Page 48 of Walking in Darkness

My nod was tight. “I know. I keep thinking I can, but I end up making it worse.”

I brushed the pad of my thumb over her sweat-drenched brow, while she trembled from the cold.

She was completely drained, though at least this time she hadn’t been struck by either of the Kruen she’d encountered. It was strange that she hadn’t been drained when she fought the Ghorl in her father’s mind, but tonight she’d been completely zapped.

It was so hard to make sense of the difference.

“You think I wouldn’t give everything to protect you, too?” she whispered.

“That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.”

“Yes, it is. That’s exactly the way it’s supposed to be.” She said it so quickly she nearly cut me off. Then she lowered her voice as she continued, “It’s exactly the way it’s supposed to be. You and me fighting for humanity. It’s our fate, and we do it together.”

“You shot a man tonight.” It raked from my chest. A stake of guilt.

She gave a long blink. “I hate it ... that people can be so depraved that it was the only option I had. Hate that I had to do it. But I can promise I’d do it all over again, a thousand times over. For you, Pax. Because I love you.”

As I sat there on my knees next to her, the significance of the night sank through me.

“You saved me,” I told her. I wasn’t sure what the fuck would have happened if she hadn’t come. If she’d listened to the bullshit I’d spewed.

My thinking had been faulty. I knew it now. Knew she was right.

“I needed you—needyou in every way,” I corrected. “In every aspect and every manner, and I promise you I won’t try to keep you from the things I have to do ever again.”

Her teeth raked over her bottom lip as she nodded against the pillow, all that black hair strewn around her gorgeous face.

“Because you and I are in this thing together, Pax. To the very end.”

Chapter Fifteen

Aria—Tearsith

“Peter is dead.” Aria heard Pax grit out the words from where he and Ellis were huddled beneath the great tree. His voice was grave. The words as dire and bleak as Aria felt, where she lay on the cool grass next to the babbling stream, seeking respite within the confines of Tearsith after she’d been sapped of her strength.

The rest of their Laven family sat just in the distance, their turmoil distinct as they awaited instruction.

Only Dani was at her side, sitting beside Aria and running tender fingers through her hair. Whispering, “You’re going to be fine. What you did was so brave. I’m so proud of you. So proud of who you are.”

Above Dani’s encouragement, Aria could hear the hushed, brutal conversation between Pax and Ellis.

“None of this is chance. Nathan accidentally falling to his death and William overdosing? Doesn’t fit either of them,” Pax hissed. “It’s too much to be a coincidence. And we saw the Kruen set on Peter’s destruction with our own eyes. Saw it in both Faydor and while awake. Plus, the other five who did not show last night still have not arrived. We can’t chalk that up to coincidence, and I fear the worst for them. We believe every single one of us is in danger.”

Ellis sagged in sorrow, his frail, thin frame slumping beneath the weight. The soft breeze that usually provided comfort gusted like a veiled, baleful omen, whipping through the stringy locks of their teacher’s stark-white hair. His pale eyes, which had witnessed so much torment and suffering in his lifetime, had dimmed to desolation.

“My children,” he gasped, and Pax darted out both hands to support him as the old man swayed to the side, nearly overcome with grief.

Aria’s own grief hit her on a swelling wave, crashing against her consciousness as she watched the scene. Dani whimpered and moved to wrap her arms around Aria.

“I’m sorry, Ellis. I did not want to deliver this news,” Pax muttered.

Ellis gripped his arm with bony fingers. “I do not understand. Others have succumbed throughout the years ... targeted as humans. Susceptible like the rest. But never like this. So many in just a handful of days.”

Ellis wobbled again, and Pax’s gaze cut to Aria from the side.

She wondered, in that split second, if he questioned the same thing she did. If he questioned if their joining had caused this. If what Valeen had warned had come to fruition. Except that danger had not only extended to Pax and herself but also their whole family.

Had they done this?