He laugh-sobbed.
“You’re sorry? For what? Meeting me in your forest? Saving me from Lilith and myself? Putting up with my manipulative bullshit? Having my mother mark you for death?”
I touched his cheek, and he lifted his head.
“For thinking you were supposed to be the one to catch me when we fell. I was always supposed to be the one to catch you.”
I smiled through my tears.
“I’ll give you anything. The moon, my heart, anything but this. Never this.” He dropped his lips to my forehead. “I love you. I love you. I love you,” he whispered against my skin.
“I know,” I breathed. “I know.”
The throbbing pain in my body grew duller, my vision spotting with Tsal-mawet’s manipulations and blood loss.
Then a bellow ripped through the sky, so loud it vibrated through the darkness as it flew toward us.
It rocked the ground with the force of his anguish.
Chapter
Fifty-Four
Ronen
I’d never prayed before. Even the act of looking toward the heavens felt forced and unnatural. But I gave myself one moment, ignoring the fighting around me to scream at the Weaver I didn’t know if I believed in.
I will give you anything you desire, but I beg of you to save her. Please. PLEASE.
The words didn’t breach my lips, but they filled my mind and body. They were soaked in my desperation and throbbed with the agony of feeling her heartbeat slow.
“Guard me!” I shouted at Alexei and MJ, and I dove into Rune’s mind.
I had to see what was happening.
And the moment I did, I felt my body freeze.
Disbelief rang in my ears, and a cold hand of dread captured my heart in an agonizing vice.
She lay in Aspen’s arms with Tsal-mawet glowing in her chest. Blood seeped from the wound, dripping down her Hell Squadron uniform to pool in the mud.
So much blood.
So much fucking blood.
At the distance Rune lay wounded, I couldn’t hear what they were saying to each other, but why wasn’t he seeking help? Or moving her? Bringing her to me?
She couldn’t survive much more blood loss.
Her heartbeat stuttered with each thump.
A beat I never wanted to feel.
A beat that didn’t dare stop.
“Bring her to me!” I bellowed at Aspen as if I were standing beside them.
Rune, help her,I begged.Use my shadows.
