Her voice was just as hushed, just as fractured, and through our connection, I felt the weight of everything left unsaid between us.
The second horn blared, making me flinch and I squeezed my eyes shut.
It was time.
We needed more, but this was all we had, and it might be all we ever got.
My mouth crashed onto hers and she met my kiss with one of her own. It was all-consuming, breathless, time-stilling. I had to do it now, before I kept her all to myself. I couldn’t stall any longer.
Shadows enveloped her, and her lips left mine in a gasp as I slammed the barrier to our bond shut.
“Xavier, the charm!”
All I could do was shake my head slowly, the guilt crushing my chest as I whispered, “I’m sorry.” And watched as she disappeared.
I gazed longingly at the empty space where she had just been, then angrily pulled out the rolled-up paper Soren had given me in my study the other day. A surge of anger bloomed in my chest, and the sting of betrayal echoed through me as I glared at the neat, scrawling message in my hand for the millionth time.
“Send Zara back when the second horn blares, but under no circumstances should you remove the charm. She must be returned unarmed and with it still attached.”
My skin heated again at reading it, at knowing I just sent my mate back to a monster with no way to protect herself. My fingers crumpled the paper but I kept reading.
“Now this is the most crucial and most important part Xavier. When you shadow her away, you must slip the pendant into her pocket.”
-Caelan.
Chapter 34
Zara
What did he just do?
I desperately tried to take hold of his magic, to unleash the charm myself, but the barrier between us slammed shut again. I appeared in the courtyard of Territan Castle, my hands still outstretched from kissing Xavier.
Suddenly, a hand struck me across the face, sending me flying sideways. My body collided with the ground, and I rolled back onto my feet.
Morgana stood a few feet away, her piercing yellow gaze landing on me.
“How kind of you to join us.”
I gasped as another blow from behind sent me lurching forward, my vision darkening slightly as a lump began to form on the back of my skull. Another punch landed on my cheek, and I stumbled backward, my foot catching on a rock. As I tried to regain my balance, something else slammed into my chest. I was thrown backward, my back hitting the earth as asob escaped me. I couldn't breathe, and my mouth opened on a gasp as I tried to speak.
A shadow cast over me, and I winced. “No—” I couldn’t finish my sentence, and I winced again as Morgana’s yellow gaze snagged mine.
“No?” she snarled. “You disappear, and your first words to me are no?”
My vision focused just as the heel of her boot crashed into my nose. A wicked crunch sounded, and blood poured down my face, into my open mouth. I choked on it, trying to focus through the pain.
“You get yourself trapped once again, and don’t even try to escape.” Her boot slammed into my face again and agony tore through my muscles. “Had yourself a little vacation did you?”
I couldn’t help the cry that escaped my lips as I rolled onto my side, clutching at my chest. Morgana’s boot slammed into my back and pain splintered along my spine. I held up my hands, whimpering as I tried to speak again.
“N—no—ma—gic,” I spluttered, coughing as blood spewed from my mouth.
“You are pathetic,” she snarled, and movement had me frantically saying it again.
“I don’t have magic! The charm!”
Morgana paused, or I thought she had, until cruel laughter bubbled from her throat, the sound echoing around me. Others that I hadn't known were there, joining in. I wiped the blood from my eyes and found her sneering face.
