Page 97 of Love's Ace

It didn’t matter.

I didn’t even know if it would be enough, but I would give anything… I would doanythingto try.

To keep him.

To save Theo.

“Please. You can have them. My wings. Everything. Just…” I jerked, screaming again when I came away with a handful of blood-soaked feathers. “Save him.”

There was silence.

And then a smile, cruel but curious from both of them. Helix dropped his hand to Theo’s chest. His fingers traced around the edges of the seal and I couldsee it.That darkness coming to the surface.

The way he could control it.

He could take it away.

“If you really think you can do it, cupid. Go ahead. Maybe the pain will be punishment enough for you both. Who knows?”

It wasn’t a promise.

It wasn’t even a hint at mercy.

But I was willing to risk it if it meant he’d take the knife from Theo’s throat.

I jerked another handful of feathers from my wings, and swallowed down the bile rising in my throat.

It hurt.

Fuck, it hurt more than anything I’d ever felt.

And it didn’t matter.

“Wren,stop.” Theo’s desperation was almost as painful as the agony ripping along my back. My eyes lifted, my vision swimming with tears. But I could do this for him. Iwoulddo this for him.

“It’s fine, Theo. I can…” I clenched my teeth as I pulled out another handful of feathers. “I can do this for you.”

“Please… just stop. It’s okay.”

It’sokay?

“I love you. I’ll be fine… I…” I jerked another handful of feathers and watched the pain of it play over Theo’s features—he’d have to feel it all. Every bit of it. My eyes drifted back up to Helix, who lifted a brow.

That was part of it, wasn’t it?Punishment enough for you both, he’d said. He wanted us both to drown in the agony pooling all along my skin.

Aiden’s fingers on my shoulder as he stepped around steadied me. I wanted to look at him, to ask for help.

But I had to do this, didn’t I?

For us. Tobothof us.

“Wren…” Theo’s voice caught me again, drew my gaze back to him. The pain that was roaring through my nerves had already faded from his features. Replaced by something else.

Something dangerous.

“Theo… wait.”

“It was worth it, you know?” There was something about his expression that made my breath catch, made my fingers tear more desperately at the feathers on my back. Somehow, the painwrenching along my spine was overshadowed by the agony in my chest.

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