Page 36 of All Your Deadly Truths (The Filthy Duet #2)

“I’ve got you, little demon.” Tears fall from my eyes so suddenly, I don’t even have time to brace for them.

I lean her back, pressing my lips to hers—cold and slightly parted.

My forehead rests against hers as I grit my teeth, trying to hold it together.

“I’ll never let them take you again, I swear. ”

When she wakes up, I’ll help her piece herself back together. The parts that shattered will grow stronger, because they’ll fuse with my own being. I’ll be her foundation, and the only person who will ever break her will be me.

She will only cry for me , bleed for me , scream for me .

Nothing else in this world matters but her, and if I have to crawl on my knees to prove to her that truth, then so fucking be it.

“I love you, Xera,” I whisper against her neck. “I won’t let you go again. Never. For our eternity and its after. They’ll have to tear you from my cold, dead fingers.”

I only get a few moments alone with her when Sydni is back with a towel, which I swiftly wrap around Xeraphine.

It doesn’t take long before everyone is standing over us—Alaric, Brice, and Niyla. I don’t want to be out here with them, and selfishly, that includes my butterfly. However, I won’t push her away.

“I don’t want anyone talking to me, and until she’s awake…” I glance up at the Fallen, who has his beady eyes laser-focused on my girl. “You will stay the fuck back. Understand?”

He doesn’t respond, and fury heats my chest.

“Alaric.” Niyla nudges his arm.

“Yes. Understood.”

I lift Xera carefully and move her to the front of the boat, where there are cushions for lounging.

I’m uneasy about being inside, but I want to lay her down somewhere comfortable.

I don’t believe we’re out of danger—not until we’re off this damn boat and back on solid ground.

That will be a minimum of three days, depending on the weather and current.

That means we are staying up here, above deck, because I won’t separate myself from my girl. I can feel her Amoro reaching for me, though it’s strange. It’s as though it’s struggling to latch on. Each time it tries, it slips. She’s trying to feed, but it’s a battle; one I hate to say she’s losing.

The three of us—Sydni, myself, and Xeraphine—have been sitting here for several hours now.

I’ve got my little demon resting in my lap, and yes, twirling her tail around my finger.

She once said she couldn’t stand it and was grateful it stayed inside her—awkward way to put it—but now that I’ve seen it, I can’t help but feel a little needy for it.

It has a leather-like texture, just like the rest of her skin right now. The tip is triangular, and I’d almost say it looks like a heart from certain angles, but I won’t mention that. It’s all black, just like the rest of her is at this moment.

One of her hands is laced with Sydni’s, who has been rubbing her face against the top of her palm. I don’t think it’s out of affection; she’s smelling her, and I know she’s struggling with more than just one thing.

Reaching out, I put a hand onto her shoulder and she opens her eyes to look at me. “You are doing so good, butterfly.”

A weak smile overcomes her frown, and she gives me a gentle nod. “Thanks, Rhysie-poo.”

Hearing that silly nickname after so long makes me smile wide. Shifting my hand from her shoulder, I gently place it against her cheek.

“Thank you , Syd. You once again found her.”

The minuscule shake of her head makes me nod a more confident, resolute one.

“Yes. If you hadn’t turned back for Sinnix at the transportation station, we would have been gone. Who knows then where that Siren would have ended up.”

I don’t need her to respond, because that dullness in her eyes brightens just a little.

The fatigue she’s been drowning in starts to break, if only for a moment, as she understands I’m right.

She was right about the mountains, right about Ashfer, right about helping Sinnix.

Sydni is the hero here, and I always knew she’d go just as far for Xeraphine as I would.

Tears line her lids. “We got her.”

“We did, and this time, she’s not going anywhere.” Brushing my thumb under her eye, I watch as she leans into the touch.

My gaze darts behind her. “We will need to discuss what we are going to do once we get back to land.”

She swiftly nods. “I think we should?—”

A turn in the current causes the boat to shift, stopping Sydni mid-sentence.

I move my hand back down to adjust my girl, pulling her closer.

It’s only when another wave hits us that I shift my sights out at sea.

We are going at top speed, with nothing but open waters ahead, and around us.

The weather is perfect, and Niyla has been watching behind us for the pursuing boat. She would have called to us.

“What was that?”

“I’m not—” I don’t get the statement finished before something hard smacks against the side of our vessel, sending us rolling to the opposite side. Quickly, I grab hold of Xeraphine and watch as Syd stands.

“Sydni, sit—” Again, we are hit, but this time with catastrophic consequences. She tumbles, and even as I reach out for her, it’s not quick enough.

The sound of water splashing comes with Brice’s loud, thunderous roar, “Sydni!!”