Page 77 of Savage Beast

“What happened between us isn’t the same thing, we had a choice.” My voice cracks. “She doesn’t have a fucking choice and nor do I, I fucking hate that it has to be me.” All the anger evaporates from his features and is replaced by understanding.

“My heart goes out to you brother, it really does, but it has to be you.”

“You don’t think I know that?”

“No, you’re angry that it is you, but would you really trust anyone else to do what has to be done? Sky chose you for a reason Cairo, she knew you would be the only one strong enough to deliver her final wish. You are doing her a favor by ending her misery, if only I could change this outcome, but I can’t. I wish I could do this for you Ro, I would give anything to take this burden from you brother.” His words puncture a hole inside me, I drop down onto the edge of the bed and bury my face in my hands. A second later I feel the bed dip and Creed places his hand on my shoulder in support.

“I can’t do this.” I don’t look up when I hear the bedroom open.

“Sky chose you, because she knew she could trust you to do it.” I snap my head up and lock eyes with Callie. She stands in the middle of Zeke and Cole, who each wear looks of sadness. “I’m going to hate you for taking her from me.” Her voice is watery, and I know she is close to tears. “She has to be set free Cairo; you are the one who can grant her that final wish. Lock your feelings down or do whatever it is that you need to do, but you set my girl free and end her suffering.” My mouth drops open in shock. “Do you hear me? You end this for her!” Cole wraps his arm around her shoulders as the first tear falls from her eye, I stand leaving a foot of space between us as I hold her gaze.

“I’ll take every ounce of your anger and hate, just know that when I do this, I won’t just be killing her.” She flinches at my words, but I push on. “I’ll be killing a part of myself that I will never get back, let alone living with it for the rest of my life, this event will change everything California.” She sniffs and wipes away her tears with the back of her hand.

“I know, which is why I am here telling you to do this, because I know you tried to stop it from coming to pass. You can’t fight destiny Cairo, I fucking wish you could, but you can’t.”

Chapter thirty-three

Belle

Mybrothers,Vince,Alexand I all travel in one car while Cairo and the others travel together. We follow their taillights through the darkened roads heading toward the mountain ridge that Kayla told Alex about. Cairo hasn’t said a word to me since I told him about my decision, it wasn’t an easy one to make. I want to live and watch my baby grow, Alex made it clear that I was a once in a lifetime thing, he still doesn’t know how he was able to procreate, part of him believes my mother had a witch cast a spell. He assured me that no harm would befall my child if I transitioned and call me stupid but I believe him. He told me that once the change has commenced, I will never be able to conceive again, this baby is the only child I will ever bare. I never thought children were a possibility for me a few months ago, so the thought of even having one is perfectly fine by me.

I know I should have consulted in Caro, but I’m the one who is at risk of dying, not him, so therefore I thought it only fitting I get to decide. I don’t know why we have to travel to Romania, but it is part of the deal. I agreed to go, as long as I got to go and speak to my father before we left, he agreed. He also agreed that my brothers could accompany us if they wishedand of course––they did. The only thing that’s not in our favor is the transition has a time limit, Alex said I have to do it before my second trimester, because of the babies growth and its hunger, so I have to be strong enough for when it happens. Call me stupid but I thought you just kill someone and then––boom––you’re a vampire, obviously I was wrong. I told him I couldn’t kill anyone, that’s not something I am able to do. He said we will go to a hospital and find someone in unbearable pain and offer them a humane way to end their life. It sickens me to think of doing something like that, but its kill or be killed, as he put it.

“Are we sure this is the right way?” Vince questions Alex.

“She said it was this mountain.”

“What if they deceived her? Alex look, the moon isn’t brightest on this side.” I peer out the window from the backseat and Vince is right, the moon is brightest behind us. I close my eyes and wrack my brain for something from one of my visions about Sky and this night, I remember seeing a lot of peaks, and there were lakes as well as glaciers––I’m sure of it! I tell the guys what I saw and Alex and Vince both curse.

“We’re going the wrong way!” Alexander snaps.

“How do you know?” Hunter asks.

“Because she just described Bare tooth mountain, not Rocky Mountain. Someone call the other car, we’re turning around now.” Vince pulls his phone out at his brother’s orders and then passes it to me; I stare at him for a moment before meeting his gaze.

“He is acting like an ass, but he has to hear this from you.” I nod my head and shakily grip the phone, he has Cairo’s number punched in already, so I hit dial and wait, on the third ring he answers.

“What?”

“It’s me.” There’s a pause, and I decide not to let the silence carry on as this is time sensitive. “We’re turning around.”

“Why?” I can hear the unease in his voice.

“Kayla was given the wrong information, what I saw in my visions doesn’t match the surroundings she described.” Another pause.

“Are you sure?” I sigh in relief that he isn’t doubting me.

“Yes, the moon was so bright and practically above us in my vision, the way we are heading is away from the moon.” He curses and then tells Creed to turn around and follow us, I grip the handle on my door as Alex spins the car around, the tires squeal in protest. He doesn’t miss a beat as he slams his foot down on the gas and then we are heading back the way we came.

“Belle?”Not beauty.

“Yes?”

“Will we make it in time?” I take a shuddering breath and decide to be honest.

“I think we’ll arrive at the end, there will be no more ofyourSky by the time we reach her.”

“Okay.”

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