You can’t let them die!She wiped the tears from her eyes, and with an inhale, forced herself to focus, pulling the threads of her Will together into a barrier.
I’m sorry.She huddled over Taiga, just as the attack hit, barreling into her with the force of an avalanche. Her whole body shook under the pressure as she fought to keep the shield intact. More tears streamed down her face, and behind her, Taiga’s labored breathing was the only sound above the storm.
“I’m so sorry,” Aimee whimpered as the wind screamed around her. “I’m so sorry.” The words spilled from her lips in a chant, each one a desperate plea as she struggled to hold the barrier, even as her heart crumpled within her.
“You were everything to me!” Kazuma bellowed.
A sob tore from Aimee’s throat, and her shield began to buckle. The energy wavered under the force of his attack, cracks forming along the edges of the barrier.
Then, before it could shatter completely, Kiba appeared, yanking her and Taiga out from under the barrage, dragging them both furtheraway. They landed hard on the ground, the air thick with dust and sand, making it nearly impossible to see anything beyond Kiba’s face.
“Are you okay? Aimee, talk to me. Are you okay?” His worried eyes searched her for any sign of injury.
She could barely nod, her vision dimming as the world tilted dangerously close to darkness.
“Stay with me, love.” He held her tight in his arms. She could see two other shinobi cutting the snake from Iruka, and his form slumping to the ground. “Stay with me.”
Aimee looked past Kiba’s shoulder, catching the hazy outline of Kazuma. Hi Haven Ryosh surrounded his lean form, their weapons drawn, including the Hi Seisho himself standing at the forefront.
“We came as soon as we knew he was here,” Kiba whispered gently, his voice full of regret. “I’m so sorry you had to face him alone.”
She looked back at Kiba, her hand trembling as she raised it to his cheek, needing his warmth to ground her. Then, burying her face in his chest, she tried to block out the torrent of memories threatening to overwhelm her.
This is my life. This is my life. She repeated the mantra, willing herself to stay in the present.
“Oh, love.” Kiba kissed the top of her head, arms pulling her tighter against his chest. And for a moment she let herself sink into him, the steady thrum of his heartbeat almost enough to drown out the chaos within her own.
Then the moment shattered as a raw howl of agony split the air, sharp enough to rattle her bones, yanking her gaze back to Kazuma.
“All for nothing!” he cried, the sound broken and desperate. “How could you!”
Kazuma screamed again, and then another, more guttural sob followed, full of despair.
“Come quietly, traitor,” the Hi Seisho commanded. “There’s no need to draw this out any longer.”
For a moment, Kazuma’s focus snapped from Aimee to the Hi Seisho and then back to Aimee. His sobbing stopped, and his face hardened.
“All for nothing,” he closed his eyes briefly, pulling himself together, his face going cold and emotionless as he addressed the Hi Seisho.
“Come quietly?” He laughed. “Now, where is the fun in that, hypocrite?”
Then, before anyone could move, his body shimmered, fading from view.
“Come and get me. We’ll see who goes quietly.” His voice echoed, and then he was gone.
Sneak Peek
She Who Devours (Prequel)
For the ones who’ve been broken and still chose to rise. For the ones who stood at the edge of ruin—and walked through the fire, despite the burn.And for every woman who’s ever been called too much, too angry, too dangerous… and kept going anyway.
Chapter 1
Looking up, she caught sight of him weaving through the crowd toward the center of the starship’s bridge—shoulders squared too tight, steps just a little too quick. His white hair, precise as ever, clung to his shoulders in soft waves, framing the deep brown of his skin like a flag declaring his lineage. One of the elvish-born, a genetic echo of the Aspects’ obsession with crafting sentient life.
Spotting her, his shoulders straightened more, chin lifting a fraction.
“Anomenel.” She smothered the smile that tugged at her lips. “Report.”
