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“We can’t fight them all!” Patrick was heaving, gulping in air as his hand tightened around mine.
Pulling down my mask, I swiveled around and faced them. “You all need to run north. That’s where Jude and I planned to meet should we get separated. We marked a tree with only bone-white leaves on its branches. It’s huge, you can’t miss it.” Youcouldmiss it, but I needed them to hurry before we all perished.
“You’re coming too, right?” Jake hesitated, eyeing me suspiciously.
“Yes! Now, go!” I barked, scaring them into submission.
“What are we waiting for, then?” Patrick yanked on my hand. Jake began scrambling north, along the path free of the masked creatures.
I tugged my arm away, shoving Patrick behind me. “Listen. If you don’t want to die, then you’ll run. I’ll hold them off and follow. I promise.”
“No! I can’t leave—”
“If you don’t leave now, thenIwill die trying to defend you!” It was harsh, but it was true.
I would probablystilldie, but I could buy the boys some time. “Go!” I screeched, shoving at his chest hard enough to knock the air from his lungs. A flicker of ire and some unnamed emotion shone across Patrick’s irises.
“I’m not going to leave your side.” He stood his ground, staring at me as if I were his whole world. “I need you, Ki. Don’t you understand what you’ve become to me?”
I ground my teeth. His gaze was fierce and filled with emotion, and I had a nagging suspicion he was insinuating that he cared for me in a way I could never return.
“If you don’t go right this instant, I’ll never forgive you, you hear me? Even if we do manage to make it out alive, I’ll still resent you for putting me at risk.”
The hurt morphed into a tangible alarm, his feet shifting indecisively.
“Go, Patrick!Please. I can’t lose anyone else.”
Gods. I envisioned my brother before me now rather than Patrick, begging me not to leave him. Maybe I’d put that burden on Patrick by comparing him to Liam, but regardless, I couldn’t watch as these creatures killed him.
The muscles in his jaw tensed. “Fine. But you better stay alive.” He started to back away, glaring at me to further his point; that he hated every step he took to safety but knew I’d accept nothing else.
Twisting on his heel, he darted after Jake, glancing over his shoulder once before vanishing around the tents. That last, lingering look nearly sent me to my knees. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself now that I had others relying on me.Caringfor me.
I heaved a sigh of relief. At least he would be safe. I’d make sure of that.
“Come on, now,” I taunted into the dim, shoving down thoughts of Jude, Patrick, and Jake. They couldn’t help me now. “Let’s see you try to take a bite out of me!”
A chorus of growls and shrieks rang in my ears, the noise like a siren call of death. Uncle Micah hovered like a phantom in my head, his presence always with me, much like the moon above my head.
“Retreat, Kiara,” he’d say in that no-nonsense way of his.“Know when you can’t win.”
I likelycouldn’twin. But the ten creatures hurtling toward me at once were too near, and I’d already made my stand.
This was it. I peered to the sky one last time, praying not to the lost goddess, but to my grandmother, asking her to forgive me for failing. For dying.
I supposed I’d see her soon enough.
Chapter Forty-One
Jude
I heard you blinded our son. Next time you dare touch him, perhaps it is you who shall lose an eye.
Letter from unknown sender to Jack Maddox,
year 37 of the curse
A few of the bastards got away and alerted the others.
