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We head through the back door where my mate has already disappeared.
In the backyard, I count three more Crimson Roses. Two are already dead with their chests exposed and hearts lying in the bloodied grass nearby. The third is about to meet the same fate as Legion stalks him.
On the other side of the yard, a figure bends over something half-buried in a pile of leaves. It looks like a body.
“Stay close to me,” I tell Kendall.
For once, she doesn’t argue.
The figure stands, its red eyes narrowed on me as we get closer. It raises a knife, aiming it for my chest. I stop, frozen in the line of fire as I realize any attempt I make at getting away will only put Kendall more at risk.
“Down,” I hiss at her at the same time I start to duck.
But the Crimson Rose thug is struck by a ball of fire. He screams, and the knife falls as the asshole stumbles away, body burning. I watch as Legion tracks him with murderous calm.
When he’s out of the way, I hurry toward the pile of leaves, assuming it’s another gang member lying in wait. But when I get close, I stop and cover my mouth with my hand. Behind me, Kendall presses closer.
“What is it?” she asks.
“Nothing.” I swallow hard. “Go back inside.”
“Is it another one?” she asks, ignoring my order.
Footsteps crunch over leaves, and I whirl, ready to fight again, but it’s him. My mate. Behind him, the rest of the gang is dead. Relieved of their hearts. Too late.
“Tori,” Kendall breathes, eyeing him.
“He won’t hurt you,” I tell her, tearing my gaze from his. Despite the way he seems to fill the empty space between us, I know in my heart that much is true. If he were here to hurt me, he would have done it.
Instead, he saved us.
I have no idea why, but none of that matters, considering what I’ve just lost.
Juniper.
My breath catches.
A sob builds in my throat.
I look down at the body in the leaves and find myself darkly jealous of the dead men. At least, without a heart, I wouldn’t feel mine breaking into a thousand pieces.
“Oh gods,” Kendall says, stepping around me so that she finally gets a good look at the body in the leaves. “Is that?—?”
She covers her mouth, her eyes filling with tears.
I say the words that make it real, mostly so she won’t have to. “It’s Juniper.”
Chapter 10
Legion
Fury and fire burn in my veins. Their deaths were too fast. The beast inside me isn’t ready to rest. Not yet. Not when our mate was harmed by their hands. But it’s done now, and I find myself drawn to her side if only to reassure myself she is safe. My dragon craves her gratitude. He wants her to need him. But the moment I see the older female dead among the leaves, I realize I don’t deserve gratitude at all.
Torissa turns to me, grief and pain swimming in her eyes, and I see her devastation. Whoever this woman was to her, the loss is a blow I can’t block for her. I didn’t protect her at all. I have only allowed her to be hurt in a different way.
“We have to help her.” The younger female crouches over the dead woman.
Torissa looks down at her, sorrow in her eyes. “She’s gone, Kendall.”
