Page 26 of Forty Deaths Till Us Part
As I watched him rest, the weight of our predicament pressed down on me like a knee on my chest. The attack, our unrequited passion, and the whispers of love in the night wove a tapestry of emotions that I couldn’t escape. I knew that the poison was killing him. Despite his age and power, he had become as fragile as the rest of us. A victim of hate and jealousy.
But as the reality of our situation threatened to overwhelm me, I found solace in him next to me. The sensation of his roughened skin beneath my fingertips was a reminder that love was a reward and every couple had to work to retain it. For us to endure it, we would have to weather the harshest of storms. And as I leaned in to press a soft kiss against his cheek, I vowed to fight for him and hold on to the moments we had. I would use every ounce of power I possessed to save him and cherish the time we had left, no matter how fleeting it was.
“Good morning, little bird,” Rene whispered before his eyes opened.
I smiled and met his bloodshot eyes. “Hey. How are you feeling?”
“I wish to ease your fears, but I am afraid my time is coming to an end,” he said.
“When is the next full moon? When can we bond?”
His eyes held a sadness that ripped my heart from my chest and stomped it beneath my boot. “It is in two days. I am sorry, Raven. I will not make it. But I want you to know how much it means to me you would have accepted me.”
“No!” I hissed.
His smile was slight as he fought to utilize the muscles in his face. But my response was interrupted by a scream from downstairs. I rushed from the bed and dashed to the closet. I had my leather pants, a white T-shirt, and a black jacket on in record time before zipping my boots.
Cass burst through the door as I exited the closet, and I found her staring at Rene’s exposed chest. He hadn’t moved from the bed as Cass and I shared a painful glance.
“Rene?” Cass whispered.
“What has happened?” he croaked.
“Brigid is downstairs demanding that we turn over Raven. She is threatening to expose the entire foyer. There are over a hundred clan members in the room. And she has backup. There are a dozen mercenaries with her.”
Rene attempted to get up but fell back against the covers. “I cannot help you with this. I am sorry.”
Cassara’s chest heaved. “You are dying. You are actually going to leave us on the brink of a war.”
Rene stared at Cassara. “I would never have left you by choice. You have been my lone confidant until Raven. I would never have waited for her if not for you.”
I grabbed Cassara’s arm. “He is not dying. Take me to Brigid, but station someone in here you trust. I don’t want him alone.”
“Val is outside. He will remain at the door until we return.”
I pointed at Rene. “Don’t move or I swear you will regret it.”
Rene’s lip twitched. “You are fortunate I am physically unable to.”
Cass opened the door, and we jogged to the end of the hallway after nodding to Val. She stopped me at the top of the stairs, knowing the danger that lurked in the foyer. “What do you want to do?”
“I need you to stay up here. Watch but don’t interfere. If she unleashes that compound, everyone in that room dies, including you. Rene has only this long because he is ancient, but the rest of you will be dust before I can force her to give me an antidote.”
Cassara’s eyes flickered. “You honestly think she is going to give you a cure?”
I grunted. “Not by asking nicely.”
Cass smiled. “That’s why I like you so much.”
I touched her arm. “This could get... bad. I am immune to the compound, but I am not sure Brigid knows that. She left before we saw the effects it had on Rene.”
“She may also think your shield protected you.”
“True. Either way, this will not go smoothly and there are likely to be casualties.”
Cass flinched. “I understand. Saving Rene is the priority.”
“Agreed.” I stepped from the hallway to the top landing and glanced down at Brigid as I descended the stairs. I went deliberately slow, so I could ascertain the location of the mercenaries and the clan members they held hostage with black velvet pouches in their hands.