Page 57 of Violet

I find an empty spot on the grass, but the moment we land, Raicus comes into view, holding his damn orb. I barely have a chance to react when a grizzly bear dives in front of us—in front of me. Nole.

“Get out of the way,” I cry. “You’re supposed to dodge curses, not make yourself a target!”

My mate doesn’t listen. He stays there, protecting me from bodily harm as Raicus’s orb fires.

My heart stops and shatters into a million pieces.

I can’t lose my bear shifter—my mate! I don’t care that he betrayed me or that he got me fired. I’d trade places with him and get dusted in a heartbeat, but there isn’t enough time.

I let out a keening moan and throw myself on top of Nole, as if holding on to him will somehow keep him alive. He’s large and warm and his fur is soft—and he’s still there several seconds later.

I look up and watch as the transparent shield Cash cast around us crumbles, taking purplish-black magic with it. The blood mage struggles to catch his breath, while two witches advance on Raicus, distracting him.

Minerva Montgomery—an entitled brat of a witch who demanded I delete her fines a few months ago—attacks him with pink sparkles. They don’t do any damage, but she’s trying, and I instantly forgive her.

Then a second witch, a brunette wearing overalls, hits Raicus with a more powerful blow... and he stumbles backward while his orb takes over and starts firing in every direction.

Both witches manage to dodge, but quickly resume their attack. Soon, I notice that Raicus’s minions’ shields start to crumble. I know it’s only a matter of time before our side wins, and I turn triumphantly to their leader—who is nowhere to be found.

“He’s gone,” I cry, looking around wildly. And that’s when I see him.

With Violet. My Violet, my friend, my family. The one person who was always there for me. He drags her outside, a knife pressed firmly to her throat, her body in front of his like a human shield.

“Stop, or I’ll kill her,” he shouts.

Bert, Aldo and Hugh, all of whom are zooming toward her, pull to a stop. Others start to notice what’s going on, and stop fighting, too.

“Where are you, mousy?” Raicus shouts, searching for me while his minions race to his side. “Show yourself and surrender, or the old lady gets it.”

Chapter 25

Violet

It was always meant to end this way, and I was always meant to die.

This past year. Hiding. Pretending to be someone else. It all led here, to this moment... So I could save Violet, who spent the past year trying so hard to save me.

I look at her mates—Bert, Aldo, then Hugh—and know beyond a doubt that they’ll be there for her. They’ll protect her for as long as she lets them—hopefully, an eternity.

Then I look at my own mates, all three standing protectively around me. Nole, back in human form, shielding me with his body. Liam, barely suppressing his troll rage as he glares at Raicus. And Cash, standing by my side in silent support.

My heart longs for all three of them, but I was always planning to leave them behind. I was never going to stay with them in Silver Springs, and now I know what has to be done.

“I surrender,” I tell Raicus, trying to step around Nole.

“No fucking way,” the bear shifter shouts, blocking my way.

“You are not doing this!” Liam lets out a growl so loud, so ferocious, that a few people near us jump. Even Raicus looks nervous, though he tries to hide it.

I glance at Cash, hoping he’ll do the right thing—that he’ll help me save Violet—but he just shakes his head. “Sorry, little furry, but I’m with them.”

Violet tries to say something, too—probably to tell me to save myself, because she’s always been that selfless and that caring—but Raicus tightens the knife against her throat, silencing her.

“You have one minute to decide, mousy,” Raicus taunts as a thin trail of blood runs down Violet’s neck.

“It was a rat. I shifted into a rat!” I shout back as frustration eats away at me. Because the clock is ticking, and I have seconds to figure out how to get around my mates. Seconds to do something, anything, so I’m not forced to watch Violet die.

“Come here, ratty, ratty, ratty.” Raicus beckons me to join him. “Don’t you want to save your little old lady?”