Lex placed his hands on either side of my cheeks, his bright blue eyes locking with mine. I couldn't stop the tears from falling. “What is it, baby? You can tell me.”
“You weren’t supposed to be here. Not yet,” I said on a breath, and I could tell he could see the anguish in my eyes.
“Lana.” Lex stepped closer, his voice low. “Tell me what is happening.”
I shook my head, and Lex growled deep and low in the back of his throat.
Before he could say anything more, I whispered, “Tell me you love me.”
Without hesitation, Lex’s mouth crashed onto mine, and a sob broke through our kiss, but he didn’t seem to care. He broke the kiss, his forehead resting on mine, as he said, “Of course, I love you. You are everything to me, Lana.”
I closed my eyes, trying not to fall to my knees.
“Then forgive me.”
My thoughts reached out to Rasha, and her tail wrapped around Lex's waist, flinging him toward a nearby tree. Lex's jaw dropped in surprise, disbelief and pain warring on his face as he hit the trunk. He groaned, and another sob escaped me as I stole his air, rendering him unconscious. I couldn't bring myself to look. Not wanting to see what I had just done.
Jaxon cursed, and I locked my gaze onto his.
“This needs to end now,” I growled.
My dagger flew through the air, but Jaxon had been prepared for it. He ducked, and the dagger embedded itself into the large oak behind him. He shadowed again, appearing at my back, and I spun, ducking as I kicked out his feet. Jaxon landed on his back in the dirt, a painful grunt passing his lips.
I had trained with Zara my entire life. The whole shadowing thing was a little overdone.
A blast of water made me choke as I inhaled it, but then again, I was used to this. Instead of fumbling backward, Ilunged forward, my fingers wrapping around his throat. His magic faltered, and I forced a shield into place, wrapping it tightly around myself, rendering his attack useless. The water slid over my skin, but it no longer choked me as it had before.
Dark mist swirled around Jaxon as he prepared to vanish, but he wasn’t fast enough as the hilt of my dagger slammed down onto his head.
Jaxon went limp, his magic fading as water surged around us, hitting the ground.
“We go together,” I yelled, a storm of pain and anger boiling inside me. At having to do this, at having to do what I needed to do next. This dagger would pierce his heart, and then it would pierce mine.
I couldn't think, couldn't second-guess myself. I couldn't allow myself to hesitate. I gripped the dagger with both hands, raising it high above my head. With a vicious cry, I plunged it down, straight for his heart.
Something slammed into my chest before the blade made contact, and the force of it sent me flying backwards. A scream of pain left me as my back crashed against the ground.
I sucked in a wet breath, blinking as I looked down at the long black spike that now protruded from my chest. Green sludge dripped off it onto the forest floor, mixing with the blood that was pouring from my chest—my lips.
I slowly raised my head, meeting Rasha’s intense gaze. Her usual large yellow eyes were now a brilliant glowing blue, and my vision darkened as I shook my head, not understanding.
He was telling you the truth.
An ancient voice boomed in my head, and I gasped, choking on more blood.
A fucking Fate.
I attempted a laugh, but my head just thudded back onto the forest floor.
We will meet again. Try to control your temper when we do.
I looked in the Fates direction again, but Rasha’s eyes were no longer glowing blue. Rasha blinked and a raw mournful whimper left her lips as she began to crouch and crawl slowly in my direction. My vision blurred, and I turned my head, desperately searching for my mate. My eyes found his still form, but he was too far away. Tears pricked at the back of my eyes, and a strange numbness spread through my body. I barely felt Rasha’s nose probe against my side.
I tore down the barrier between Lex and me, but felt nothing but fear as a glittering darkness appeared in my vision.
Chapter 36
Xavier
