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“Take him now. Just like you did to Genie. You can do this.”
I spy her subtle nod out of the corner of my eye as her father argues with the member of The Monarchy that has just arrived. I’m going to assume it’s Grave’s grandfather by the way they embraced. Rhys had been right: Grave is a part of whatever fucked up shit Burton is fighting for, which only places him higher on my kill list.
Burton is too interested in watching the Monarch and Raven’s father argue to see us coming, which almost makes it a whole hell of a lot less fun to bring him to his knees. But his death will do, however we get it.
Raven releases my hand when she gets a few feet away from the man still dressed as the “Lord of Basilica”, and it takes everything inside of me to let her lead. The hardest thing in the world isn’t protecting those you love, it’s learning to know that they can handle themselves. To stand back and let them protect themselves.
I watch in awe as she lifts her hand in Burton’s direction before she yanks as hard as she can. I don’t physically see anything happen except Burton stumble a few steps to the side. His glare is instantly focused on Raven as she stares at him with wide eyes.
Before he can snap his teeth in anger at her, she does it again, and I watch with disbelief as his magic becomes visible around him. She grunts, using all of her strength and magic to pull as hard as she can, but when her gaze collides with mine, I know it’s not going as seamlessly as we had hoped.
“It’s not working,” she grinds out, nostrils flared in anger as her knuckles start to turn white.
“You think you can come for me as you did my daughter? Your magic won’t work on my abilities. Only the Potens Ruby could bring me to my knees in that way, and it seems you don’t have it,” he snarls, inching closer, but as the rest of us encircle Raven, her father, and Sebastian included, it’s no surprise that he falters, calling out to the Drakes instead.
“Take down her men.”
The crowd is on their feet, gaping in a mixture of terror and delight as everything continues to unfold between them, but it’s the swift movement to my left that has my muscles tensing as I go to defend Raven. The knee-jerk reaction isn’t warranted, though. It’s Leila who comes into view, standing tall beside us as she holds her hands out, ready to fight.
Satisfied she’s not going to cause us any trouble, I draw my attention back to the Drakes, who continue to circle us like we’re their next meal. I’ll kill every last one of them for lying to Raven, and if they even think of causing her harm, I’ll make it even more painful.
Finally, the Drakes pause as one of them climbs the steps, pressing us into defensive stances as his claws scratch against the wood beneath us. His eyes lock on Burton’s.
“We don’t fight for you. We fight for her.”
My jaw falls slack as I gape in surprise, beyond shocked because I was certain they had double-crossed us.
“What have you done?” Burton growls, dark, hooded eyes aimed in Raven’s direction as he moves toward her. I move to protect her, instinct taking over, but at the same time, a Drake lands beside us, taking the same stance and knocking me off my feet.
Fuck. Clambering to stand back up, I startle when I see Grave and his grandfather marching toward us. Moving feels…slow and heavy, each muscle in my body weighing more than the last. I can see Zane, Eldon, and Brax struggling just as much as I am, but I don’t waste time or unnecessary effort trying to check on them when it’s taking so much out of me. Raven requires every ounce of my strength.
The world slows around me, but not because I’m hyper-focused. No. Because the Monarch himself has his hands raised in our direction, holding us in a delayed sense of time.
I can’t fight past it, break through the surface and breathe. It’s all-consuming, suffocating, and affecting each and every one of us. Fighting back with everything that I am, success slips through my fingers as my gaze finds Grave’s and his intent is made clear.
“Nooo,” I snarl, my throat burning from the force when only the smallest sound breaks past my lips.
Horror sets me alight as he calls upon his golden sword, wielding it with precision as he spins the hilt in his hand before slamming the tip against his target.
Raven.
THIRTY-TWO
BRAX
Ithought I knew what it felt like when your body turned to stone; unmoveable, restricted, and heavier than you can fathom. I know nothing. Nothing in comparison to the horror that burns through my body as I remain locked in place, watching my world shatter around me.
I’m helpless.
I’m worthless.
I’m broken.
Inexplicable pain ricochets through my body as I powerlessly watch Grave drive a sword through Raven’s chest. The crimson-dipped gold pokes out of her back as he pushes all the way to the hilt, and there’s nothing I can do about it.
A harrowing cry echoes in my ears as I fall in slow motion, crumbling to my knees. I don’t feel the bite from my kneecaps hitting the harsh floor, but the thud from Raven’s body hitting the wood will forever haunt me. Even over the gut-wrenching cry that continues to ring in the air around us, the sound is undeniable.
Take me now. Take that blade and drive it through my heart because I refuse to spend a moment in this realm without my woman beside me.
