Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 115860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
“Pick,” Bram demands. “Tynan O’Shea or the helbresele spell?”
My heart leaps. “That’s a healing spell? For Aquarius?”
Hurstgrove nods. “Since he inflicted the damage, only he can repair it.”
“And it will cost him dearly,” Bram adds with a predatory smile. “Nearly all the energy he has.”
I bite my tongue, knowing my pleas will only give Zain sick satisfaction. But oh, how I want to beg for Aquarius’s life.
“So…” Bram’s voice cuts through the tension. “What’s it going to be? Healing and a new beginning? Or certain death? Choose wisely and choose now.”
Chapter
Fifty
Caden
Zain caves, agreeing to heal Aquarius. My gut churns with a mix of hope and dread. This life-or-death magic is far beyond the parlor tricks I grew up with. I’d rather avoid whatever this is, but I won’t have Sydney face this alone.
As we herd Zain upstairs, I can’t take my eyes off my firecracker. She’s pale as a sheet, but those dark eyes burn with determination. Christ, I know that look. It’s the same desperate hope I felt for Westin, the same I still cling to for Lucan. I pray she gets her happy ending. Someone bloody should.
The space between us feels like a chasm, but I reach for her hand anyway. Our differences don’t matter, not in this moment.
She whips her gaze to mine, and the raw pain behind her calm facade nearly brings me to my knees. I want to pull her close, promise her the world. But I can’t lie.
“Squeeze my hand if you need me,” I murmur, my voice rougher than I’d like.
She nods, a slight tremor betraying her composure as she follows the grim procession upstairs.
Inside the cool, shadowed bedroom, Aquarius lies, dressed in a feather-light cotton gown. She’s almost unrecognizable. Swollen and red, more corpse than woman.
Sydney’s hand tightens in mine, and my heart leaps. She’s trusting me, leaning on me. I caress her fiery hair, squeezing back.
“How does this work?” she whispers, fear lacing her words.
“Never heard of it,” I admit. “But if Bram’s not worried…”
She exhales shakily. I bite back the urge to promise that if Zain does hurt Aquarius again, Bram will let Tynan at him. But I don’t. I refuse to give the Denzell bastard any ideas.
Bram draws his wand and prods Zain. “Go on.”
Grumbling, Zain steps forward and leans over Aquarius, wrapping his arms around her.
My entire body tenses. Bram’s threats of violence hang in the air.
“I have to hold her against me,” Zain explains.
“One wrong move, and I’ll have no compunction about making certain your family needs tweezers to pick up your remains,” Bram vows.
Sneering, Zain turns back to Aquarius and pulls her awkwardly into his lap, bringing her small breasts against his chest. Her hair drifts down to his thighs. Her arms hang limply as Zain takes in a deep breath and closes his eyes.
He begins the spell. It’s like watching a car crash in slow motion. He shakes, sweat pouring off him. His eyes pop wide open as if stunned. I can see whites all around the dark irises.
Despite his effort, Aquarius remains limp and lifeless. The air thickens with fear. Tears stream down Sydney’s face. Her grip becomes painful, but I welcome it. At least I can give her this small comfort.
Seconds drag by, one after the other, and still Aquarius sags against Zain, unmoving, seemingly not breathing.
Suddenly, his whole body shudders, then stills. He releases Aquarius, collapsing back to the bed, cadaver white. She falls face first in a heap across him.
Bram rushes forward. Sabelle elbows her way between Tynan and Sydney, who lets go of my hand and tries to dart into the fray. I hold her back.
“Let them,” I whisper, praying it’s not a trick. “Just in case.”
“She’s my friend,” Sydney sobs. “If anything happens…”
Her tears undo me. This incredible, fierce woman who’s dazzled me from day one, is breaking in my arms. Her loyalty, her fire—it’s no wonder I’m falling for her.
The realization hits like a punch to the gut. What a fucking joke. I finally find the woman of my dreams, only to have her tangled in the very world I despise.
I hold her tighter as Bram and the others fuss over Aquarius and Zain. Neither moves. Sydney’s whispered pleas twist the knife in my heart.
Gently, Bram eases Sydney’s friend from Zain. “Aquarius? Can you hear me?”
Still nothing.
A terrible pall descends over the room, along with the acrid scent of defeat.
Sydney scans the group with a desperate glance. “Can’t anyone else help her? A bit of magic and…”
“Sorry.” Bram’s face is soft with regret. “Only the one who inflicted the hurt can heal her. Check him,” Bram barks at Duke.
Hurstgrove waves a hand over Zain’s face. “He’s out.”
“Dead?” I ask hopefully.
“No such luck.”
Sabelle brushes Aquarius’s hair from her face to reveal healed skin. But the little flower child is terrifyingly still.