Page 287 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

BONUS POV

Kai’s been talking about our next lead for the last few minutes, the last one being a dead end. Just like the one before that and the one before that.

Rion thinks we should focus on a different area, but Kai is questioning everything. Breaking it down and trying to come up with something for us all to hold on to.

But too much time has already passed without her, and we’re all starting to feel it. None of us know what she’s going through right now and not knowing is making it so much worse.

My imagination is running wild with all the things that could be happening to her. She only briefly touched on what she went through in the six years she was gone. And what she shared with us made me want to get her far away from King and his tower.

After I rip him apart, that is.

And now that sick fuck has her, with no way to reach her. At least not yet.

Axel kicks off at something Kai says, and I zone out. We’re falling apart just like before. If we don’t find her soon, none of us will come back from this.

I focus back on Kai when a soft energy brushes along the edge of my senses, making me frown. I focus on it, trying to sense what it is and why it feels so… familiar. I glance around, finally finding the source at a spot near the edge of the room.

The energy grows before quickly flashing through the room. I know the rest of the guys feel it too when they all freeze.

“What the fuck was that?” Axel glances around the room. The others do the same looking for the energy, but I’ve already spotted it… Spottedher. She’s not completely visible, her body hidden between the shadows as if stuck just outside our link.

My heart rate kicks up a notch as hope springs to life inside me.

I take a slow, measured step forward and when she doesn’t move back, I keep going until I’m right in front of her.

Just a little bit closer…

I reach a hand out to her, trying to pull her in, but my hand goes right through her.

Fuck.I start to panic, thinking she’ll disappear any second. I grab my chest and try to feel for the bond between us, hoping I can somehow pull on our connection, but it’s so weak, it barely moves.

I open my eyes only to find her doing the same, her hand on her chest.

Within seconds, the bond springs to life between us, clearing some shadows from her face and revealing the sadness and grief all over it.

“Kiarra?”

She glances at me as I search her face, looking for something… anything. Even if it’s just a flicker of hope. I need her to believe, even for a moment, so I can pull her fully into the link.

But she hesitates, and that sliver of light that crossed her face when she saw us slowly starts to disappear.

I try to remain calm, to focus on getting her to us. “Focus on us. On the bond and will yourself to us.”

Doubt and helplessness shadow her face once more, and I realize I have to take this slow with her. To help her believe what she’s seeing isn’t something made up.

At least not in the way she thinks.

“You’re not fully here yet. Push yourself onto this plane.Please.”

I see the confusion on her face give way to that sliver of hope once more. But just as quick as it appears, it disappears.

“But you’re not real.”

She starts to pull back and I go to grab her again. But just like before, my hand goes right through her. I start to truly panic, thinking this is the last time I’ll ever see her. Everything inside me is telling me this might be our only shot at finding her.

“Kiarra. Please.Please. Just try. Even if you think it’s not real, just try. Please.” I plead with every fiber of my being and silently pray to the Gods that they give her back to us.

She continues to pull away when she pauses, watching me. Something inside me lights up and a warmth fills my chest, giving me hope.

The shadows slide away from Kiarra as she becomes more visible and a light wraps around her, finally pushing her into the link.

I reach out as she stumbles forward. My hands catching her and holding onto her like she’s my lifeline.

Because that’s what she is. And now that we’ve all got a taste of what true family and love really is. None of us are willing to let that go. Not again.

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