Page 126 of A Trial By Blood

He stared at me with an expression that could only be described as panic, then he hooked me around the back of the neck, pulled me forward, and rested his forehead against mine. “Don’t be angry with me, Rose. I can’t fucking bear it.”

I didn’t want this between us, but I couldn’t back down. As if his new emotions weren’t enough, he was also a newly mated male, which on its own would have awakened an intensely protective side in him. I could only imagine all he was trying to come to grips with, but I couldn’t allow him to let his fear control me, control us. There was too much at stake. “Are you going to let me question Kelley if you get close to him?”

His nostrils flared, chest pumping hard, then he shook his head. “I’m doing what I was born to do. I’m protecting you.”

I pulled away from his tight hold and shoved the car door open. “Do what you think you have to, I guess,” I said, holding his bright gaze.

And I’ll do what’s best for my coven. I had no other choice. I climbed out of the car.

“Rose?” he said roughly before I could shut the door.

I turned back.

“I’d thought about it, you dying before me. I’d planned to go with you…when you grew old and eventually passed…so I wouldn’t have lost you.”

I stared at him in shock. “Ronan.”

“Don’t leave this house. Wait here for me until I get back. Promise me. Promise me you’ll stay safe.”

I couldn’t promise any of those things. I didn’t want to lie, but I didn’t have any other choice. I nodded, and he blew out a relieved breath before I walked away.

* * *

I left the kitchen with Jasmine’s sobs ringing in my ears. Mom was hysterical, and Else was carrying around a big bottle of calming elixir and shoving a spoonful of it into everyone’s mouths.

Willow grabbed my hand, stopping me. “Roe, wait.”

“I need air.” I tried to pull away, but she wouldn’t let me go. She tugged me around the corner.

“You know this wasn’t your fault, right?” She tucked her wild red hair, so like Zinny’s, behind her ear. “From what you said, Zinnia knew this was coming.”

“She’s in Limbo, Wills, with Death. You didn’t see him when he realized who she was. She said he’d been waiting for her, and he wanted her with him right or wrong. I’m afraid he won’t stick to his end of the bargain. I don’t think he’ll let her go easily.”

Willow’s lip quivered, but she smiled gently. “Zinnia’s tough, smart, resourceful, and resilient. If anyone can get through this, it’s her. She’ll walk through that gateway in a month’s time, I believe that.”

I nodded, but another tear streaked down my face before I could stop it. “What if he hurts her, Wills? What if he—”

“You can’t think like that.”

“Iris’s been to Limbo, do you think there’s any way she could get us in? We could rescue her.” Panic filled me. “We have to do something, anything.”

Willow shook her head. “Iris didn’t go there willingly, she was sent there with the help of some really dark magic. It’s forbidden, you know that. We’re trying to save our magic. Going down that road would be the quickest way of us blowing our coven all to hell.” She took my hand and held it tight. “Zinny wouldn’t want that, and you know it. There’s nothing we can do to help her now. Thinking about what might or might not be happening won’t help her, and it’ll distract you from what you need to do. You can’t lose focus, not now.”

She was right, but I still fucking hated it. I had to pass my task and my trial. For Zinnia, for all the people I loved.

“You coming back in?” Willow asked.

I didn’t want to go back in there, into that room filled with my family’s pain and horror. I couldn’t do it. “I need a minute.”

Wills nodded. “Take your time.”

She went back into the kitchen, and I headed upstairs. My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I checked the screen. It was Vesa.

I rushed to my room and shut the door before I answered. “Hello?”

“Rose, hey.”

“I’m sorry, this isn’t a good time.”