Page 53 of Frosted Torment

“It seems you’ve mistaken me for someone who actually cares.” Vincent unfurled his wings and struck them against the earth with rapid force.

Dawson had no choice but to retreat and shield his eyes from debris as the wind picked up.

As Vincent ascended into the air, he roared down at me. “I will take back what’s rightfully mine, Noa!”

Vincent’s eyes remained fixed on me with a flicker of temptation, as if he might snatch me away, but he wavered.

“And in case you were curious, Noa, Maros and I lit the fireto kill your mother. But it was Vallen who finished her off,” he confessed, his tone cold and lifeless.

Then, he launched into the sky. At that moment, Dawson and Nevaeh fired their guns. A barrage of gunshots filled the air.

“Go on,” Vincent yelled over the sound of gunshots, using his powerful wings to deflect the bullets. “End your grandmother’s suffering!”

Then he was gone, leaving me clutching Sasha’s hand as the truth sank in. She gasped for air, coughing up more blood. I searched around, praying for deliverance from anything in the universe that would listen.

In that moment, Baz appeared from the trees, carrying a mysterious figure dressed all in black. Once close, the stranger dismounted and knelt beside us.

CHAPTER 21

Sasha was on the brink of death. But she wouldn’t die, not unless I granted her the mercy of a swift end. Maros and Vincent had ensured I’d be her executioner.

When I peered over at the man Baz brought to us, I saw wrinkles etched like a roadmap on his face. He began praying over Sasha as everyone formed a circle around us.

After he finished speaking, his voice shook. “I need to administer the last rites to her.”

“O’Neil, wait.” Lex’s voice was firm as his eyes flickered a warning.

“I’m giving her what she deserves, young man.” Ignoring him, O’Neil moved to sit across from me, taking Sasha’s weathered hand in his.

“You’re the priest,” I said in a hushed whisper. “Can you help her?”

Jossy huffed and rolled his eyes. “This is for show now, old man.”

“I’m doing what’s right.” O’Neil’s tone was severe as he glared at Jossy.

“It’s a damn insult,” Jossy retorted. He grabbed Nakoma’s hand, and they walked off toward the house. He turned back one more time to address me. “I detest this for you, Noa. We’ll find them both and end this.”

Agony seized me as I swayed back and forth, grappling with the air that refused to stay in my lungs. “This. Is. Wrong.”

Nevaeh holstered her gun, then settled next to me and Ena, who refused to leave my side as Vincent broke down.

“Noa,” she said, trying to hold back her tears. “None of us could’ve imagined any of this, and Vincent will pay for what he’s done, but Sasha?—”

A regretful sigh escaped Lex, cutting off Nevaeh. “When word about the fire reached us,” he said, his voice heavy with sorrow, “Sasha thought you and your mom both died that night. She couldn’t bear it and—” He paused, not needing to say more.

The world spun as I took in Lex’s words. Guilt washed over me, twisting my gut. I was prolonging her pain. Anger surged, directed at Vincent for causing this.

Nevaeh placed her hand on my back and whispered, “She already knows where she’s going, Noa. You have to?—”

The atmosphere suffocated me.

“None of that makes this any easier,” I countered.

“You’re right, but it’s time.” Lex pulled the dagger from the ground and clutched it in his palm. He grabbed one of my hands and closed my fingers around the hilt of the dagger. “Take this, please.”

“Why does it have to be me?” I cried, the weight of the world threatening to crush me into nothingness.

“She’s sufferin’ girl.” Dawson stood over me, his gun still drawn and uncertain of our safety.

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