Page 92 of Light in Your Eyes

Protect me?

Here I am, being protected as their king, but I can't do anything to protect her.

"Get off me, you fucking people," I holler with rage evident in my tone. "I'm going to kill you all if you don't let me go inside."

"And Jaxon will punish us all if we let you," Stas snaps, causing me to freeze. "Your brother wouldn't want you to go inside, Kellan. What are you going to do there? I'm so fucking sorry that I have to say this to you, but—"

He takes a deep breath, bracing to say the next words that are going to hurt me.

"You have no sight. You can't just expect yourself tosave her from the fire. Are you just going to force your way blindly through the fire and let us risk both of you dying?"

I feel the tears in my eyes even before Stas finishes his sentence.

Goddammit, I know it.

I fucking know that I'm fucking blind.

But I have to save her.

The ugly truth has just been thrown at me. Even when I don't mind dying, even when I indeed die in the process, what if I still can't save her?

My body goes rigid because of the pain consuming me.

Stas sighs, and I can hear Zoe's cries somewhere in the background.

Stas grabs my shoulder to assure me. "You are our king, Kellan. It is our job to help you fulfill what you need. Stay here. I'm going to look for her, and I promise you, I will do my best to save her."

Before I can respond, I hear his footsteps running toward the house. And just like that, he's gone to save Layla.

My teeth are chattering because of the mixture of fear, anger, and sadness stirring inside me. The people are still holding me back, but I'm no longer struggling to get away. I can only stare ahead with hope that Layla will come back to me.

I unknowingly let my tear fall, followed by another, and another.

People shout around me, trying to find a way to put the fire out. Some people have already called for help to extinguish the fire. The others are talking loudly, with urgency in their tones.

It's chaos around me, but it's nothing compared to the turmoil in my heart.

I'm standing here, unable to do anything. I can only freeze on the spot.

Waiting.

Waiting.

And still, waiting.

The sound of the fire burning fills the air, and I don't think that I'll ever forget it for the rest of my life.

This is another nightmare.

I'm being left in the dark again.

With no sight.

No choices.

No chances.

No hope for me to protect the person dear to me.