Page 98 of Those That Don't Exist

“I can’t hold them much longer, Red. It’ll give you a head start. Go!” His voice breaks on the last word with the sheer strain of pouring so much magic through his body.

“I can’t, not without you.” Tears fill my eyes once more.

“You have to, Red.” His eyes meet mine and I see it. The truth of his plan.

He knew we weren’t getting out undetected. He knew he’d have to stay to hold the pack back to give me any kind of chance of getting away from them. That’s why he told me how to get off this island. Where to go afterward. I can’t breathe as I realise what I’m about to do.

“Ty,” I beg, knowing it won’t work. My soul cleaving in two.

“Red, please. Let me give you this,” he pants with the effort. “Let me see you get out. Please, get yourself to safety, promise me.”

“No.” My whole body is shaking. I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment.

“Sweetheart, please. I can’t hold them much longer.” It’s the love I hear in his voice which forces me to move.

“I promise.”

With my chest caving in, I turn and run.

CHAPTER 39

TY

She’s safe.

She’s going to be safe.

I hold on to my power for as long as I can after she runs out through the door. My shadows give me everything they have, they’ve become more corporal than they’ve ever been. The second they locked around members of my former pack to halt them I knew I could give Red a chance.

But I also knew it would take every ounce of my concentration and strength to hold the magic. I pour all that I have into the shadows. Every muscle in my body is shaking with the strain, screaming at me to let the magic drop. I need to give her as much time as I can. It lasts for a few more seconds before I hit the wall. The magic stutters as I drop to the floor, no strength left after the exertion.

I spot a couple of figures running out into the sunshine as they break through the barrier caused by my shadows. She’s had enough of a head start, hopefully they can’t catch up to her. That’s what I need to believe, to trust in. She should be in the trees by now. As long as she doesn’t lose focus or her sense of direction she will get out. I stalled them for long enough. Hopefully.

I’ve given her the best shot at freedom I can.

In doing so I’ve signed my own death warrant. I helped her escape, I beat Adicious to a freaking pulp. I’ve nearly killed Ronan. Twice.

I’m not getting another chance to leave here alive.

Pain explodes throughout my body as punches are thrown. I’m too busy staring at the door where Red disappeared to notice who. Two of the males around me haul me up, each holding an arm so I’m strung out and unable to block the blows to my body. Others reign their fists down over me as I’m slammed back into the hallway wall. Blood already coats my eyes making it difficult to see. They’re trying damn hard to break multiple bones, I know they won’t be stopping until I’m too broken to move.

What they don’t seem to notice is that I’m already there. I try to struggle, only as a pretence, and it's feeble. The more of them I can keep here, restraining me, the fewer who are going out after my Red.

In my mind I replay some of the precious moments I’ve had with her. Nothing and everything. Moments of Red studying at her desk. Moments where the sun caught her vibrant hair. Moments where I caught her scent in the air, or her smile when she caught me looking at her.

Pain explodes through my head and I begin coughing up blood as darkness creeps in. The shadows have completely fallen away, they too are to exhausted. I block the pain with more images of the short time I got to spend in Red’s life. My heart is bleeding out even though it's deep in my chest and has escaped the damage the male vampires are currently reigning down on the rest of my body.

I struggle several times to pull in a breath. My lungs feel like they’re drowning. I am drowning. My heart gives a final lurch as I remember the feel of her entwined around my body, of us together and safe in her bed.

I shoot a final silent plea into the world for her to make it to safety.

Everything goes black.