Chapter 50

Béke Day Fourteen

The breaking dawn woke me and I bolted upright, glancing around until I recognized that I was in my bed at Ryza Citadel.

How did I get here?

The events of the previous day cascaded into my mind like an avalanche – the parade, Izidora's kidnapping, Kazimir throwing a knife at me only for it to sink into Izidora's chest, using what was left of my strength to move us back to Ryza.

Panic gripped me, and I became frantic as I ripped my attention to the bed beside me, needing Izidora to be there, to be alright, to be safe. Her chestnut hair fanned around her, and she rested on her back, arms crossed over her stomach.

"Sprite?" I whispered, leaning my face down to her torso and listening for her heartbeat. It was there, but sluggish, as if it struggled with each slow beat. The rise and fall of her chest was even softer, and my whole body trembled as I examined her. Shaking her shoulder, I said, "Wake up, Izidora. You're safe. You're with me."

She didn't move. Didn't respond. Didn't even flutter her dark lashes against her cheeks.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no…

A sob stuck in my throat, trying to escape as I shook her again.

Why wasn't she waking?

I needed her.

"Oh good, you're awake." Zuriel's melodic voice startled me, and I nearly jumped out of bed at his sudden appearance.

"Fuck, Zuriel, you scared the shit out of me. What's wrong with her? Why won't she wake up?" My voice broke on the last two words, and I examined my mate again, seeking a sign that she was stirring.

The Angel sighed, looking at the floor and nudging the rug with his toe. "Kazimir broke her spine somehow. Rares spent all night repairing it after he fixed her heart." He tucked his white hair behind his ear, then looked up to meet my gaze. "She would have died if it weren't for him."

I opened my mouth to respond, but the door banged open behind Zuriel, and a breathless Liliana burst into the room. "Is she awake?"

Zuriel shook his head, and I had to bite my cheek to stem the prickling in my eyes. I turned away from them, trying my best to hold it together, but I fucking failed.

A sob wracked my chest as I stared down at my beautiful mate, alive yet so close to death. The tears overflowed one by one, dropping onto the clean tunic she wore. My heart shattered into a thousand jagged shards, slicing me from the inside out. The pain was so acute, so overwhelming that I couldn't breathe, couldn't think.

A roar of agony tore from my lips, and I threw myself over her unmoving body, cradling her with the tender care only her mate could give her. Her rosy scent filled my nostrils, but it wasn't enough. I needed to hear her laugh, for her to offer me an unguarded smile, for those bright aquamarine eyes to sparkle as I called her my sprite.

My breath was ragged as I tried to fight through the inferno of emotions raging through me, consuming every piece of light she had given me. I wanted to burn the whole fucking world down to avenge her, but the idea of leaving her side to do so stabbed me in the gut and twisted.

I reached down our bond, begging her to feel me, to hear me, to come back to me.

"You are so brave, my mate. So bold. So fearless. So powerful. You tried to save my life, when, in fact, you already had, the moment you gave yourself over to me. Without you, I am nothing. My heart beats only for you. I breathe, only for you. And I promise, I will finish what we started. The other realms will join us, and when you wake up, we will kill him – together. It's always us against the world."