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Chapter Twenty-Two

Lucas

“Annika?” I cried out, but she couldn’t hear me.

Her body hung limp in my arms, her breathing shallow and too damn faint. I pressed her closer, as if just by holding her tighter I could keep her here with me.

“Stay with me, Annika,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Just stay with me.”

Her head lolled against my chest, unresponsive. My heart thundered in my ears, drowning out everything else. The shouts, the footsteps, the chaos around us. None of it mattered. Not anymore.

Even the shifters had dispersed, refusing to wage a war without anyone to lead them. I took that as a small victory. A small one, but not enough.

I knew what I had to do now. Only Rowena could help us.

I took Annika into my arms, rushing out of the crypt. Breathing heavily, my eyes scanned the area outside. There were a few horses tied to nearby trees. I mounted one quickly, gently placing Annika before me.

I rode hard and fast, faster than ever before. Annika’s limp body was cradled against my chest, her shallow breaths barely audible over the pounding of the horse’s hooves.

“Hold on,” I whispered, my voice breaking as I pressed my cheek against her hair. “Please, Annika. Hold on.”

Her skin was cold… too cold. And it only made the panic claw at my chest harder. I could feel her heartbeat, faint and uneven, as if it was struggling to keep going. Every beat was a reminder that I might not make it in time.

The forest blurred around us, shadows stretching long in the fading light. I pushed the horse faster, urging it forward despite its labored breaths. Sweat darkened its coat, but I couldn’t stop.

My arms ached from holding her so tightly, but I refused to let go. Her head lolled against me, and for one terrifying second, I thought she’d stopped breathing.

“Annika!” I shouted, pulling the reins hard to stop the horse. My heart slammed against my ribs as I shifted her slightly, brushing her hair away from her face. Her lips were pale, her eyes shut, and she didn’t stir.

“No,” I growled. “Not like this.”

I shook her gently, my hands trembling. “You’re not giving up. Do you hear me? You’re not!”

A faint breath ghosted against my fingers, and relief washed through me so fiercely my knees nearly gave out.

I didn’t waste another second. I kicked the horse forward again, forcing it into a gallop as the cave finally came into view through the trees.

Rowena’s torches burned at the entrance, flickering like a beacon in the dimming light.

“Help!” I shouted as I jumped off the horse, still holding Annika tightly. My boots hit the ground hard, and I stumbled but kept moving. “Rowena!”

The shaman appeared at the mouth of the cave, her eyes narrowing the moment she saw us. She didn’t hesitate.

“Bring her inside,” she commanded, already turning back toward the shadows.

I followed without question, my pulse roaring in my ears. Annika felt so small in my arms, so fragile.

Rowena’s cave felt smaller than I remembered. I laid Annika on the same cot as before. Rowena’s sharp eyes sweptover her, and I didn’t miss the flicker of concern that passed through them before she masked it.

“What happened?” she demanded.

I told her everything—the crypt, Aurelius, the ritual, the screams. My voice broke more than once, but I pushed through. I told her how Annika had collapsed after sealing him away and how she hadn’t woken since.

Rowena listened without interruption, her hands working quickly to mix herbs and light incense, the sharp scent burning my nose. When I finished, she turned to face me, and I hated the grim look in her eyes.

“He’s latched onto her,” she said quietly, touching Annika’s pale cheek. “He’s refusing to be locked away. He’s clinging to her essence, feeding off the bond that was forged when she used her blood to seal him.”

I flinched, her words slicing through me like a blade. “Then break it. Whatever it takes, just… break it.”