crispin!”
My throat went raw from the never-ending scream pouring from my lips.
No, no.
This can’t be happening.
Crispin held out his hand, his fingers twitching. His magic faded, the red glow dimming just like the light in his bright-blue gaze. “I love you.”
The words garbled out between a splatter of blood. I grabbed his hand and held it to my face, sobbing. Tears clouded my vision, the heartbreak of seeing Crispin broken before me too much to bear.
“Why did you do that?” I cried, gathering him in my arms. “I can’t lose you.”
I thought we had a chance. How could it be over this quickly?
A portal opened to the side, a shadowy image of a green land and stone castle appearing within. Gripping Crispin tighter, I refused to let him go. His breaths became shallow, barely audible. Leaning over, I kissed his lips.
“I’m so sorry.” Sobs tore through me as all the fight in him left. “I should have never left the temple.”
“Not… your… fault…”
Black shadows wrapped around my arms and around my waist, yanking me from my husband.
“No!” I screamed, tugging against the black chains coming from Kane who was back in fae form.
The tangible shadows lifted me off the ground by the waist. Iclawed at the thick mist that solidified within seconds, desperate to get out of Kane’s hold.
“Crispin! Don’t do this.Pleasedon’t take me away from him,” I begged Kane, not caring about anything but my husband dying before my eyes. “He’s dying!”
I struggled against the magical binds, sobbing, my screams going hoarse with sorrow. The nearby trees shook their branches, leaves scattering the night sky.
The Deathless One stared at me with nothing but coldness in his amber gaze.
Crispin held up his hand, the words he tried to say never falling from his lips. Our gazes met and I reached out for him, praying that somehow he would survive. His eyes went blank, and his hand fell to the ground…
“No!” Screams mixing with sobs ripped through my chest and I thrashed in the air, Kane’s misty chains locking my arms to my sides.
I called the grass and nearby trees to my aid, but before nature could come to my rescue, Kane lifted me higher in the air and threw me into the portal.
CHAPTER FOUR
Kane
The girl was amusingly feisty.Even after all the power I’d demonstrated, she was still fighting back, as though she had a chance. Her husband had been far stronger than her, and she’d seen how things ended for him, yet she still struggled against me.
Though, I respected her tenacity.
She’d offered herself to save someone she loved. That type of loyalty spoke of her character more than any prophecy could.
Calling my shadows back into my body, I allowed the human to stand, knowing she had nowhere to go.
Deirdre spat at my feet, her eyebrows pulling low over her eyes before screaming, “I'm going to kill you!”
Folding my arms, I eyed the precarious human. “You do know that I'm immortal, right?”
She screamed and vines from the nearby garden trestle shot forth, reaching their woody fingers toward my torso. I dashedto the left, not wanting to be pulled down into the ground again. Having a mouthful of dirt was enough breakfast for me.
