Mag-log inViolet“Bad news for you,” Jorn groaned. “I’m still alive.”He tried to laugh, but it turned into a painful cough. Rochwall immediately held the back of his head, with Nate helping him. Dylan was crouched beside Trinity, who was still treating the shadow wound.She was focused. Her hands glowed faintly, and she looked exhausted. Sweat lined her hairline, and a few curls clung to her forehead, but she hadn’t stopped.Kylan and I joined them. I wasted no time and placed my hands beside hers to join in. I pulled with her, taking as much of the weight off her as I could. But she had already done such an amazing job that the darkness fighting against us was much weaker now.“Trinity.” I chuckled at her. “You did amazing. Seriously!”She simply shook her head, refusing to accept any praise. “I can do more,” she stated. She pushed harder and pulled another thread of black smoke from the wound. Her hands were trembling, her breathing ragged, but that didn’t stop her.“No, Trin. You are amazin
VioletI dropped to my knees as I reached him. The dirt scraped my skin, but I didn't care. "Look at me."I cupped his face in both hands and gently lifted his chin so I could see him clearly.He looked wrecked, pale, and drained. But when those brown eyes met mine, it was all I needed. He was really here. He came back.“Thank the Goddess.” A sigh escaped me as I ran my thumb along his cheekbones, tilting his head in every direction as I searched for any scratches.“What have you done?” he rasped.His voice was barely there. I knew what he meant. But of all the things he could have asked me right now, that was the one he picked. I pulled him against me and wrapped my arms around him as he let his head drop onto my shoulder.“No, Kylan.” My voice cracked as I ran a hand through his hair. “What did you do?”That was the real question. He was the one who had made a deal with the devil. He was the one who had decided, again, to take matters into his own hands to protect me. All of us.“Id
VioletA cold sensation ran down my spine as I repeated those words inside my head.We will lose our mate.No, no, no...My stomach dropped as I watched Kylan’s fingers squeeze harder. The red in Kian’s eyes had already begun to flicker.I doubted the two were suddenly working together, so it was hard to tell if this was Kylan’s doing or Baelor’s. Both had their reasons.Baelor would want to be whole again. And knowing Kylan, he would want to make sure Kian would never be able to hurt anyone again. And knowing Kylan, he would want to do his part in making sure Kian would never be able to hurt anyone again.Especially after he had been forced to watch all of it on his knees, unable to do anything.Maybe I was wrong, and they were working together. Some kind of understanding, like the one they supposedly already had today.High-pitched laughter rolled through the woods, and my head snapped toward the source.Gloria.She still hadn’t moved from her spot and didn’t seem like she was even
VioletMy hands stayed frozen midair above Jorn, but I let my attention slide to Kylan for a second. There was too much happening all at once, and I didn’t know what to do.Nobody moved.The witches, wolves...Gloria.Whatever had just come out of him and given him that strength was ten times more terrifying than Kian. Even he looked stunned, his jaw clenched.My eyes darted between Jorn, who needed whatever help he could get, and Kylan.‘Kylan?’ I reached for our link, but there was nothing.No pain. No anger. Not even the warmth I’d grown so used to. It was as if every light inside him had been snuffed out.He took slow, steady steps toward Kian.‘Kylan—‘‘Don’t bother.’ Lumia’s voice slipped into my mind. ‘He isn’t exactly himself right now,’ she said. ‘Focus on what you can do.’“Okay.” I breathed loudly. Just as my eyes were back on Jorn again, he let out another groan. Smoke began to curl up through his gear. My stomach turned. This was so much worse than an apple.“Wolves, retre
VioletWe could try to make a run for it.Get everyone back on the bus and come back another time. I would get to the bottom of this. Find out more about this realm and find my way to that cave, and I would find my parents. But I needed Kylan for that, because he was the only one who could get us inside.I was not willing to risk his health over any of it. Not for a fight neither of us truly wanted today.My glowing eyes scanned the group until they landed on the giant Lycan dominating the formation. Sterling.Hoping he’d understand, I tilted my chin toward the path we had come through. The one right behind Kian.The big Lycan gave me a nod, then looked at the others and let out a loud growl. Trinity understood first. She shifted back quickly, followed by Dylan and Nate. They moved fast and got to Kylan, pulling him up by his shoulders.He leaned against them, his head still hanging while his eyes were glowing. I just needed him to hold on for a bit longer. I was hopeful that Baelor w
VioletI squeezed my eyes shut and braced for impact.The paws were seconds away. I could hear them through the wind. I did not know which one would reach us first, and I did not want to know. I just kept my body pressed hard against Kylan’s so it wouldn’t hit him.‘Violet!’ Lumia roared. ‘You need to get up and fight!’‘I can’t—’ The glow from my eyes dimmed as the last of my magic drained from me.‘Do not embarrass me. Fight!’I couldn’t. My body wouldn’t allow it, so I did the only thing it could do.“I’m so sorry,” I whispered to the back of Kylan’s head. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”“No!” Kylan groaned beneath me. His shoulders shook as he used whatever strength he had left and tried to push himself up to get me off, but I pressed him down harder.He was too weak to fight me. The sound of paws drew closer, and so did the heavy breaths. I took in a breath of my own and counted down the seconds.I was down to the final three when an unexpected, bone-rattling growl echoed from ab







