Page 87
At first, I think the gunshot comes from behind me.
I can smell the gunpowder. Feel the ripple of a bullet ripping through the air.
But nothing hurts on my body, aside from the injuries I’ve already earned. I whip around and snap my teeth at Gavyn, but he’s no longer standing behind me.
He’s on the floor, his own gun in his hand, blood pouring out from his abdomen. Around him, the fights between Zade, Denvil, Brack and their opponents have paused for just a moment, every one of us stunned by the apparent facts of the situation.
First—the use of a gun. It’s not like there are no guns in the Kault territory, but we’ve always been honorable fighters. If you can’t tear out someone’s throat with your own teeth, then do you really deserve to take his life?
Guns like the pistol in Gavyn’s hand are hard to come by. They have to be imported, bartered for, protected. Only the most clever and deceitful shifters can obtain something like that.
It’s not that surprising that Gavyn has a gun. It fits with his character.
What is surprising is the fact that, besides being the one with a gun in his hand, he is also the one with the bullet wounds, the blood pouring out of his body and staining the wood floor beneath.
The shifters who were fighting the other three alpha kings take the distraction as an opportunity to tuck tail and run, leaving their fearless leader behind. Gavyn gurgles and looks up at the ceiling, his hand tightening around the gun. He strains but apparently doesn’t have the energy to lift the thing.
Slowly, the four of us turn and look in the direction the shots must have come from.
Aurora stands in the snow, wearing her all-black outfit, her feet planted, the gun held out in front of her, a tendril of smoke still rising up from the end. Like a real-life heroine.
Her face is determined, then breaks when our attention lands on her.
My sister blinks, lowers the gun. Swallows, looking between the four of us, who are surely gaping at her. I was aware that she was making it out of the castle, but I had no idea that my sister was capable of acquiring something like a weapon.
Keeping it in her room.
Do you have any idea what it’s like to grow up with the knowledge that rape is on the table? Always on the table. As a little girl, especially as an omega, they tell you to be careful. They explain that, one day, men will want to use your body and you’ll have to be very careful—you will have to be perfect—to avoid that fate. And even then, you can still be raped.
Aurora has a weapon to protect herself. I understand that now, that she might have even needed to protect herself from men I trust.
And I can’t even blame her for having it.
Especially considering the fact that she just saved my life.
I feel myself taking a step toward her, shifting back, opening my mouth to say something. To say thank you.
And then, just beside my sister, my fated mate sighs, sways, and crumples to the snow.
***
Mylah comes on the snowmobile with me. I’m the first to make it back to Kault Castle, and when I scoop her into my arms, carrying her inside, I growl at anyone who tries to get close, tries to help.
The guests are long gone. Someone assures me—apparently not seeing how little I care at this moment—that Noemi made it back to her territory unharmed.
“Call for a doctor!” I bellow, walking in with Mylah draped over my arms. I take her to my room, and the doctor is there at once.
I watch impatiently as she does a full work-up, giving Mylah an IV and making a call.
“As far as I can tell,” the doctor says, after drawing a little blood and running some quick tests. “It might just be exhaustion. Do you know the last time she had something to eat?”
Shame rushes through me. My pregnant mate, and I have no idea if she’s been taking care of herself. If my staff have been taking care of her.
I should have come through the door.
Regret replces my blood until I’m nothing but the wish that I’d done something different. I should have talked to her. Should have checked on her.
Right now, it’s too late for me to go back and make a different choice.
