Page 208 of Jagged Souls

Dayne’s head hangs limp, bloody, and still. But I can still sense him breathing. He’s alive.

For now.

My stomach drops.

Churns.

Wants to come back up.

“Choose,” Antonio says, “and I’ll let you leave with your wife.”

Sixty-Three

Varius

I want to tear free of my binds and rip out his fucking throat. Even if I managed to pull the nails out though, the three witch’s snares would keep me thoroughly restrained.

I am helpless.

I am weak.

And I have to make an impossible choice.

All my life, I have been forced to make them. Kill Talon or hear him out? Send Maddox in to almost certain death or risk never seeing my wife? Torture the woman I’m in love with or lose Khalid, the only brother I truly trust, forever? Listen to the woman who raised me, who protected me all my life, or the one I’ve only known for a few months? Focus on saving Micha or Rudy? Stop to try to save Leno or run for my wife? Eyes? Or ears?

I’ve not always made the right choice.

But this isn’tright.

Neither of these choices are right.

Rudy is like a fucking son to me, and this whole time I have been focusing on Micha. I can’t end it with him dying because I chose her friend –myfriend over him. I won’t. I don’t care how much he’d make that choice himself.

He is myson, and I cannot leave him to die.

Nor can I choose Dayne, the only man my wife needs to recover. She doesn’t love me anymore. She hates me with every fiber of her soul, and no doubt will run away as soon as she’s free. So she needs Dayne.Ineed him to watch out for her when I am gone from this world – giving up my life so she can continue to live without being forced to complete the blood bond. Without being forced to tie herself to a man she hates.

“Choose,” Antonio says, his tone light and mocking.

I look at Rudy, tears in my one remaining eye, the other in my stomach – or perhaps having already passed through to the sheets. He looks at me and gives a little nod.Choose me. I’m ready.

I know he’s suicidal. I’ve walked in on him trying to kill himself multiple times. He’s only here because he loves us, because he knows how big of a hole his death will bring to the family. But he isn’t happy as much as he smiles. He has chaos magic inside him, and it’s tearing him apart. So if I choose him, maybe he won’t die.

I shake my head, my whole heart bleeding.I can’t.

He smiles at me. A bit sad but entirely without judgment. Without blame.You can. I’m ready.

I’m ready.

I’m ready.

Well, I’m fucking not!

I’m not ready to lose another brother.

I thought Rudy the most infallible of us with his magic. With his self sacrifice to stay alive and be our emotional support. We need him with his love of the little things in life. His rosy glasses. His time out to stop and smile. We need his comfort. His humor. His warmth. We need all that he is.Ineed him.

I can’t lose him.