Chapter 27

Amongst the yelling and fighting, I hear Sinthia laughing like a lunatic and the raging roars of the guys. I see them all fighting through the trees, and it's quickly becoming clear that the three blood witches are too strong. They get their power from blood. They slaughter their unseelie, and soon, blood has soaked the ground, providing them with all they need.

Everything becomes a blur. The fighting gets drowned out by the ringing in my ears and the sound of my slowing heart.

Death is imminent. It's late, in fact.

Shaw skids to a stop in front of me.

‘Ashe…' he whispers, his eyes wide as he looks at me, so broken and close to death. He bites into his wrist, tearing a huge chunk of flesh away. ‘I've got you.'

He goes to thrust his wrist into my mouth, but before he can, he's tossed away from me.

‘You dare to blood share with another? WITH MY CHILD?' Neve screams.

‘Please!' Shaw says, his hand reaching out as he slowly returns to his feet. ‘Neve. She's your daughter.' His eyes flick between us as he stands. ‘Your flesh. Your blood. And a powerful witch. She can't die.'

‘She's a blood witch. Did you not make it your life's mission to destroy us all? You seduced me, Ronan. Drugged me so I couldn't fight back as you tied me up. Then killed me with three hundred cuts. Why save her when you murdered me?'

Each blink gets heavier. No air. Just blood. Mine, spilling and pooling inside me. Drowning me. My body lies broken. I can't move, and if he doesn't feed me soon, the next blink may be my last.

‘She can return the rest of your coven!' he insists. ‘She returned you and your sisters. She can return more.'

‘You wish to save her life for nothing more than what lies between her legs. You fuck the mother, then you fuck the daughter. Is this some new game of yours? Will you betray her too? Drug her and make her scream as you cut her over and over? Step aside. Allow me to save you the trouble.'

‘She reminded me of you!' he insists as she goes to strike a deadly blow, his hand rising a little and his feet fighting the urge to charge. ‘Neve. We were good together. You know that. I know that. But you went too far. Killed too many. You started a war.'

‘You revelled in it. I was there, watching you bathe in the blood of those we slaughtered.'

‘You slaughtered everyone, Neve. Children. Women. Innocents. Our kind as well as humans.' He shakes his head. ‘You were going to destroy everything. What would be left to enjoy in this world if all that remained was blood and death?' He gestures to me. ‘Spare the girl. Start again. Grow your numbers, but do not allow your lust for death to destroy everything.'

‘Spare her,' she scoffs. ‘So you can have her?'

‘She was a poor replacement for you, Neve.' His lips move into his crooked smile. ‘You know we are destined.'

‘You killed me.'

‘Like death matters to souls like us. Betrayal is part of our passion. Do you think we would be content being anything other than what we are? She is powerful. So fucking powerful, you should see for yourself. A daughter to be proud of. Why waste a perfectly good witch?'

‘You want her for yourself,' she repeats.

‘No.'

‘I don't believe you.'

He looks at me. Then, calmly back to her.

‘I'll vow myself to you.'

My mother stiffens.

‘I claimed her, Neve. She bares my mark. I'll vow myself to you and command her. We will both belong to you.'

‘She has the death rattle,' she sighs mockingly.

‘I know. I can hear it.'

‘She is to die, Ronan. Seconds, and then her spirit will become just as twisted and trapped as mine was.'

‘You do not want that for her.'

‘I do not want the competition. And besides. All I smell from you is love. For her, not me. And it makes me sick.'

My neck snaps.

A flood of warmth spreads down my spine.

‘NO!' Shaw yells. He runs towards me, his eyes wide and devastation on his formerly calm face.

He takes me in his arms.

‘Pixie…' he whispers. ‘My Pixie…'

My last breath is filled with blood.

I don't take another.