Page 116 of Bite The Power That Feeds

“You understood that?”

I underssstand a sssurrender when I sssee one.

I continued to gallop down the path to the castle, gripping the reins like my life depended on it. “Can you reach him?”

No.

I had hot tears in my eyes, knowing the worst had come to pass. Kingsnake would never say that to me unless it was the end. Wouldn’t torture me if there was any hope whatsoever for his survival.

I jumped off the horse when I arrived and ran into the castle. “Kingsnake!” I ran through the empty rooms, past the dead werewolves and vampires, not seeing my husband among any of them. “Kingsnake!”

“In here!” It was Cobra.

I ran, Fang slithering behind me.

I nearly tripped when I came in the door. “Where is he?”

Cobra wore a grave face, pale as winter. Clara was behind him, arms crossed over her chest, purposely not looking at me.

“Where is he?” The tears came and poured down my cheeks, the truth as clear as words on a page.

“He fought the Werewolf King and prevailed, but…”

“Oh no…” My hand cupped my mouth to stifle the tears.

“He was beaten severely—”

“Where fuck were you?” I snapped. “Why didn’t you help him?”

He kept his voice steady. “I tried…but I couldn’t.”

“You didn’t try hard enough.”

“He’s still breathing, Larisa. He might pull through. He might not… I don’t know.”

“He’s…he’s still alive.”

“Yes.”

Fang had already left, slithering across the tile to another area in the room.

I turned from Cobra and followed him, finding Kingsnake on the floor, his face so bloody he was unrecognizable.

His father was there, removing the chest plate that had been so damaged it looked like a herd of horses had trampled it under a thousand hooves.

I collapsed to my knees beside him, seeing his chest rise and fall deeply, like he was in unimaginable pain.

His father said nothing. Didn’t look at me. Just grieved.

My hand reached for his, and I grasped it. “I’m here….” Silent tears fell down my cheeks.

His father placed his hand on his shoulder. “Come on, son.”

Fang wrapped his body around his head and shoulders, resting his head on one of Kingsnake’s arms. He closed his eyes, and two yellow tears streaked from the corners.

We sat there together, all of us praying the man we loved would come back to us.

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