It was strange. I felt calm. It settled over me like a blanket. There was a kind of peace. Peace where I should have felt nothing but turmoil.
“I will never walk away from her, Acco. '' Stepping forward, I willed her to look at me. If one of us was going to die, then I wanted her to know I meant every word I was saying. “I love her. Not because she is who fate decided would be my mate, but because of who she is. Her smile and the way she would give up everything for the people she cares about. I love her soul, and the way she laughs at her own jokes. I LOVE HER. And I am more than willing to die for her.”
“You are a fool, Bloody Bones, a sentimental fool. You may be willing to die for her, but are you willing to watch her die?” His face darted downwards.
Two things happened at once. Even as I leapt towards them, Briella threw herself forward. Her sudden movement caught him off balance. He tumbled forward, straight into me.
There was no hesitation in my attack this time. My skeletal hands curved around his head, even as fangs tried to catch me. I twisted sharply.
The snap of Acco’s neck was loud.
* * *
I wantedto go to her.
I could hear her sobbing quietly.
But I couldn't move.
I stood rooted to the spot, Acco’s blood still hot on my skeletal face and dripping from my fingers. His body lay lifeless at my feet.
I had killed him.
For all the nightmare stories about me, I had never actually killed another person before.
How could I ever look at Briella again?
She had seen the real me and had been horrified. I had seen the fear in her eyes when she saw me. And now I was literally dripping with another creature's blood. How could she ever be anything but horrified?
I was a monster.
I knew that, but I couldn't bear for her to pull away from me.
“Go to her, brother.” Raze's voice was soft, barely a whisper. And still I stood there frozen.
I couldn't even bring myself to look in her direction. I was too scared of what I might see on her face.
Lost in my own misery, I had never felt so alone.
“Tommy?” Briella’s voice was small. Her bare feet came into view, but I didn't look at her.
Turning my face away, I let out a growling warning. “Just go.”
It would be easier if she just left. Raze or Blade would make sure she got somewhere safe. They would do that for me without having to be asked.
“Tommy, please.” Small warm fingers brushed against my lower jawbone.
“Don't, Briella.” I tried to move away from her, and her fingers slid from my skull. “Don't look at me.”
“Why?” She sounded genuinely confused. Her small hand was back. It slid across my cheek. Through the blood. Finally, I let my eyes lift to her, expecting her to recoil in horror as my bloody skull grinned back at her.
“Hello,” she whispered instead.
My eyes widened. Why wasn't she running hysterical from the room? She should have been disgusted by me, and yet the look in her eyes was soft.
“I'm sorry, Tommy.”
Blinking at her in surprise, my hand moved to brush a strand of hair out of her face. “I should be the one who is sorry. I should never have left you alone. If I had, none of this would have happened. He wouldn't have…”
Briella pressed her mouth to my lipless face. A brief kiss. “He knew, Tommy, somehow right from the moment he took me that I was the one for you. I don't know how but he did. You have nothing to be sorry for. Nothing at all. I should have trusted you.”
I barely heard her as I pressed my fingers to her mouth. Even as I watched, skin started to cover bone - my human form replacing that of Bloody Bones.
“You kissed me.” It hadn't been my imagination. She had pressed her lips to my mouth. My lipless, fleshless mouth.
“Of course she kissed you, you idiot. She loves you.” Blade chuckled as he wandered past.
“You love me?” I couldn't keep the wonder out of my voice as I turned my attention back to her. Briella smiled up at me.
“Yes, Tommy, I love you. I love you as a man, and I love you as Bloody Bones. I love you.”
