“No, no, no.” Panic claws at my throat. “I need you, Drake. I need you to stay.”
He shudders, trying to pull himself together. I can see the strain in the way his outline blurs at the edges.
“Helena’s spell,” he says. “It’s too strong. I can barely hold on.”
“Can you get me out?”
He shakes his head. “It’s sealed. Even Soren can’t break it. Lucien’s about to lose his mind.”
On cue, another crash from outside. The door rattles, but the spell holds.
“Find Ash!” I shout to Lucien and Soren. God, I hope they listen to me.
Drake moves closer, trying to solidify, but the effort makes him glitch worse. For a split second, I can feel his hand brush my cheek, there then gone in an instant.
“You’re fading.” I hear the shakiness in my voice. “Drake.”
He tries to laugh. “Don’t worry about me. You’re the one in danger.”
I cover my face with my hands, trying to pull myself together. “God, I wish I had my magic. I wish I could burn this place to the ground.”
The room is spinning, or maybe it’s just my brain. I can hear Lucien and Soren still fighting outside, and see that the spelled door glows faintly.
I look at Drake, at the way he’s fighting just to stay here, and something inside me snaps.
“I’m not giving up,” I say, shoving the panic down. “I don’t care what Helena is planning. I’m getting out of here, and I’m finding a way to bring you with me.”
Drake stares at me. “I’d follow you anywhere,” he says. “But I’m not sure I can leave. Even if we find a way for me to stay.”
I grab for him, desperate, but my fingers go right through his arm. Not being able to touch Drake anymore scares me more than anything. I stare at the lights in the ceiling until my eyes tear up. “I’m so tired of being helpless.”
He strokes my hair, or tries to. “You’re anything but that, Rose.”
I choke out a laugh.
Drake leans in, his face close to mine. “Rose, listen. No matter what happens, you fight. You survive.”
His presence is fading, and his features are going soft at the edges. I grab at him, but my hands close on empty air.
“Drake! Don’t you dare leave me!” I’m yelling now.
“I’ll always come back to you. Even if it’s only as a memory.”
He vanishes, slipping away like a breath in winter air.
And I’m alone again, sprawled on the floor.
I curl up, arms wrapped around my stomach, and pretend Drake is still beside me. I replay his words in my head, over and over.
No matter what happens, you fight. You survive.
I can do that. I always have. I have to.
The covens, these witches, want to take everything from me.
I’ll see them all burn first.
Three
