Emma’s body went rigid beside him. “Your mother? Zach, do you think…?”
“No. No, she had breast cancer. It came back. Gordon didn’t….” Gordon hadn’t killed her, but he had involved her. Maybe even made her sicker. And this was why her death had been such a secret. Why Healers were held back.Thiswas the truth that the Council had been protecting all along. They’d been protecting Gordon even then.
Zach whirled away, heaving. His stomach clenched and he retched again, spitting up bile. His whole life had been shaped by Gordon’s evil. He’d lost so much. All because of one man’s relentless need for power.
He slowly stood straight and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
Emma rubbed his back gently. “I’m so sorry. God, Zach.”
He hauled her into his arms, holding her against him as tightly as he could. “You had nothing to do with this and you have nothing to be sorry for. We both lost our mothers, we both lost so much, but I’m not losing anything more. Not one thing. And neither are you.”
She nodded against his chest. “You’re right. It’s time to take our lives back,” she whispered. “It’s time to destroy it.”
“Together,” Zach agreed. He hadn’t wanted her to face any danger, but she’d already faced it all and survived. She’d grown even stronger than before. It was time for him to fight beside her.
He held her for a few more seconds and then stepped back, but their Shadows stayed tightly locked together, an unshakeable wall of strength that they built together.
They lifted the silver bowl from its stand and filled it with water from the fountain, and then poured in all the remaining salt.
“I think we have to smash the vials,” Emma murmured.
They worked together to break a large branch from one of the trees. Zach hefted it between his hands to test the weight. It was heavy and strong. Exactly what they needed.
“Zach.” Emma’s voice was strained and he lifted his head to focus on her. She was deathly pale as she looked across at him. “I have a headache. It’s like before. When the visions were blocked. I don’t think I can control this one.”
God. He balanced the branch against the side of the freezer and cradled her face in his hands. Her skin was clammy and cold, her breath coming in short pants. “What do you need?”
“I—” Her back arched and her eyes rolled back as she started to fall. He grabbed her before she could go down, swinging her into his arms as her body shook.
It was hell, holding her as she shuddered, knowing she was in pain and he couldn’t fight it for her. But it also felt right—this was what she needed from him. He could hold her while she learned to control her gift.
Horrendous moments passed before her eyes flickered open, wide and gleaming in the dim light. “They’re coming,” she whispered.
“Who’s coming?”
“Gordon. And the Council. They’re on their way.”
“The Council?”
“Yes. Gordon’s bringing them.”
Fuck. He lowered her to her feet but kept his arm around her waist. “Can you stand?”
She gave him a wobbly smile. “Sure.”
He frowned down at her. “Really?”
She let out a rasping breath, her face still white as bone, but she stepped back slightly and stayed on her feet. “I can do this.”
He stared at her for a long moment. “Okay. You pour. Just don’t….” He let the words fade, wishing he hadn’t said anything.
She tilted her head to the side, waiting for him to finish. “It’s okay. You can say it.”
He groaned. He knew how strong she was, but it didn’t change who he was. He still needed to keep her safe. “Just stay back. Don’t let it touch you. Please.”
Emma chuckled tiredly. “I promise.” She picked up the bowl of salty water and waited until he lifted the branch.
“On three…. One. Two. Three!” Zach lifted the heavy branch high above his head. He roared as he rammed it down, stabbing it like a spear into the narrow chest. The glass splintered beneath the branch, and he lifted it again and again in a frenzy of violent destruction while Emma poured the salt water over the broken shards.
