Page 139 of Rejected By the Shifter King

IT’S THE STRANGESTthing, weaving in and out of darkness, like passing through a veil back and forth, and seeing and hearing things like it’s all a dream.

Or a movie that’s all about...me.

I don’t feel anything as I watch Brandy shift, and in the next moment, it’s the fiercest fight between two snow leopards. If not for the scar on Brandy’s cheek, it would’ve been impossible to tell them apart.

My gaze drifts back to where my body is sprawled on the sidewalk. I’m bleeding profusely, with Vaughn having managed to bite a nice chunk of my neck.

Any moment now, I expect myself to fade and die.

But seconds turn into a full minute, and I’m still there.

Alive.

Barely.

Not because I’m holding on to something.

But because of someone holding me back.

A chain that refuses to let go of my soul.

And God, oh God...

Even though I can’t see myself or feel the tears running down my cheeks—

My heart hurts so, so bad that I know I’m crying.

Hexius.

Because I see him on his knees.

And oh, the things the people around him are saying just make my heart cry harder than ever.

She was attacked while he was locked up.

They say there’s no hope, that there’s no magic strong enough to heal her.

Poor man. How will he ever live with the guilt?

You heard what she said, too, didn’t you?

He doesn’t hear her thoughts like Domenico Moretti hears Misty’s.

So it must be true.

He isn’t in love with her.

They’re not saying anything I didn’t think.

But every word tears me into pieces because this time...

This time, I know.

I was wrong.

This time, I know.

I was so lost in my pain.