“I don’t care,” he says, his voice harsh.
“But I do!”
“Hyacinth!” Shane grabs me, turning me to face him. The moment I take my attention from the spell, the wind picks up again, making a horrible shriek as it tears around the dome.
“Even if I wanted to leave, I don’t think I could, now,” he says. “I’m not having the same argument with you over and over—do what you came here to do, and I will do it with you.”
Tears streak down my cheeks as I reach out for him, putting one hand on his neck to pull him closer to me. I press my lips to his and let the thrill of ecstasy run through me, waves of pleasure cascading across my skin and making my blood sing.
I pull back, stroking his cheek as I look into his beautiful eyes. The pupils are wide and deep, staring right into me, andthe flickering blue of the iris seems to slowly spin with the glitter of far-off stars.
“I have never loved anyone the way I love you,” I whisper. “All my fear is gone—because I know now that true love really does exist. I’m not ready to say goodbye to you, and I will not let you die here.”
“Good to know,” he says, giving me a small smile. “I have no intention of dying, either, but I won’t let you sacrifice yourself.”
“Okay,” I whisper, kissing him one more time. “I know what I have to do.”
I turn around, feeling Shane put his hands on my shoulders again. I place my palms flat against the ground and try to remember that feeling of connection and harmony I had before.
When I raced out here, I was so sure of what to do. I was going to pour my entire life force into the ground, and I thought that would break the curse…
As I stretch my awareness into the soil, I slowly become aware of the massive web of light surrounding us. The ebb and flow is even and rhythmic, showing the balance of all life as a perfect system.
I turn my attention towards the manor, and all I can see is bubbling, boiling darkness. It’s malignant and growing in strength. The poison is begging to be free, and I know if it breaks out, all the wolves will die.
Closing my eyes, I let my astral body slip into the energy flow. The dark clouds slash at me like razors, but I don’t give up. Through it all, I can feel Shane holding my shoulders, grounding me to my body and the magic circle.
If he weren’t here, I would have gotten lost for sure.
I approach the manor, the boiling clouds hissing around me like snakes. Even though I’m in an astral form, the energy cuts me, burning deep into my soul. Instead of resisting it, I open my heart to it.
A horrible wailing rings through the astral plane, and deep in the heart of the maelstrom, I see a faint shred of light.
It’s Lynette. Oh, my goddess.
The dark energy attacks me mercilessly, tearing at my soul, but I keep pushing forward. When I stumble, the black shadows try to force their way inside me, and I feel Shane’s grip on my shoulders again.
He hasn’t followed me in—he’s still out there, in his body, holding me down like an anchor. But my soul can feel him, even this far away.
That’s when I know the bond between us can never be broken, no matter how far apart we are. Death is nothing to two hearts like ours.
Forever.
I struggle to my feet, forcing myself to keep walking towards the manor. The wailing is still pouring from the center of the maelstrom, and I know this is the heart of Lynette’s pain.
“Stop!” I scream. “You have to stop this!”
The pale shred of light turns to face me, and I see a fully corrupted form, wrapped in shadows and thorns. Over the years, Lynette’s soul became so twisted by the curse that she is barely recognizable as human. But that shred of pure, perfect light remains.
“Do you dare intrude on my pain?” The words emanate from her body, resonating through the ground. The spirit world trembles around me, and doubt flickers in my heart.
She’s so strong... I never realized how powerful she is!
“Lynette, please stop,” I beg. “I’m bringing you love—the love you’ve been dying for all this time.”
The dark shield around her wavers, and when she looks at me, I see that one of her eyes looks human again.
“Your love?” she hisses. “What about my love?”
