Avoiding the brawl, the fists and weapons swinging, I rush towards Cecile.
When I reach her, she’s still alive. Pale as the moonlight.
I fall on my knees next to her and pull her onto my lap.
“Oh, Cecile,” I whisper, pushing the hair away from her face. She watches me with glassy eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I just wanted to protect you.”
Her breathing is shallow. She reaches a hand towards my face.
“It wasn’t your fault,” she whispers and her eyes shutter closed.
The words don’t ease the pain.
But they don’t cut, either.
Her hand falls back to her side without ever reaching my cheek.
A sob wrenches out of me, and I lean forward over her. My chest tears in half, just like that night.
Nothing in the world exists but this moment.
The hectic noise of the brawl, of the weapons clanging, grows farther and farther away.
Until there’s nothing but deadly silence.
Slowly, I lift my head and look around.
I’m in the middle of the forest.
I look down.
Cecile is not in my arms. There’s no blood.
What the fuck?
Jax!Phoenix’s voice echoes in my mind.
I feel the tug through our bond.
With trembling knees, I rise from the crispy forest moss.
I don’t think.
I don’t hesitate.
I follow it.
CHAPTER FORTY
PHOENIX
The moment I set foot back in the campsite, my heart drops.
I look around the place, our furs, the dead fire pit, the backpacks, and the horses. All just as we left it. But Jax is nowhere to be found.
I don’t understand.
I followed our bond.
