Page 106 of MidKnight
I nodded.
My husbands were dead. All four of them.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
My heart cracked like a glacier. My soul fell into the sea. I drowned.
My mind spun. I wanted to die. But I hadn’t yet, and it didn’t make sense that I hadn’t. It was like I had jumped from a cliff. But I couldn’t hit the bottom. I was simply falling, endlessly. I was stuck in midair in the moment between existence and non-existence.
There was nothing left for me. They were gone.
My Ryan wouldn’t keep me safe anymore. He wouldn’t sweep me into his arms and surround me with his strength or pin me down and make me feel like the most desired woman in the world.
My sweet Declan’s face flashed before me. I’d never get to rub my fingers over that little crease in his brow and smooth it down again. I’d never get to kiss the corner of his lips and tease him into admitting things that made him blush or have him rub my worries away.
I’d never get to joke with Quinn, never get to stare into his grey eyes and have my core grow slick with just a look. I’d never get to play commoner with him again.
I’d never learn every single one of Connor’s secrets. I’d only just started to fall back in love with him. And now, we’d never run through the secret passages. Never peek naughtily at the other nobles again. Never kiss sweetly over a midnight snack.
Because they were gone.
When I finally stood, I felt as if I was floating. Nothing felt real. I blinked when Blue settled on my shoulder. It took me a moment to remember who he was.
I swayed on my feet.
Donaloo somehow appeared in front of me. He put a hand on my shoulder. “I gave Cerena control of the trees. I’ll take the dragon. You go do what you need to do.”
I blinked. It was a full minute before my tongue seemed to work. “Your rhymes?”
He gave me a sad smile. “This doesn’t feel like the time to play the fool.”
I nodded, my head still fuzzy. I felt as if someone might have taken my head and stuffed it full of feathers. Because my thoughts were fluff and emptiness.
But my heart, it hurt. I opened my mouth and a wail began.
Cerena grabbed my hands and shook me hard. “No! You do not get to feel right now! Shut it off!” She leaned in, her wild white hair a tangle behind her. “You go and you kill. That’s all. Youkill.”
I stared into her eyes and let her energy pour into me.
The lightheaded feeling faded as I recited. “Kill them. I’ll kill them.”
I pulled the cloak back up, restoring my invisibility and dislodging Blue. He’d have to fend for himself.
I unsheathed my sharpened hairpin and marched toward the cave. I wove around soldiers still trying to escape the trees. I walked lightly past the dragon as he flamed a pine tree that had made it into the cavern. He made a mistake, as he roasted six soldiers in the process and another couple were killed by the fallen tree.
I went down the tunnel, adjusting my grip on my weapon.
Why didn’t I grab a sword? I thought. But, two steps later, I was in the second cavern. It was too late.
The sea sprite was gone. The only thing left of her was a puddle. She must have left after she thought she’d killed me.
I saw the shadow of Declan’s body, where he’d fallen. The disguise spell was slowly wearing off in death. But he was faced away from the shites who’d murdered him.
And they hadn’t noticed yet that they’d killed the weapon they’d wanted. Because I was certain they’d wanted Declan’s powers. Multiply arrows. Decrease enemy shields. Who wouldn’t want that power in a war?
My anger increased as I realized what an idiot I’d been. Isla had wanted him. When she hadn’t gotten him easily enough, they’d sent Malia to get him.
Where was Malia?
