“Do you know what you’re asking?” Rage rasped.
Grandpa exhaled and nodded. “I can separate your human form from your wolf, put Honor’s soul into your wolf, and you’ll remain human the rest of your life.”
“Human?” I asked, trying to clarify what they’d need to sacrifice. Even with my sometimes-skittish wolf, the thought of losing her—forever … caused pain to slice through my chest.
“There has to be another way,” I whimpered.
“There isn’t,” Rage said, his voice filled with anguish. “We’re out of time.”
“Would he … be himself again? Would it be Honor?” I asked.
In wolf form, you might as well be talking to a caveman; they were almost all instinct.
Grandpa Geoff straightened, his eyebrows lifting as he nodded.
Did that mean he…?
“His soul will be the same, and as such, he’d still be able to speak into his brothers’ minds through the bond they share. So … like his human self mentally but trapped in the body of a wolf.”
The heat and tension pressed against us as the reality of his words hit.
If we brought Honor’s soul back, one of the Midnight brothers would lose his wolf forever and become … human.
“I’m the eldest. I’ll do it.” Rage stepped toward Grandpa, but Justice grabbed my mate by the arm and yanked him back.
“Eldest by two minutes, Rage. Not that it matters. You’re the strongest so our best chance to beat Declan. Future king, bro. I’ll do it.” Justice tipped his head up, his chest heaving.
Tears flowed down my cheeks, and my throat clogged.
Noble cleared his throat and stood from the couch. With two long strides, he stepped in front of both brothers and turned around to face them as he rested a hand on each of them. When he spoke, his voice was steady. “Rage is our future king, and Justice, your strength is only minutely less. Besides—” he chuckled. “—you’re the spare heir. It has to be me.” Then, Noble faced my grandfather. “I want it to be me.”
My eyes burned, and my chest ached as my heart was shorn in two. I gritted my teeth, and my body trembled with the effort of keeping my pain inside. I wanted to protest—this was too much. But how could I deny Noble a sacrifice I’d make if I could?
Rage and Justice bowed to their brother, first their heads and then at the waist, and the demonstration of their respect made me choke back the sob I’d been wrestling.
Neither Rage nor Justice needed to exhibit such deference to their younger kin, and by bowing, they paid him the ultimate respect. And then Noble—sweet Noble—pulled them in for a fierce hug.
I looked up, and even Grandpa Geoff and Reyna’s eyes were glistening with tears. Gramps cleared his throat a few times as Rage yanked me forward, pulling me into the group hug.
“Confession time,” I muffled against Noble’s shoulder. Justice clung to me tightly and Rage’s arm was tucked behind my back. “Noble, you’ve always been my favorite.”
Everyone laughed, but the rumble of chests did nothing to assuage my grief. Instead, knowing how much they’d all suffered,because of me, sank deep into my soul. This solution was the best option we had, but it was terrible. These boys, they were special, their bond unbreakable. This sacrifice was unthinkable.
“We must move quickly,” Grandpa said.
We broke apart, and Rage checked his watch.
Tears streamed down my cheeks unchecked, and my dear friend Noble brushed them away. Offering me a sad smile, he said, “I’ll still be me.”
What was a wolf shifter without his wolf? But I nodded. “I know a few human girls from town. I could probably hook you up with one.”
“Too soon,” he said with a grin.
“Alright, Nai, this might be my last time to train you to do this, so come close to me.” Grandpa patted his side, and my brow furrowed as his words registered.
“Last time?” I asked.
He winced and gave a nervous laugh. “A discussion for another time.” Grandpa then gave me a tight smile, waving toward the brothers. “Courage, lay out one of those blankets from the basket there, and Justice”—Gramps held out a small canvas bag—“place one of these crystals on each corner.”
