“Maybe it’s because you want to figure out your mystery. Maybe it’s because you don’t love him as much as I love Christian.”
Sage’s mouth fell open, and hurt filled her eyes as she stopped pacing, straightening her back in a defensive stance.
“Willow,” Raven chastised. “There’s no need to speak to Sage like that.”
Willow stumbled to Sage’s side, her voice trembling as she whispered, “I’m sorry.” Her fingertips lightly brushed Sage’s hand as tears pricked her eyes and her forehead wrinkled in distress. “I’m sorry, Sage. It’s just…I keep thinking…what if?”
Sage hugged Willow. “He’ll be well. Don’t worry.”
“If anything happened to him…”
“If anything happened to who?”
The girls whirled to find Christian striding into the room with Marcus a few steps behind him.
Willow let out a tiny sob before she launched herself into Christian’s arms, her words spilling out in desperation, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
Christian held her tightly with reassurance for a long moment before kissing her lips and then cradling her face in his hands. “Why? Why are you sorry?”
Her voice quavered, and tears filled her eyes. “I left you. I shouldn’t have left you. Not ever.”
He lovingly brushed away a tear. “I told you to,” he said. “I told you to leave.”
She shook her head. “You were protecting me. I could have fought for you. I should have—”
He gazed into her eyes tenderly and stated with resolve, “No. If anything happened to you, my life would have ended.”
She dropped her gaze and hit his chest lightly with her fist. “And how do you think I felt? Not knowing. Not knowing if you were okay. Not knowing what they were doing to you.” She trailed off, too choked up to continue.
Christian warmly ran his knuckles along her cheekbone. “I’m well. Marcus freed me. Sort of.”
“Sort of?” Marcus guffawed. “You never would have escaped the guards outside your tent.”
Christian grimaced but didn’t argue.
Sage moved close to Marcus, and her face split into a wide, relieved smile. “Nice job,” she murmured and rose onto her toes, pressing her lips to his in a loving kiss. “I knew you would do it,” she said with a hint of smugness. She stepped into him and kissed his lips again, lingering a moment longer before breaking away. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she murmured, “The dead showed the way.”
Surprise spread across his face, and his eyebrows lifted in disbelief. “You found it?”
“Of course,” Sage said proudly.
“Where does it lead?” he asked.
“We were waiting for you to return. When Landyn comes back, we can find out.”
Raven felt her heart swell with a mix of feelings as she watched her sisters reunite with their men. She couldn’t contain her elation, relief, and pride. Marcus had proven true to his word, rescuing Christian by himself, gaining their admiration and respect in the process. They were all together again.
The six of them returned to the cemetery and now stood inside the boulders. Raven crossed her arms, leaning against one of the coffins, away from the others. She was certain she would get in the way of Sage figuring out the directions, so she simply watched her sister work, admiring the way her mind focused on cracking the mystery.
Sage and Marcus examined the corner of the coffin where the air came from. Marcus ran his hand along the edge.
Christian studied the coffin itself in awe, moving along the length of it.
Willow shivered and walked to Raven’s side. “I don’t like this.”
Landyn stood near one of the other stone coffins, holding a torch. The dim light fell over the ancient coffins.
“Maybe we can lift it,” Christian suggested, cupping the edge of the stone lid.
