“What happened, Healer?” Sorrow whispers. “What’s wrong? I felt the call. We all did.”
I let out a sob, but I can’t cry. I don’t have eyes. So, I scream and scream until my voice is broken.
“They’re gone,” I whisper. “Back to the oceans, as Deux’s slaves. I can’t save them now.” The words choke out of me.
“Shit, all right, let’s get you somewhere safe. You’re bleeding, Mei. You need to heal yourself.”
The words remind me of Ronit, and I moan piteously.
“I’ve got you, Healer. I’ve got you now.”
He helps pull me up, but I collapse, screaming, and fall into the dark.
***
Becky hands me a cup of coffee and sits nearby. I just hunch into the blanket; every part of my body hurts.
“We’ll find a way to save them,” she says confidently.
I exhale roughly, but an ocean scent hits me hard, and I jerk, spilling hot coffee on my hands.
“Kit?”
The cat approaches and climbs into my lap, curling into a ball.
“I’m sorry they left you behind.”
“I’m banning cats. That is freaky, and I’m absolutely not into it!” Diablos thunders. His voice trails off.
Kit lets out a meow.
“What happened?” he asks with a voice as soft as thunder. He comes closer and kneels in front of me, reaching out and covering my hands with his.
“Di, just wait, give her a minute,” Becky says gently. Her kindness hurts.
“What happened?” Diablos snaps.
“There was a fight,” I say hoarsely. “I was losing. Even with my heat distracting everything, I was still losing. I tried to convince him to take me and let them go.”
Diablos’ fingers flex on mine. Tightening until I think they will break.
“He wouldn’t do it,” I say in a pained whisper.
Kit starts to purr.
“They came and took him. The contract ended, they’re all in the ocean now, and he owns them. Deux has my shiver, and they are all gone. All of them.”
There’s a heavy, horrible silence. This is my fault.
I didn’t get to tell them-
I choke off that thought. I can’t go there. I can’t.
How can I live without them? How can I exist in a world where they aren’t?
Diablos takes the coffee cup out of my hands and passes it to Hartley. The human makes a sound of protest.
“I will come back, Hart. I promise.”
