Page 128 of A Thousand Cuts

A blinding haze of light burst from Liam, lashing out and cursing everything in sight. The entire room looked alive with curses—objects flying, lights going on and off, floors shaking. It was as if the space was a playground and Liam’s magic was the rambunctious child needing to touch everything it found.

“Fix, we have to get out!” Gwen yelled at him, and he looked at her in horror.

“Okay.” He followed her when she rushed to the door, arms over her head as she avoided being blasted by Liam’s curses.

She opened the door and before she could realize what he was doing, Fix grabbed the key to the room from her hand, pushed her out, and slammed the door shut between them.

“FIX!” He heard Black calling out to him.

“Fix, no!” Hart sounded panicked, but he didn’t want to hear it.

He turned back to the center of the room where the love of his life was arching away from the table, magic seeping out of him, hurting him. Killing him.

Fix wouldn’t let him go through it alone.

If that meant going with him then so be it. Wasn’t like there would be a life for him after Liam.

“Find a dampener!” he called out to them as he knelt next to the table and gripped Liam’s hand in his. “Please just save him.”

Another burst of light spread from Liam’s chest.

Liam’s eyes snapped open.

He looked directly at Fix.

“Daddy,” he whispered, and Fix wanted to scream at how weak he sounded.

“Honey, I love you,” Fix said, kissing the back of his hand. “I love you. I’m here. Daddy’s got you.”

“Hurts,” Liam said.

Fix nodded. “I know. We’re gonna help you. You just have to hold on a little bit longer for me. Can you do that?”

“Tired.” Liam whimpered when his magic started a few more curses around the room.

“You’re so strong,” Fix said. “Stronger than anyone I know. You can do this.”

Liam’s chest heaved.

His eyes widened.

The fingers holding Fix’s hand tightened painfully.

A blinding light burst out of Liam.

Fix heard screams.

He threw himself over Liam’s body to cover him.

And then everything went black.

Chapter 23

Liam

He’d always thought dying would hurt. Everything else was a struggle in his life. An uphill battle he just had to endure somehow. So it made sense that dying would be like that too, Death dragging him away kicking and screaming from Fix and King. The only two things he felt truly belonged to him.

Instead, it was softness under his cheek.