Page 80 of Quintus

“Let her go,” Sydney yelled, her gun drawn. Shots rang out and the high priestess dissipated into smoke.

Gabriella heaved for breath, the poison streaming through her body. Quintus’ dark eyes met hers as her world spun into darkness. The sound of Kate’s cries echoed in her mind. She succumbed to her sleep, comforted that the baby was still alive.

“Gabby,” Quintus whispered.

The pain gnarled through her bones, and she struggled to breathe, her ribs aching with each rise of her chest. Her eyes fluttered open, awareness of her mate calmed her wolf, who lay whimpering.

“The baby.” Kate.

“She’s safe. I flashed you and Hunter out of Luca’s…”

“But the baby. Samantha. Oh God…” Panic tore through her but as she went to shove up, a stabbing pain shot down her flank.

“You’ve been poisoned, Gabby. I need you to drink from me.”

“No.” She thrashed, naked on the bed. “I’ve got to go back.”

“No, you’re not going,” he insisted.

“But Lilitu…”

“Lilitu’s gone. Luca, Samantha and Kate are safe. Kade and Sydney too. Sam will take the necessary steps to keep her from getting in their homes. When we’re outside like that…we were too exposed.”

“Nothing works to keep her out. This is all my fault.” Gabriella arched her back and exhaled loudly. She brought her hand to her side, and winced. As she raised her palm, her eyes widened at the sight of the blood. “That bitch stabbed me.”

Quintus tore off his shirt, and pressed it to her wound. “She poisoned the athame.”

“This is why I run from them…ahhh.” She sucked a breath as he applied pressure. “She was going to kill the baby. Who does that? That woman is pure evil.”

“The baby’s okay, but…” Quintus shook his head. His eyes flashed in sadness and he quickly diverted his gaze. Viktor. His gut clenched in grief, but he attempted to hide his devastation from Gabriella.

“Oh Quintus. I’m so sorry. He’s not…I mean…I know she hurt him but maybe he’s still…” Gabriella lost her words as his grief twisted through her.

“No. I don’t feel him.” He blinked away the tears. “I don’t know what happened. He’s an immortal, but I think she killed him.”

“He couldn’t materialize away.”

“I don’t know what happened. I couldn’t get to him. It was like a tunnel. I tried. Then Lilitu.” Quintus’ lips tightened, and he closed his eyes briefly, then met her gaze. “I failed him.”

“But maybe Thorn…”

“He’s a fucking demon. He brought Mao back from Hell. He did this. It’s all been a set up.”

“I’m so sorry…I can’t believe Viktor is gone. We’ll go look for him.”

“I don’t want to talk about it now. Look, Goddammit, I can’t believe I let this happen to you.”

“You didn’t do this. If this is anyone’s fault, it’s mine. I brought Lilitu to New Orleans. She wants me dead. We’ve got to figure out how to use the bone.” Gabriella moaned, holding her side. The pain subsided as numbness bloomed in its place. “Oh Goddess…where is it? The bone.”

“Over here.” Hunter lay on a black leather sofa.

Gabriella craned her head and caught a glimpse of the Alpha, his arm outstretched, holding a sliver of the first witch’s sternum. Blood dripped from his hand. “Hunter. Are you all right?”

“I’m good,” he replied.

“Don’t lie to me,” she reprimanded.

“What’s the damage?” Quintus asked.