Page 126 of Tangled Hearts

“Sol!” Max yelled as the twins ran after Oria.

I had no idea where they had gotten the scythes again, but I wasn’t going to waste time asking and if it benefitted us, then that's all I cared about.

Max followed them, picking up the bag of spells. He plucked out the vial and looked back at me.

She needs to die.

I nodded, and ran after the twins to keep her distracted when she finally looked at us. She looked older, worn out and the evil glint in her eye had me bracing for a spell when the vial landed right on her.

She glared at Max, flinging her hands out to us, but nothing happened. She attempted again, looking panicked when she could barely create magic. The twins both reached her at the same time and when she tried to block their scythes. The first broke her shield, the second cut her. Her eyes opened wide when Soren punched her, sweeping the end of the scythe under her feet.

She snarled, blocking the movement. Gray swung down at her, hitting her shield, but she was shaking with exertion. I pushed my newfound telekinesis down on his blade when Max swung down the sword on the scythe, pushing down harder.

“Give it up, Laima,” Max snarled.

Her arms shook as she took us all in. Soren walked up to us, swung the blade around, ready to hit her too. At the last second, he dropped the blade and grabbed her throat. She gasped for air, looking even more frail-looking.

“This isn’t the end,” she whispered.

“This is your end.” Taylin came behind us, stabbing her straight through the heart.

I didn’t wait, rushing to Oria, who looked like a sleeping angel on the floor. The bond was holding on by a thread, like she was suspended in time. I knelt by her, clenching my jaw, reaching for a pulse. I blinked away tears as I felt nothing but it was no use, they still fell. I looked away, feeling the guys kneel around her.

“No!”

I looked over my shoulder to see Katarina running towards us. One of her guys hooked an arm around her waist, bringing her into his chest as the other two surrounded her. Katarina looked back, locking eyes with me as her lip trembled. I’m so sorry, she mouthed. I nodded as more tears fell.

Samira walked in with a few wolves, stopping behind Katarina and I was right. The twins' sister Leia was flanked by a few vampires. I don’t know why she was here, but the sadness in her eyes showed me she knew who Oria was.

Gray leaned over her, kissing her forehead. “I wish we had more time, Sunshine, but I will wait for another lifetime.” He pulled away, looking up as tears streamed down his face.

Soren leaned down, kissing her lips. “Thank you for showing me love and I promise to look for you in every lifetime.” Soren pulled away, clenching his jaw, looking over at Gray who had covered his face. He threw his arm over his shoulder, holding him as the first tear ran down Soren’s face.

“I’ll see you again, Sol. I’ll look for your light in every lifetime.” Max grabbed her hand, kissing her palm before he leaned into it with his cheek.

I looked away as another piece of me left me. This time the loss felt like I was dying, and I didn’t know how I was going to survive losing her. I had loved before, but I had never truly lived before.

“I thought I knew what love was, Heaven, and now that I’ve had a taste of you, I’ll remember you, even if my mind doesn’t.” I laid my forehead on her stomach. “This isn’t goodbye, it’s a see you later in the next lifetime because we will find you. I promise.”

The urge to follow her was at the forefront of my mind.

A thud had me looking up at Taylin who was now kneeling by her head. I wanted to lash out at him until I realized Max was vibrating with anger. He looked at his brother with a murderous gaze that had me wondering if he could kill his own brother.

Max opened his mouth to say something when the air charged with energy. Three beings fell from the sky. One man and two women. They straightened up, looking around before landing their gaze on us. They exuded power, with dominance that had me wanting to downcast my eyes.

“Oh, child,” one of the women said, walking to us.

She was tall, wearing something close to armor on her body. It was gold metal, so close to her body it looked flexible. Her hair was blonde, like Oria’s, but while Oria had hazel eyes, this woman had turquoise eyes. She patted Taylin, who was dumbstruck.

“Move halfling,” she said with a slight accent, glaring at him.

“I’m glad you called on these,” the man said behind the twin, lifting up the scythe.

He was huge like Max. His hair was so blonde it almost looked white and his gray eyes almost glowed.

“Who… who are you?” Max asked as the other woman walked to us, but stared at the people behind us.

She had black hair, with eyes that were so dark they looked almost black.

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