Page 158 of Beneath the Mountain Sky

Her rush of words.

The truths in them.

The horrific reality of what she endured crashes over me, bringing a wave of icy resolve with it.

He hurt my Honeybee.

He took my son.

I thought I was familiar with rage. That fury and I had become friends, especially over the past several weeks, but what courses through me now rivals anything I’ve ever felt before. The kind of biblical wrath people burn for eternity for acting on.

Liam shakes his head, his emerald eyes wide and filled with trepidation as he watches me. “Don’t even think about it, Killian.”

There is no thinking now.

Just doing.

Connor takes a step toward us, hand fisted, jaw locked. Clearly reading me as well as our little brother has. He’s ready to jump in if necessary to stop me from doing something stupid. “Don’t.”

The word means nothing to me.

I gently pull away from Willow, feathering my lips over her forehead.

Pushing to my feet, I clench my palm over my wounded arm as blood continues to seep from it despite the triage we attempted. I lock eyes with each of my brothers. “Don’t even think about trying to stop me or getting in my way.”

“Fuck.” Connor advances on me, his intent to interfere with my plans written all over his face. “Killian, no!”

Liam grabs his shoulder and holds him back. “Wait for the sheriff, Killian.” He pleads with that look he used to give me as a child when he wanted us to take him along on our mountain adventures. Only this time, he’s trying to stop me. “Don’t go up there alone. You’re going to get yourself fucking killed.”

Willow whimpers, clutching at my leg. “No, you can’t…”

Her words and the panic in her voice should stop me.

But all I can see is red.

She struggles to her feet, then grasps the front of my shirt, forcing me to look at her.

My blood smeared across her cheeks only intensifies my rage.

The things he did to her, the things she suffered up here, for a year.

Willow went through her pregnancy with a madman instead of with me, had our baby here instead of with me…

He locked her away.

Struck her, if the memories she’s had over the last several days since the hypnosis are any indication.

Kept her chained and at his mercy.

My skin flames hot with fury, and I release my grip on my arm, reach down and tug her hands free of my shirt, squeezing her wrists. Ensuring my gaze is locked with her stormy, tear stained one so she can see my resolve. “I will be back with him. I promise.”

I crush my lips to hers and step away before she can stop me, snagging my axe from where it fell to the ground when I pushed her to safety.

There isn’t anything any of them can do or say to stop me now.

Nothing that could break through this red haze of wrath consuming me.

Nor would I want it to.