Like a light bulb moment, she looks around at the circle of people. "Did we win?"
Cade laughs in relief, nodding. "We won, baby. You did it."
There's a flash of solace on Nyx's face before it's gone, a pained expression taking its place. "Mira's gone…"
"No, I'm not,"I hear, puzzled for a moment until it dawns on me that Titus is mind linking Mira.
Nyx freezes, tears welling up in her eyes. To anyone else outside of the four of us, they must be confused, not privy to our private conversation.
"But how?"Nyx asks.
"I was captured by the necklace,"Mira answers, and Nyx touches the chain around her neck. She looks at Maverick, the two of them sharing a look of astonishment.
"The necklace?"He questions in the mind link, and I spot the opal resting on her collarbone.
An unfamiliar voice answers for him, his wolf I presume."Your father had it blessed by a witch. To protect his mate's wolf."
"And the stone Luna Eve gave Nyx for protection ensured we'd always have a light to guide us back home."
Chapter Nineteen
Nyx
Alpha Daxton orders everyone to return home, and somehow, I manage to make it back to the guest houses before my legs buckle out.
I don't know what it is about dying, but it sure drains the energy out of you.
Lex helps me shower which makes me feel better. When I make my way into the living room, Maverick is sitting on the couch, leaning back and staring at the ceiling.
Sensing my presence, he looks up, a tight, forced smile on his face.
"How are you feeling?" He asks.
"I'm okay," I answer honestly. "Are you?"
Maverick shakes his head. "Not in the slightest."
I make my way over, sitting down next to him. We move at the same time, his arm slinging around my shoulder as I lay my head on him.
Cade appears on the other side of me, resting his hand on my leg. "Daxton wants to see everyone soon," he says quietly. "But if you don't want to go, I'll tell him to shove it."
I manage a tiny laugh. "No, I'll go. I want to know what happened."
It's the thing I've been dreading. If it wasn't for the fact everyone was naked from shifting so rapidly, I would have demanded we stay at the field. But I needed a shower and new clothes.
Apparently, someone didn't vanish and they have been taken into Alpha Daxton's custody. My curiosity wins out, wanting to know who and how someone survived from Orson's Pack.
Even worse, I need to know who got injured and killed. Part of me wants to remain optimistic, but I know the truth. I saw it with my own eyes.
We've lost people. From all the packs.
Lex confirmed that Knox was dead while we were in the shower, and I can tell it's hurting him. I'm still in disbelief, oddly grieving as well. I was adamant that Knox hated me, yet he saved me without hesitation. I'm so scared that Lex will blame me, but he reassured me it wasn't my fault. Still, I can't help but feel responsible. Maybe I should have shifted sooner, maybe I could have done something differently to save more people.
Maverick lets out a deep, troubled sigh, his own chest rising with the sharp intake of shaky breath he takes. I tilt my head to gaze up at him, hating how much pain he looks to be in.
"I'm okay," I tell him, voice barely above a whisper.
He nods, tightening his arm around me. "You killed yourself, Nyx. I need time to process that."
