I’m sorry. I failed. I love you always.
A roar of rage rattles in my brain before I cut off the link again. I can’t let him experience this. My death falling from the sky and being buried alive, that’s not something he needs while preparing for battle.
I glance down at the ground before squeezing my eyes shut to wait for the end. Kira’s hand squeezes mine, and I pull her closer, turning us so my body is beneath hers.
Maybe if I die, I can at least save Kira from the brunt of the impact. It’s the least I can do after getting her into that asinine plan. She can live even if I don’t.
“Get the hammer and stop the queen,” I whisper to her before I slam into something hard and cry out.
“I’ve got you,” Draven says. “No one is dying today.”
The descent slows as Draven lowers his hands and we float slowly to the ground.
“You were going to sacrifice yourself for me?” Kira slaps my shoulder. “That was so fucking dumb. We need you.”
“My plan was dumb, and I wasn’t going to let you die because I had a stupid plan.” The world spins as I try to stand but Greyson is there to catch me. “Thanks. I don’t think my body can take slamming into one more thing right now.”
“He’s been defeated. Try resting for a few minutes.” Greyson leads me to the SUV and opens the door.
The shell vibrates in my bag, flopping around like an angry fish out of water. “Fuck.”
“What?” Raven asks, digging the shell out of my bag.
“Don’t answer that. Jayden is going to be so mad,” I mumble around a yawn.
“Oh, fuck no. You aren’t sleeping and you also aren’t ducking Jayden. How does he know what’s going down?” Raven plants a hand on her hip.
“The mate bond. I may have said goodbye when I was sure I was going to die.” I glance away from my friends.
“Jayden is going to murder us all,” Greyson mumbles.
“No, he won’t, but he has other shit to focus on right now.” I wince.
“Yeah, which is why you shouldn’t have announced your departure from this world.” Raven rolls her eyes.
“I thought I was going to be buried under a fucking mountain, Raven. Of course I was a bit melodramatic. I don’t think I have ever been that close to death before.”
“You have to answer him. He will come here, damn the consequences, if you don’t.” Raven holds the shell out to me.
“Jayden, Halfling Academy.” I wince as the mist forms.
“What the fuck was that? Where’s…? Beth. You’re okay?” Jayden slumps in his chair in the war room.
“It was bad, but Draven managed to catch us and float us down to earth before we hit the ground.” I shrink away from his glare.
“What did you do? I told you to take care of yourself. Hades, Beth you took a century off my life with that fucking goodbye.” Jayden leans forward, elbows on his knees. “I can’t fucking lose you, love. I cleared the war room to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m sorry. My plan was stupid. If I had known the damn giant was the mountain, I would have recalculated.” I lean back against the seat, closing my eyes.
“Nope. Open your eyes.” My cheek stings as Raven’s slap rings through the SUV.
“Fuck, Raven. That hurt and I’m already seriously injured.”
“Seriously injured? How seriously injured?” Jayden snarls.
“I’m pretty sure I have a concussion, and I may have slammed my back into more than a few trees.” I grimace.
White spots swim in my vision as I blink away the tears. “Tell me I didn’t interrupt a battle or something. I’m so sorry.”
