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“Warning, specimen override. Warning, specimens lose,” the computer calls in that same monotone voice.
“Let them have her. There is nothing more fitting,” I sneer as the others slowly emerge from their tubes and focus on her as she tries to drag herself away. I look at Ferol. “Let’s get out of here.”
“If you’re sure,” she says, sparing the collector one more look.
“I’m sure. I don’t need revenge.”
“Neither do we,” Bram adds. “Whatever they will do to her will be much worse, trust us.”
There’s a scream, and we turn as a snake wraps around the collector, squeezing the life out of her as others fight to get at her.
“That it will.” Taking Feral’s hand, I turn and head towards the stairs, ready to leave this place for a second and final time.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-ONE
Itake my first breath of fresh air since I woke up here. The collector’s storage facility is huge, and when I glance back at it, I see it sprawling for miles, surrounded on either side by mountains. It’s then my eyes catch on the hole in the metal wall, bursting outwards and peeled away as if something were tossed out of it. I find him, his body, sprawled on asphalt not far away, broken, bleeding, and unmoving.
Jax.
The man I once loved, the man who would have been the father of my child, always seemed so invincible. Now, he lies broken and empty on the ground. It’s hard to fathom.
Swallowing, I wait for him to get back up, but he doesn’t.
“He’s dead. Not even a god can survive the loss of their soul,” Emrys murmurs darkly. “I feel the death on his skin. There is no coming back. I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry? She hated him,” Raiden scoffs.
“But she loved him once,” Bram whispers.
“Emotions are complicated,” Torrin murmurs.
Despite the bond, it’s still easier to talk out loud. Their thoughts can be overwhelming, and I feel them trying to put distance between us. We all know what is coming, after all. Still, I feel their pity and hate it.
Tuning them out, I carefully pick my way over to him. Emrys is right. I knew he was dead, but seeing it is a whole other thing. My knees give way, and I catch myself before falling on him. I hated him for what he did to me and what I lost because of it, but I once loved him more than life itself. It’s a tricky emotion, and grief cripples me. I wanted him dead. I tried to kill him myself, but seeing it is another thing entirely.
“Would you like to bury him?” Kitt’s voice is soft.
Nodding jerkily, I reach for Jax, lifting his limp frame into my arms and heading to the trees. I feel them follow me before Emrys and Raiden break off. They start to dig under a tree with their hands, creating a grave. I carefully lay Jax in it and brush his hair back.
“Thank you for trying to save me, and thank you for being my companion in the dark. I hope wherever you are now, you find peace, even if it’s haunted by what you lost.” I step back and nod, and they cover his body for me.
Taking a deep breath, I look at Kitt. “What now? How do we get out of here?”
“I have an idea,” Raiden says, and I arch an eyebrow at his glee.
“This is your idea?” I cross my arms and stare at the giant truck. It looks very similar to the one we were in before, but this one has spikes all over the outside and the word “collector” spray-painted across it. Oh, not to mention the cage on top.
“It’s not theft if she’s dead, baby.” He winks, rubbing his hands together. “Who’s riding in the cage?”
“Inside the truck.” Kitt sighs, rubbing his head before looking at me. “It’s armoured and moves fast. We should get out of here before the others lose interest in her and come after us. There is loyalty amongst species here, and half are insane. We don’t have time to fight them all off.”
“Should we be concerned that we released them?” I ask.
“Nobody should be kept prisoner,” Torrin declares, and my gaze swings to him as he nods at me. “Nobody.”
Well, I guess that settles that.
