It was also the night I had to walk away from Darian. My one and only friend. My first love.
I’m gasping for air, but it won’t come—my mind clouds over, tears streaking down my cheeks. A voice calls out to me, distant and hollow, but something drags me deeper, the world blurring into nothing. The dagger they cut themselves with now pulses with an eerie purple light, tiny stars flickering down its length.
“Bound by blood,
Life’s thread must sever,
Only in death's release
Can shadows break free.”
I claw at the dirt, fingers scraping the earth as if holding on could keep the world from falling apart. Then, in an instant, I’m pulled back, eyes snapping open to find Ronan leaning over me, his expression taut with worry.
“Hey… hey,” he murmurs, hands gentle but firm against my arms.
My lips tremble as he pulls me up, holding me close. His warmth, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my cheek, and the familiar scent of him sink into my frayed nerves, pulling me back from the edge of panic. I clutch him like a lifeline, desperate to stay here in his arms, to stay away from the nightmare clawing at my mind.
Daleyza is there too, eyes shining with tears. Malrik drops down beside me, silent but watchful, while Kieran and Drewstand close. I glance down and notice the ground is soaked—everyone is drenched to the bone. The fire's dead, its warm glow swallowed by the creeping cold.
Ronan pulls back but keeps his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine. “You, okay?”
I nod, barely. “Mind telling us what you were doing?” he asks.
My hands wobble, and Ronan catches them gently, rubbing his thumbs over my skin like he knows exactly how to soothe me.
“I asked,” I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice. “I needed to know what ritual Vespera used to create the darkness… and how to destroy it.”
And now I know exactly what is needed from me.
Malriks' voice cuts in, rough and amused. “That still doesn’t explain why you knocked us all out.” He pouted. “Waking up with him pressed against my ass wasn’t exactly the dream I wanted.”
Drew chuckles, trying to hide it behind a cough, only to get a sharp elbow from Kieran.
“I wasn’t exactly thrilled either, you psycho,” Ronan shot back, and Malrik just winked.
“Liar.”
I can’t help but feel calm watching them get on, even if they are bickering.
Kieran grunted, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. “Whatever you were doing, it seriously messed with your magic. I woke up to thunder and rain pounding the windows, so… explain.”
I swallowed hard, fighting the sting behind my eyes when I met his gaze.
“If you really want to know,” I squeeze Ronan’s hands in mine. “I found a way to help Darian.”
“Great. How?” Keiran’s voice was blunt, no patience wasted. Ronan chewed on his lip, then glanced over his shoulder. “Chill the fuck out, man. Give her a minute.”
I caught sight of my dagger resting nearby.
“Watch how you talk to her, or you might find yourself without a tongue,” Malrik said smoothly, his hand sliding up my back. The cold rings on his fingers sent a shiver down my spine.
“There’ll be no cutting out tongues,” I tell him with a roll of my eyes.
Malriks' eyes narrowed like I’d just killed his family. “But it’s my favourite thing to do… besides eating your pussy.”
Drew muttered under his breath, “Fucking hell, man.”
I clamped my hand over Malriks' mouth and took a deep breath. “Look, it’s pretty simple to undo, but there’s only one person who can do it.”
