I don’t want to watch, but I can’t look away as Aiden steps back, lifting a bloody chunk of meat. Noah’s heart. Aiden tore it from his body, and now he’s crowing, his blond hair black with blood, as he throws his head back and swallows the organ whole. The Warden and all the red-eyed wolves start howling, but the sound cuts out.
I’m staring into Noah’s eyes, but he’s gone, gone, and he’ll never return. He’ll never hold me again, or love me, or protect me.
And it’s my fault. I did this. I turned away from my fate, and that’s the reason my mate is dead.
At the foot of the altar lies another body. Liora, in human form, her sightless eyes staring into the black sky. And I have to watch as Oriana is led, stumbling as if drugged, to the altar to be “claimed” in the Alpha Rites.
NO, I shout in my mind.
It can't happen. I won't let it happen.
But the vision continues, more images flowing into my mind’s eye in a horrible fast-forward cascade. Madi sobbing over a tiny grave. Aiden ordering red-eyed wolves to advance and kill a crowd of humans. Thick, oily smoke boiling from the rubble of New York City.
It’s coming, the Grandmothers inform me sadly. It’s not even a shock to hear their voices–it feels inevitable. Only you can stop this. But you must take your place.
I see myself as Seeress, with the tiara on my head. Calling on my powers to cleanse the land.
Take your place, the Grandmothers urge. It’s the only way.
And then I'm back in reality. “Aster! Aster?”
I’m in the forest with Noah. He’s holding me–he must have carried me here. There’s no one around us, but I hear whistles in the distance. The enforcers are coming, and Aiden and the Warden will probably be with them.
I want to cling to him, but the taint of my vision coats me. I don’t know why I had a vision; they’re supposed to be gone. I’m supposed to be free!
Take your place.
I don’t want to! But…I can’t be the reason Noah is killed. I can’t stand for him to touch me, knowing that I might cause his death. And I know if he stays with me now, he will be caught, and so will his mother and sister. He needs to go and lead them out, it’s their only chance. I know it like I know my own name
I can't have him here. It hurts, but losing him will hurt worse.
“You need to leave.” I face him, so he can see my lips clearly as I sign, GO.
“Aster–” his arms tighten around me, and I thrash, wrenching myself free. I must look crazy, and maybe I am, but I have to do this. I have to do this even though my eyes sting with tears, and my heart is cracking, bleeding poison.
“You need to leave now. Go with your sister and mother.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
I say the first thing that comes to mind, what will get him to go away. “I'm not your mate. I can't be your mate. I want nothing to do with you. I belong here. You must set me free.” It’s all lies, poison, but I make myself believe it, so it smells a little true. It helps when the poison floods my body, numbing me from fingers to toes. I let the coldness take me and say, “I helped you get your mother and sister out. My debt to Liora is paid. But now I must go back to my calling. The Grandmothers spoke. I belong here.” Go with them, I plead silently. Go and be happy and live.
“Aster–” He reaches for me.
I slash my hands down. “No! I don't want you as my mate. If you touch me, I will scream.”
His hand falls, his expression broken.
I back away, and then I have to turn.
I can’t look at him anymore, or he’ll see the tears running down my face.
Chapter Twenty-One
Noah
The scent of male wolves closes in on me. If I don’t run now, no one will get out.
My wolf doesn’t want to leave my mate, though. Searing pain lances through the center of my heart, leaving that organ nothing more than a bloodied scrap.
