Page 139 of Land of Monsters

“Stay with us, Wes!” Brexley demanded. His body struggled to take in air, but I could see the glaze taking over his vibrant eyes, his skin ashen.

“No!” Scorpion ripped off his own shirt, blocking the other hole. “You are going to be fine.”

I placed my hands on his chest, pumping them for air, trying to pull from the earth, yet it barely responded. Like it had given enough to me, depleted its source. Tree fairies were healers, but through using nature’s herbs. We couldn’t just keep someone alive. What Raven and I had, what mates could create, wasn’t transferable. Not in the way Wesley needed.

“Cole!” Ember cried out, jerking my head to her, their alpha shaking violently on the ground. Dying.

“Lorcan! Ember!” Kennedy called out, and I could see her taking control, her head held high. “Get them through the doors to my healers! Now!”

Without hesitation, the pirates and dwellers lifted the injured, following Ember as Lorcan picked up his son, racing for the fae door.

“Wes, hold on, okay? We’re gonna get you help.” Brexley’s voice shook while blood soaked into my shirt. Wesley’s gaze was no longer fearful, his expression resigned. Death was claiming him.

Warwick leaned over to lift him, but Wesley placed his palm on his arm.

“Let me die here,” he struggled to say, wheezing loudly.

“Fuck off. You are not dying,” Scorpion snapped. “Not here, not ever, brother.”

“Wesley!” Birdie crawled to him, cuts running across her face and chest, akin to pincer wounds from a Stag beetle. “Don’t you fucking die on me. Don’t leave me alone with these assholes.”

He snorted, only making him choke on blood.

They had known each other for a long time. The stories of Scorpion, Maddox, Birdie, and Wesley went back even before they joined Andris’s group. Their bond was like Warwick, Kitty, and me. Family.

Wesley reached up, touching her face. “Don’t worry, B.” He brushed her blonde, bloody hair out of her eyes. “Maddox is waiting with a drink for me.”

A sob bucked out of Birdie. Scorpion’s nose flared, his eyes filling with liquid.

“Maddox can wait a while longer. We need you here.” I could hear the plea in his statement.I need you here.

Losing Maddox had ripped Scorpion up. Wesley was unraveling the seams Scorpion had just sewn back together.

“Take care of her,” Wesley ordered Scorpion, his chin flicking to Hanna. He dropped his gaze to Birdie. “And you take care of him.” He touched Birdie’s hand, glancing at Scorpion. “He’s gonna take this really hard and turn into an asshole again.”

“He’s already an asshole.” Birdie tried to tease, tears falling down her face. This was a person who never cried.

He threaded his hand into Birdie’s, a love so pure in his eyes. She was more than a friend. She was a little sister.

“Wes…” Panic trounced on Scorpion as his friend’s eyes shut for the final time.

A sob came from Brexley, her body shivering as if his soul slid through her on his way out, saying a final goodbye.

“NO!” Scorpion bayed, shaking his friend, trying to get him to wake up, but we all knew it was no use.

Brexley grabbed Scorpion, pulling him into her arms, whispering something in his ear, causing his body to slump over in grief. Birdie leaned her head into Wesley’s, kissing his cheek, tears falling from her face onto his skin.

I couldn’t take it, my heart having enough loss. Enough pain. And as much as I understood I could do nothing, watching another friend die, especially over something I got him into, burned at that wound that might never heal.

Standing up, I turned, my chest raging in agony and helplessness. I could barely breathe as I stumbled away in grief.

Raven’s green eyes met mine, her expression pained. She rushed into my arms, holding me, being the strength I needed, though I understood it was only temporary.

The queen stood yards away from us, her expression torn, her body pulled between wanting to follow her son and stay with her daughter.

Brushing her knotted hair back, I held Raven tightly to me. “You need to go.”

“What?” She jerked her head up, understanding my meaning. “No.”

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