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His body tensed and I knew he would plunge the dagger into his chest within the next second. My arms shook, my muscles aching to the point I thought my body would rip apart.
It all happened so fast.
Kai ripped a hand out from under mine and closed it over top, squeezing it as he forced the dagger into his heart.
“No!” I screamed, trying to pull it out of his chest. He clutched my hands tight, not allowing me to remove it. The agony overwhelmed me and there was anger . . . so much anger. I was furious with myself for not saving him.
Kai’s hands slowly slid away from mine and the life seeped out of his body. Quickly, I extracted the dagger and tossed it to the side, placing my hands over his wounds. His blood oozed through my fingers.
“Why did you do that?” I cried.
There were no more words, only a resigned smile of relief as he closed his eyes. The connection I once had with him slowly died out within me, and there was only a trace left. He was so close to being gone forever.
“Ella?”
I snapped my head toward the voice and was surprised to see Lailah. Beck and Iston moved out of the way so she could come closer.
“What are you doing here?” I asked her.
Her sad gaze landed on Kai. “I was called here for him. His sacrifice earned him a place in the Hereafter.”
More tears flooded down my face. I was going to be able to see him again. Taking Kai’s hand, I held it tightly in mine. “I’ll take him.”
Lailah knelt beside me and shook her head. “You can’t, Ella.”
“What do you mean, I can’t?” I snapped.
Dread settled into the pit of my gut. I didn’t feel the pull to him like I did with other fae when I was called to help them cross over. But that didn’t matter, I was going to get him there, one way or another.
Closing my eyes, I held onto Kai’s hand and concentrated on the Hereafter. I kept waiting for the warm light to engulf us, but it never did.
“What’s going on?” I demanded, my eyes snapping open. “Why can’t I get into the Hereafter?”
Sighing, Lailah reached for my hand that was holding Kai’s and gently pulled me away. “There’s a higher power at work here, Ella. It’s not the right time.”
“What do you mean it’s not the right time? Whenwillit be the right time?”
Her gaze saddened. “I don’t know. But right now, I have to take him.”
She glanced back at my brother and Iston and nodded. Before I could grab ahold of Kai, Beck pulled me back, and Iston held me around the waist. The light appeared around Lailah, and in that next moment, I felt the connection to Kai break just as they faded out of existence.
Closing my eyes, I fell to the floor and Iston came with me, his arms tightening around me.
“It’ll be okay, Ella.”
“No,” I whispered, feeling my heart shatter. “He’s gone.”
Chapter29
Kai
There was no pain when I opened my eyes . . . only peace. I looked down at my chest and there was no wound. I wasn’t even in the same clothes I died in but in a white tunic top and brown pants.
As I looked out at the land before me, the grass was greener than I’d ever seen, and the smell of the land was pure. I thought I was in a dream and that Ella would be right beside me, but she wasn’t. There was someone else.
The woman’s long platinum blonde hair hung down her back in waves, and she had on a flowing white gown, almost reminding me of what I’d imagine an angel to look like.
“This is Ella’s favorite spot,” she said, turning her amber eyes my way. “Every time she brought a fae over, this is where she’d bring them.” She smiled warmly and placed a hand on my arm. “My name’s Lailah.”
