Page 56

Aegis's First Person P.O.V

“I can’t breathe. I can’t—I need to get out—”

The walls are closing in.

No.

The ceiling’s falling.

It’s getting darker. The air’s thicker. My chest burns.

I claw at the rock blocking the exit until my nails split.

“Get me out! Get me out of here!”

My voice cracks.

“Please—please—let me out!”

“Aegis!”

His voice cuts through the blackness.

“Stop—stop hurting yourself.”

"I can’t be here… Please, I can’t…”

I choke on a rancid sob.

I can’t. I can’t stop.

My hands keep scraping the stone.

Something slicks down my palms, warm.

Blood.

I can barely feel it.

His hand closes firmly around my wrist.

“You’re bleeding.”

“Don’t touch me! Let me out! Please let me out!”

“You’re safe,” he says, voice low, careful like I’m some wild animal.

“You’re not trapped. Breathe—just breathe.”

Safe.

The word means nothing.

There’s no air. No light.

Just stone and shadows pressing in.

The walls are closing in on me.

My chest constricts.

He steps closer. Hesitant. Careful.

His golden eyes search mine.

“Look at me.”

“I—I can’t.”

My knees buckle.

“Then listen to me.”

His hand hovers near my shoulder but doesn’t touch.

“You’re not in there anymore. You’re here—with me.”

But his voice is wrong.

Too far away. Too muffled.

The shadows shift.

Stone becomes damp, rotting walls.

Blood clings to my skin, thick in the air.

I claw at my throat now, nails digging into skin.

“Listen to me.”

His hand clamps gently on my wrist.

“It’s just a cave. You’re with me. Nothing can hurt you here.”

“Aegis—”

“Ahhhhhvggvvgvg!”

His arms come around me, trying to pin my hands.

“Stop. Stop it. You’ll hurt yourself—”

“Please… I’m begging you… please… it hurts. It hurts… plea..se.se.. Just let me die. Just… ju.ju.st let me d..iiii...e..Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

The words tumble out of me, raw, unhinged.

“Aegis! Look at me!”

His hands grab my face.

I can’t see him.

His voice is far away.

It hurts.

The scent of blood is thick.

It clings to my skin. Soaks my clothes.

The damp, rotting walls press in.

I’m in the hunters’ prison.

“Bring them,” the leader’s voice purrs.

Smooth. Sweet. Like rotten honey.

Clara screams.

They drag her in by the hair.

Mike walks silent, his left eye gone.

His one good eye finds mine. He nods.

No.

"Please… no. I’m sorry."

“You know what I want, Aegis.”

The leader steps closer. His grin curdles my stomach.

“You know what happens if you refuse me.”

I do.

My body remembers.

Burns. Whips. Broken bones.

But this… this is worse.

“No,” I whisper.

He smiles.

“You’re stubborn.”

He yanks Clara closer. She spits at him.

“You disgusting bastard! My brother’ll kill you!”

He laughs.

“Submit or I’ll let my boys take your body over and over.”

Mike trembles. His fists clench.

“Don’t touch me!” Clara screams.

The leader hums.

“Aegis, one last chance.”

He pulls out a gun.

Mike speaks.

“No.”

“No?”

“I won’t let her do this.”

Mike turns to Clara, his voice soft.

“She’s shielded us for three days, Clara. Three whole days. Even I couldn’t do that. If someone has to die tonight, let it be me.”

“No, no, no!” Clara sobs.

Mike smiles at me.

“You’ve done enough. If it’s anyone’s turn, it’s mine.”

“So what’s it going to be?”

The leader points the gun.

“I…I.. can’t.”

The gun fires.

Clara screams.

Mike crumples.

Blood pools.

“No!”

I fight the chains holding me.

The King’s arms tighten around me.

My chains are getting tighter.

I have to fight. I have to save her.

The leader aims at Clara.

“Wait—no!”

Another shot.

Another body.

“No, no, no—”

The walls crash in.

The cell warps.

Blood. Shadows.

Elijah steps forward.

He’s holding Clara’s body.

His golden eyes burn.

“You let them die,” he whispers.

“No…”

“Die. Die. Die.”

Their voices rise—Evangeline’s, Mike’s, Clara’s, the whole pack.

Everyone is here.

"I'm a monster. I'll be a good girl. I won't tell anyone. Please. Daddy, please."

“Die. Die. Die.”

I clutch my head.

“It was because of me. Everyone dies because of me. I’m a monster.”

The King shakes me hard.

“Aegis! Look at me! It’s not real. You’re safe!”

“They died because of me!”

My fists slam into my skull.

His eyes widen.

“No, no, no—don’t do that!”

I slam my head against the rock.

Once. Twice.

“Aegis, stop!”

His voice cracks. His arms lock around me.

“Die. Die. Die.”

“No! Damn it, no!”

His voice breaks.

“Stay with me! You hear me? Stay with me!”

One more hit.

A sickening crack.

“NO!”

His roar shakes the cave walls.

He presses his hands to my bleeding head.

“You stay awake, do you hear me?”

His breath comes fast.

“Don’t you dare close your eyes! I swear if you close your eyes—”

His voice breaks.

“I’ll charge Noah with treason! I’ll exile Emery and Zach! Do you hear me? I’ll burn the whole damn kingdom down if you die on me!”

My eyelids are heavy.

So heavy.

“Because of me…”

The words slip out.

“No. No. Don’t do that.”

His forehead presses to mine.

His hands won’t stop shaking.

“Stay. Please. Don’t you dare close your eyes. I am your king. I order you.”

The voices are louder now.

“Because of me…”

There are footsteps around me.

People are running towards me.

They’re coming to get me.

But the darkness is nearest.

I must fight.

Everything was because of me.

I can hear shouting outside the cave.

The King’s voice is raw now.

“Help! Somebody help me!”

My body’s cold and numb.

The darkness awaits me on the other side.

“You don’t get to leave me, Aegis,” he whispers.

“Not like this.”

I close my eyes.

“NO! Don’t you close your eyes!”

Warm hands on my face.

His breath on my lips.

“Stay… Please…”

The darkness is even nearer.

The voices are gone now.

“Hey,” I call, weakly tapping his cheek.

“If I die tonight, donate all my organs for scientific research.

Except for my middle finger.

Give that to the King.”