Page 34

MARCUS

Sitting at the top of the castle always calms me down. Darius is going mad with worry, and Julius has gotten all sullen. I can’t even help Charlotte feel any better, no matter how much I try to make her laugh. The only place I’m any use to them is on the roof, playing lookout.

Atlas has been gone for two weeks, and we’ve searched everywhere.

Well, everywhere in Continental Europe and the Isles.

But that is everywhere. Crossing into other protected territory would only cause more problems. Atlas was good at sticking to our places and coming back, but apparently, this was just too much.

It’s my fault he’s gone. I’m the reason everyone is so upset.

The thought of just letting myself drop from this astronomical height flashes across my mind for a moment before I shake it away.

That wouldn’t help anyone, and I know we’ll figure this all out.

We have to figure this all out. Charlotte is meant to be ours, and Atlas will see that… one day. When he comes back.

Swinging my legs, I stare into the distance, watching heavy dark clouds roll in. Finally, the rain will come in and clear all the heavy feelings away. With a dejected sigh, I lie back on the roof and shut my eyes.

The splash of the first cool drop on my skin makes me shiver and smile.

It’s followed quickly by a thousand more, drop after cool drop.

The thoughts racing in my head slow down as I focus on the feeling as each drop hits my skin and rolls.

Fuck, it’s almost as good as eating Charlotte’s pussy.

The calm that settles over me is something I haven’t been able to feel since Atlas left.

I lie in the rain for a long time before the thunder and lightning start.

Behind my eyelids, the flashes of lightning are even more beautiful as they make the world a little brighter surrounding our loch.

The heavy rumble of the thunder leaves me feeling alright enough to let my mind go utterly blank.

I’m pretty sure this is meditation or something. I should tell Darius to try it out, maybe it will help him with all his stress.

I almost don’t hear it. The scream that tears through the night between cracks of thunder, but I know that voice. I know who’s screaming.

My eyes shoot open, heart thundering as the beating of wings fills the air.

“Marcus!” Atlas’ voice is pained, his scream shattering at the end.

He has his arm gripped tightly around his chest, something thin and gold spewing out from where his arms meet.

My mouth drops open and doesn’t close again until he’s closer and I can see that something is very much not right. Atlas is flying strangely, his body not looking quite right. His face is twisted in agony as he flies closer, a large golden streak running across his dark chest.

I brace to hop off the roof and help him when he flies over as quickly as a shot, the golden liquid running over his skin, dripping like the rain and splattering against my face.

Warm, thick, and tingling with magic. Blood .

“Atlas, what the fuck happened?” I ask as I scramble to follow him.

He can’t seem to stay in the air now that he’s in the vicinity of the castle. He begins to tip to one side and then the other. He swings like a pendulum, and it makes me choke on my panic.

I bite on the inside of my bottom lip to keep the sound in as I take to the air and fly after him.

Atlas groans, the sound soft and weak, as his wings begin to slow. He loses altitude fast and comes crashing down in our front yard.

I zip through the air after him and land on my feet beside his body. My magic pulses inside me. I can feel every inch of my body from the steady thrum of power I’m trying to pull. Darius jerks it right back through the bond, and I huff, falling to my knees.

“Hey, buddy, what happened?” I ask, trying to take stock of the massive injury.

Atlas rolls over to look up at me, leaving a small pool of golden blood where he was once face down. His expression pinches tighter, and he tsks through gritted teeth at me.

“Well, I went for a fucking walk—” He starts to sass, and I just snap .

“Fuck off!” My voice cracks with the thunder, and Atlas’ eyes soften.

He coughs and groans, some of his golden blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth.

My heart stalls in my chest.

“Please, just tell me how to help you.” My hands are shaking as I lift them over him.

I’m not a healer by any means, but our magic is linked, and I should be able to do something for my nest-mate.

“Can somebody help us?!” I call in the direction of the castle.

“There is nothing to do,” Atlas whispers.

When I look back at him, a dusty tone colors his skin, which can only be from the blood loss.

“You’re being crazy. We’re immortal,” I say with a forced laugh that splinters and cracks on my tongue. “You’ll be fine, I just know it, and then you can kick Charlotte out or whatever you want.” I ramble as my eyes find the cause of all that bleeding.

From his left shoulder all the way down to his right hip, his body isn’t fucking connected. Gold weeps from the huge wound in his side, and I feel puke creep up the back of my throat.

I didn’t know gargoyles could puke, but Atlas’s injury lances me straight through with terror.

“Please come quick!” My voice snaps through the air again, but I can’t take my eyes off Atlas.

He doesn’t look too good, and if I take my eyes off him, then he might not be there when I put them back.

I rest a hand gently into the tangled waves of his hair, not knowing what the fuck to do. I’m a protector, but here, I’m utterly helpless. I can’t do anything to save my nest-mate, and I just might blow it worse this time than ever before.

“You would really let me kick out our mate?” Atlas asks suddenly, his eyes unfocused and pointed toward the dreary sky.

“Yes, but you have to live. This nest is nothing without you, Atlas.” I give his cheek a gentle pat, trying to keep him awake. “You need to keep your eyes open, or I might vomit on you.”

Atlas takes in a deep breath and winces. “Don’t do that, don’t make me want to laugh.”

“I’m sorry, it’s a gift.” I frown and bite my cheek. “You just have to stay awake. Just keep your eyes on my handsome face.”

Atlas snorts, some of that cool, give-no-shits-take-no-shits attitude showing itself.

“Handsome face, my ass.”