His hands clawed weakly at my boot.
“But your master?” I leaned closer. “He’s going to watch every single loyal follower die.” My smile spread slowly.
“One.”
I pressed down harder.
“By.”
His eyes bulged wider.
“One.”
“You think he can survive against the Syndicate?” I asked, lip curling at even the thought.
His fingers desperately scratched against my shoe while blood bubbled around my boot.
“He won’t.” The rage inside me turned cold. Precise. “We’re going to carve our symbol into his chest.”
I lifted my foot slightly.
“Rip him apart.”
Slam. Bone cracked beneath my heel.
“Then do it again.”
Slam. Blood sprayed outward.
“Until the only thing left on his body…”
Slam.
“…is proof he crossed the wrong family.”
Crunch. His skull caved beneath my foot. I lifted it again, wanting to stamp out my anger one more time, but someone stopped me, melting my resolve. The only one who could.
“Calix.” Olivia’s voice cut through everything, and I was beside her before the last echo faded.
My hands gently cupped her dirt-streaked face. God, she looked exhausted. Shaking. Covered in blood and grime, she was shaking, yet she was still the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
“Yes, my Via?”
Her lashes fluttered tiredly while she looked up at me. “Can we go home now?”
I glanced toward Rack. Despite barely being conscious, his eyes never left her face. He was still watching her, making sure she was okay, and I smiled softly.
“Yes.” I brushed dirt from Olivia’s cheek with my thumb. “Let’s go home.”
EPILOGUE - OLIVIA
“You both realize you don’t actually need to come with me, right?”
I stopped walking long enough to look between them.
Glancing up at Calix on my left and Rack on my right, and a frustrated breath slipped out of me. Ever since the tunnels, my mates had turned into shadows attached to my heels.
Mates.
