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I should have known it wouldn’t be that easy.
The second before the shadows hit him, he vanishes, pulling a shout from me that borders on a roar. I search for him, even though I know I won’t find him. This trick was cool when Ryker did it, but it's not so cool now.
“Ah, there she is. The future queen of the shadows.” Like earlier, his voice booms from every direction. “I’ll be seeing you soon, I’m sure. Either that, or I’ll be back to collect your mates.”
His voice is distant this time as if he’s moving away, and I panic; pushing to my feet, I jump. Without thought, my shadows catch me, just like they used to when I would fly with Garrett. I don’t have time to enjoy it as I swoop down, searching the wreckage, desperate to find him and put an end to this before more people get hurt. People I love, who are only even here because of me.
“So much power. It would be a shame if I had to break you. Until next time.”
I know he’s gone even as I continue to look, but I can’t help it. I won’t give up hope that I can stop this nightmare, that I can save Lyle. He would have fought for me; he has fought for me for years. I won’t give up on him. My wings cut through the air, pushing me faster as the need to do something sits in my stomach like a lead weight.
I can’t give up. I won't.
The chimeras in the village center begin to leave, breaking off into the woods in no particular order or direction. Nobody makes a move to stop them, all but one that is.
A high-pitched yip cuts through the air, and I know it’s Pike. It’s enough to shake me from my obsessive searching as I rush back toward the guys.
The sight I come upon is chilling, something I never thought I would see.
Lyle appears to be attempting to leave, but Storm, Pike and Blair are trying to hold him off.
Trying and failing.
Blair is wrapped around one of his legs, but even from here, I can see the claw marks on his scales. It doesn't appear that he's broken through them yet, as Lyle is focused on the other two at the moment, but I know his attention could shift at any moment.
I don't know if I can survive seeing Blair the same way as Sol. And I'm not sure Garrett could help both of them.
Whereas Storm and Pike are pulling punches, Lyle has no such obligation, leaving them mostly on the defense to avoid being ripped apart.
They can’t win this without hurting him, and if they keep going, they’ll get hurt.
My heart feels as though it’s lodged in my throat as I call out to them.
“St—” I choke back tears, my voice cracking.
I clear my throat and try again, and this time, my voice is loud and strong in a way I don’t feel at all.
“Stop!”
They all turn toward me as I fly toward them, but I only have eyes for Lyle. He holds my gaze until I’m close enough to land. I drop down beside Pike, and he nudges my hand, his head giving me comfort and strength—strength I so desperately need right now.
“Lyle,” I breathe his name, stepping away from Pike and toward him with my hands up in an attempt to keep him from running.
He watches me with his cold, white eyes, but I have no idea what he’s thinking. He was hard enough to read already, but now it’s impossible, as if he’s someone else.
No!
I push the thought away. I know he’s in there; I can feel him.
He’s still in there… somewhere.
I make it three steps before he lets out a roar, and I know what it is. He’s warning me not to get closer.
I hear the others’ soft sounds of concern, but nobody moves to stop me, at least not yet.
“Please don’t go,” I beg, uncaring of how my voice quivers or the tears that roll down my cheeks. “We can figure this out, together. That’s how a pack works, right?” I ask, forcing a wobbly smile, trying to appeal to any part of him that might hear me.
“I need you.” I hold my arms wide as I take another step forward, and he follows my movements. “We need you.”
