Page 47

H aru really was as fast as a car, which, while impressive, was also fucking terrifying as they moved through the trees at that speed.

I stayed as low as I could so I didn’t get knocked off by a tree branch, following the flow of their body like water.

With my fingers locked in their fur, I had some semblance of hope I wouldn’t fall off and get immediately consumed.

Shrieks followed us, each one setting me on edge and sending goosebumps cascading over my skin.

The gold marks on my skin flared with light with each monstrous scream, all the crossed wires in my brain slingshotting desire through my system.

It didn’t temper the fear, but it was a pleasant distraction.

The bond was overflowing with panic and I absorbed it like a sponge. We were down to the now or never, and I wasn’t fucking ready. How could I be? I’d barely had a moment to breathe since all of this started.

How was I supposed to protect my pack?

One thing at a time, Haru assured me. Keep breathing.

I buried my face in their fur. The air behind us was ice cold, like the creature was absorbing every ounce of warmth. The forest was hauntingly quiet besides the fall of Haru’s paws against the ground and their panting breath.

We couldn’t run for long, but if the monster was following me, it wasn’t guarding the gate. My pack would make sure the nest occupants got to safety, and beyond that, it was up to me.

No pressure or anything.

I wept as Haru ran, mourning everything we were about to lose. Maybe I wasn’t as at peace with things as I’d thought. This was no longer a possibility of destruction, but rather a certainty, and the only question was how much damage we’d have inflicted.

We got them out .

Velda was warm and jittery in my head, like she was trying to comfort me beyond her own worries.

Haru turned, beginning a wide roundabout to get us back to the nest. I dared a look back and instantly regretted it. The trees were scorched and wilted on the creature’s path, like it was drawing the life force out of the forest itself and still ravenous to take from me, too.

Hecate, I don’t know what to do.

Little star, you have always known.

But I didn’t. I wasn’t brave enough to look death in the face and not be afraid. I had no choice, though. If it wasn’t a willing sacrifice, the rift wouldn’t heal.

Haru, go as fast as you can. Get some distance between us and it.

My wolf bolted ahead, so quick I had to close my eyes against the breeze.

Drop me in the trees before we get to the nest.

Absolutely the fuck not. You’re not facing that thing alone.

I have to. If it touches any of you, it will steal everything the way it did with Seth and you won’t survive. At least if it’s taking through me, it’ll be slower, and there’ll be a better chance we make it through this.

Haru grumbled in my head. If you die right after I’ve let myself love you, I’m going to be very upset.

I rubbed my cheek on their fur. Loving you is why I have to do this. Please help me do that.

With another burst of speed, they raced through the forest and came to a skidding stop outside the gates, letting me slide to the ground. I hadn’t bothered with shoes when we’d run out here, and the simple connection with the earth was like a shot of caffeine straight to my bloodstream.

Yes, help me. The energy of the forest snaked around me and I used it as an anchor so I didn’t turn and bolt when the creature came into view.

One glance back toward the nest showed me my pack, hand in hand. Please, gods, let me make it back to them.

I drew in an unsteady breath, turned back, and braced myself for the impact, but just like the first time it had touched me, I wasn’t prepared.

Plunging through the ice was still the closest comparison I could make.

Stabbing cold, the loss of breath, its tendrils of smoke and ash wrapping around me, filling my lungs with its poison.

I couldn’t even scream.

Was it working? I let it take me. What else did I have to do?

The world faded to black on the edges of my vision, sucking me down into the peaceful darkness.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in the familiar moss-drenched forest, stars filling the heavens above me like diamond dust on velvet.

Welcome, little star.

Hecate waited for me, as beautiful as ever. When she stepped aside, it was to reveal a man in glittering chains—shackled at his wrists, ankles, and throat—his spirit body emaciated, his eyes like orbs of obsidian.

This is Godric MacCadáin. He’s been waiting for you for a long time.

The monster was a person? Shit. Of course he was. He had been so before Fiona took everything from him.

My thoughts were fuzzy. I couldn’t feel my body, but I knew it was failing.

I’m afraid we do not have the luxury of time. You must act before you suffocate.

When I stepped closer, Godric jolted toward me with a snarl. “Evil witch,” he hissed.

I tumbled forward, wedging myself tight against his chest, my shoulder under his chin so he couldn’t bite me. “I’m not her.”

“I know her blood when I smell it.” Godric struggled hard against the bindings, hissing and growling in my arms.

I closed my eyes, reaching for the chains, the icy chill of them snaking up my arm. That wasn’t right. I wasn’t meant to be cold, and neither was he.

Fire .

Even without the ability to breathe in here, the scent of my pack was thick in my nose, and I summoned up the memory of their touch. The golden marks on my skin sizzled and winked out one by one, my magic draining out too fast.

Godric bellowed in my ear as the first chain turned cherry red and collapsed, smoking to the earth. His hand snapped up, shoving me back and wrapping around my throat. “Vengeful bitch. You bring nothing but torment. You took everything from me.”

Before panic could choke me as thoroughly as he did, my mind prompted me with knowledge. He was already suffocating my body with his monstrous form; he couldn’t do any worse here.

I slammed my hands to the chain around his throat so I could curl both along the frozen metal, pouring my magic into it. The last mark on my skin sizzled away, the magic I had stored vanishing into the chain.

No.

There were too many left.

I screamed, draining my own power to break the shackle at his throat and reached for the next.

I felt each bolt of panic in the bond as my own core depleted, and the chains began to consume from my lovers, snaring them in order of my bonding. Seth had nothing left to give, so it wrenched at the heart of Yelena and my lioness went dark in the bond.

Was she unconscious? Dead?

The chains drank from Haru next, and I tried to reach out, to reassure them, but I wasn’t strong enough to reach them right now.

I tore apart another shackle, but two still remained.

It wasn’t fair.

We didn’t have enough.

The world wavered, my body too close to its own death.

“Please. I’m trying to help.”

Godric, this cursed man, offered me no response beyond his incoherent shrieking.

Fiona had destroyed him, and dammit, I was going to put him back together if I could.

I reached for the shackle around his ankle, fighting him trying to destroy me and managing my own panic as Haru vanished just like Yelena, Velda following much too quickly.

The metal crumbled in my fingertips.

Kendrick wouldn’t be enough.

I still had to try.

My stag disappeared and I let out an anguished wail.

It would all be for nothing.

Caden, I can’t do it. I’m so sorry. Please tell them.

Tell them yourself .