Gasping,I yanked my hand away. The old man looked like he’d seen a ghost. Had he seen what I’d seen?”
His lips twisted into an angry snarl, something I didn’t think possible with how weak he looked.
“Levi never deserved her,” he croaked. “She wasmine.” The machines around the room emitted more beeps and alarms.
The door crashed open, Monica rushing in, the alarms having alerted her.
“What did you do, you littlebitch?”
“Nothing.” I stood. “I only found out his dirty little secret,” I added, leveling a finger at the mummified-lookingthingon the bed.
“If I couldn’t have her,” Rafe snarled, “thenno onecould. I killed her, so Levi couldn’t have her. I took his pack as well. It’s what he deserved for stealing her away from me to begin with. Soon? She and I will be together again. You’ll see…” His body sagged, and the monitor beside the bed flatlined.
Monica shrieked and fell to her knees by the bed. Looking on in horror, I backed out of the room. I ran out of the house, not wanting to be here when Monica came to her senses and perhaps tried to take out her grief and frustrations on me.
Outside, away from the oppressive and horrifying scene inside, I breathed in the cool crisp air, wiping away the smell of decay that had permeated my nose.
I gave the house one last look before shifting and heading for the forest and Hidden Grove. The revelation was bittersweet. Naphele had her justice and her release. It meant she might finally be free to reincarnate, but I wished I could have done this with Levi at my side. He deserved to confront his mate’s killer. It should have been him there seeing and hearing what happened all those years ago.
When I plunged into the trees, I wondered what he was doing right then. Had they reached the Red Maw? Was he fighting as I ran? Was he perhapsdyingwhile I sped through the forest? The thought sickened me and also made my heart ache with longing. Had I made a mistake? Should I give him one last chance? The thought actually filled me with hope, and my wolf growled her agreement, but what if it was too late? There was a chance I might never see him again. What would I do then?
89
LEVIATHAN
Cold water splashed across my face, ripping me out of unconsciousness. Gasping, I lurched up, trying to wipe my face, but my hands were tied behind my back.
“Well, well, well. Look who decided to wakey-wakey,” Carlton said. “On your feet, Cross.”
My head throbbed, and the spot on my side ached like the devil. The cold air seeped into me, made worse by the fact that I was now soaked. When I didn’t respond immediately, rough hands grabbed me by my armpits and dragged me up from the ground.
Blinking the water from my eyes, I glanced around, finding myself surrounded by Red Maw members, all glaring or smirking. The looks of victory. I wanted to ask if the rest of our war party had gotten away, but I wouldn’t get a straight answer. Instead, I glanced left and right, trying to catch sight of any other possible prisoners, but all I could see was the wall of men standing around me.
Carlton walked ahead of me. After a few yards, he stepped aside, revealing Desdemona standing in a circle of her men. Behind her, at the inner edge of the circle, Anders and Eugenia stood, satisfied smiles on their faces. I growled and jerked,trying to free myself to go after them, but the hands that held me were strong, and I was weakened by the injuries.
“Calm down, Leviathan,” Desdemona said, her voice light, as if we were talking over a cup of coffee rather than as prisoner and captor.
“What do you want?” I snarled through gritted teeth. “If you want surrender, you can go to hell.”
“Oh, I know surrender isn’t in your vocabulary.” She laughed lightly as she waved at the men who held me.
They released me and pushed me down on my knees. My head still pounded in agony, but I managed to keep my eyes on her.
“Levi, it’s time to tell you a little secret,” she said. “It’s one I think that’ll intrigue you.”
As she walked closer to me, I saw Carlton stiffen and take a step forward, but he didn’t intervene. Desdemona came right up to me and knelt before me, smiling sadly.
I frowned in bewilderment as she caressed my cheek. I was so surprised and confused, I couldn’t even flinch away.
“My love. It’s been so long. I’ve missed you,” she said, her voice soft and loving.
Now I did yank my head from her touch. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“It’s hard, I know,” she said. “Don’t you recognize me? Deep down? It’s me. Naphele.”
It was like someone had slammed a hundred-pound bag of sand onto my chest. I sat back on my heels, sagging under the weight of her words.
“Excuse me?” I muttered.
