Page 227 of Gift from the Source
“No,” she cries, shaking her head. “How did that happen?”
“She was shot down by spears. When she crashed, Keeper was attacked by the vampires, and she continued to defend him. It made some of the injuries worse.”
“But he’s okay? They’re both alive and that’s what matters.”
“Yeah, little wanderer, but…” He clears his throat multiple times, and I find my chest rising and falling harshly enough to lift Willow with each breath. “I almost didn’t make it to him in time. If it hadn’t had been…if it hadn’t had been for Vince, I don’t know what would’ve happened. He didn’t make it.”
The air flees my lungs. “What?”
“Vince didn’t make it,” he says as tears roll down his face.
He isn’t joking.
My body shudders and my face goes pale as all the blood rushes to my heart. The years spent with him flash through my mind at the speed of light. I remember the way his eyes lit up when I introduced him to Draken. Those same eyes rolled at me when I asked him to be the shifter instructor.
All the drinks, jokes, and fucking off at the mansion before our roles grew more serious. He was one of our lifelong friends. When he lost his brothers, we made sure to always check on him.
Willow’s weeping causes my stomach to cramp, and I wrap my arms around her tighter.
Everything he taught her.
She was close to him as well.
Fuck. The boys. We have to tell Layton and Carrington.
I close my eyes tight at the thought of sitting the two of them down.
“Anyone else?” I ask gruffly.
“I don’t know yet. They’re still out there, sorting it all out.”
Minutes pass and we don’t speak.
We just sit in silence as the day settles over us. Every now and then, tears will stream down her cheeks and one of us will wipe them away. Each of us lose it a time or two as we face the reality of everything.
This is day one of our healing journey.
It’s going to be a long road.
“We need to go,” Willow says as she pushes off my chest and wipes her face clean.
“Where do you want to go, Primary?”
“Outside. We need to help with cleanup and pay our respects to the people who laid their lives down for this realm. We won’t be sulking in bed while others are out there doing it for us. We can grieve later just like they will. And I need to see my family. I need my eyes on them.”
Her silver irises are sharp like daggers, but there are a few battle chips lying within them. Still, they’re just as ready to conquer whatever next.
I’m reminded why silver, not just any shade, but the pigment in her eyes, is my favorite color. It’s the way they burst to life like a kaleidoscope when she feels passionate aboutsomething.
It’s hypnotizing and commanding.
Wordlessly, we get out of bed and Tillman reapplies another uniform on her. The sight of the one he stripped from her had my stomach rolling.
With time, I’m going to have to ask him to show me what happened.
Today is not that day, though.
Cas’s shadows wrap around us, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
