“She is absolutely the problem, or a part of it–I don’t really care at this point. I lost my Mom…” My eyes narrow. “So why should you get to keep yours?”
I reach over and take Rosier’s hand. He jumps, maybe surprised by the tender gesture amidst all this rage, but he holds my hand in kind.
“Have Udtuk take care of those three,” I order. “Guine is mine.”
Rosier squeezes my hand. “Whatever my witch desires.” He turns his head. “Udtuk, dispatch of these witches. Do with them what you will.”
Guine bolts, but not away from us; she rushes right into my space. I raise my hands defensively–a reflex, really–but I know I only have to swipe at her once to get a good cut in. I wonder if she’s sacrificing herself for her children. The thought makes me hesitate, and it’s enough opportunity for Guine to tackle me to the ground. I cling to the knife, but my head hits the ground first, and I drop it in the recoil.
There are stars in my eyes as Guine holds the knife above her head.
I force myself to breathe, and it feels like I’m inhaling smoke. My dress is wet and sticky, clinging to my body. The knife in my shoulder doesn’t register, not even when I see the hilt sticking out of it from the corner of my vision.
Guine is gone, Rosie standing above me in her stead, his lips moving frantically. I wish I could hear him, but silence plugs my ears. I try to reach for him, but the pain becomes even worse. The edges of my vision start to darken, like a slow transition at the very end of a movie. I’m weightless, no longer on the floor. I rest my cheek against something soft. Over the metallic smell of blood, there is the faint, comforting smell of lavender.
The shock dissipates, and I can hear Rosier now. “Please, Minnie. I saidplease,so you have to stay with me.”
I willis what I want to say, but all I can manage is a soft moan.
Blood curdling screams and crashing glass swell to a crescendo around me. I close my eyes, not wanting to see the mess I’ve made.
Rosier speaks through gritted teeth, “I should have told that devil to stay close.”
From the way I’m being jostled about, I can tell Rosier is running. The screaming continues. There is so much fear; I can feel it in the air like the static before a lightning storm. My eyes shut tighter, trying to tune it all out, focusing instead on my heartbeat, faster and heavier than when I was running away.
“We have to take her to a hospital.” Kas’ voice carries over the terrors. “No, wait, shit, the hospitals will be crawling with people. We might… Shit.”
Amber.I try to tell them.Amber will help.She’s too good a soul to let me die like this.
“You’re going to be alright.” Rosier’s nose is pressed against my forehead. “I’ll burn this city… Hells, Minnie…”
I’m going to be alrightis all I can focus on, a mantra to keep me alive ‘til Rosier can save me. He refused me a peaceful death. If he’s not careful, tonight we’ll both reap what we’ve sowed.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX
ROSIER
Of all thefigures before us, the frail and soft-spoken Mother of the le Fays was not my pick for bloodshed. Yet she descended on Minnie like a predator, held the knife with such ease, it made me realize this is not the first time she’s killed for her family. For Arthur fucking le Fay. Once the knife is embedded in Minnie’s shoulder, Guine’s and my eyes meet. Hers are sunken and pleading, as if asking me for forgiveness.
Instead, I choke out a command. “Kill them now.” Udtuk descends upon the three le Fays, but it’s Guine that shrieks. She follows Udtuk, chasing after her family, though I can’t be fucked to watch them scurry about.
Minnie is on the ground, crimson spreading across her dress and chest. I take her in my arms.
“Minnie?”
Her eyes are half open. My hands linger over her wound, not sure how much blood she has left, scared if I pull out the knife I’ll subject her to more pain.
“Minerva!” I shout her name, but there’s no reaction. It’s impossible to look away from her parting lips and glassy eyes.
There’s screaming in the distance.
“Minerva, Minnie, say something.” I hold her against me, her blood staining my clothes. “Please.” I grip her arms as if holding her tighter will keep her here. My voice betrays how desperate to keep her alive. “Please, Minnie. I saidplease, soyou have to stay with me.”
A groan leaves her lips, and I fear that is her last breath.
Useless on my own, I start running.
Kas runs right into us, brown eyes wide and wild. “The fuck happened?! I can’t leave you two alone for a moment!”
