32. Brax

THIRTY-TWO

BRAX

Ithought I knew what it felt like when your body turned to stone; unmoveable, restricted, and heavier than you can fathom. I know nothing. Nothing in comparison to the horror that burns through my body as I remain locked in place, watching my world shatter around me.

I’m helpless.

I’m worthless.

I’m broken.

Inexplicable pain ricochets through my body as I powerlessly watch Grave drive a sword through Raven’s chest. The crimson-dipped gold pokes out of her back as he pushes all the way to the hilt, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

A harrowing cry echoes in my ears as I fall in slow motion, crumbling to my knees. I don’t feel the bite from my kneecaps hitting the harsh floor, but the thud from Raven’s body hitting the wood will forever haunt me. Even over the gut-wrenching cry that continues to ring in the air around us, the sound is undeniable.

Take me now. Take that blade and drive it through my heart because I refuse to spend a moment in this realm without my woman beside me.

Blinking up at Grave, who wears a triumphant grin from ear to ear, I snarl.

No.

He doesn’t get to add my name to his death toll, not when there is vengeance due. He won’t get away with this. He won’t take what’s mine and live long enough to reap any kind of reward.

Consequences. That is all that is coming his way.

I swear it.

The fucker presses his palm against Raven’s chest, blood coating his fingers as he does, before he wrenches the sword from her dying body.

Magic still clings to my limbs, rendering me useless as I scramble to find my feet again. The cry filling the air turns gargled, making me frown, and I glance away from Raven for a split second to see if I can find the source of the awful sound.

Of all the people around us, my eyes lock on Leila, who is gaping at me with tears streaking down her face. My nostrils flare. I don’t need to worry over her right now. I keep searching. It’s when my eyes find Eldon’s that I understand.

Lifting a hand to my throat, I feel the vibration, and with a sharp gasp, the noise stops.

It’s me.

The shrill cry was coming from me.

My throat instantly clogs, the emotion unable to escape past my lips as it had been, and I channel that energy into my limbs instead. Adrenaline floods my veins and a snarl snaps from my mouth before I push to my feet.

Objective one: kill this motherfucker. Objective two: kill everyone else in the vicinity that poses a threat. Objective three: find a way to save Raven, no matter the cost or sacrifice.

Glancing down at Raven, I bite back the growing ache at the sight of her closed eyelids, along with the growing spread of blood pooling around her. I let the reality of it wash over me, though, fueling me. I want to see Burton’s face, whether as himself or as Erikel. I want to see if this was a part of his plan all along because I sure as fuck can’t piece together how this works in his favor, but before I can lock eyes with the fucker, everything begins to shift around me.

My hands whip out to my sides, trying to remain balanced as colors blur, and a moment later, the view around us changes, too.

“Raven. No, fuck, Raven,” Zane cries out, rushing to her side. I frown, noting the speed behind his move, and I quickly realize the magic holding us back is no longer pinning us in place.

Eldon and Creed fall to their knees beside Raven, running their hands over her body as they call out her name, but my instincts take over, my protective nature taking the lead as I piece together what the fuck is happening right now.

Blades of grass crush under my boots, the field rolling out in every direction, but it’s not somewhere I’m familiar with. Trees are dotted sporadically around us, not really shielding us from view, but I’m not sure we’re anywhere near Burton right now.

“Brax.”

The sound of my mother’s voice threatens to drop me to my knees once more, the need for her to take all of my worry and pain away overwhelming. But more than that, the pounding in my head calms when I comprehend the fact that we’re safer than we were moments ago.

Spinning to lock eyes on her, I’m relieved to see my father at her side. Rhys and a woman, who I now know as Raven’s mother, stand with them, and I get the unfortunate pleasure of reliving the horrors of Raven’s attack through her eyes, too.

“Somebody has to help her. Now,” Creed bites, desperation thick in his voice as he sweeps a bloodied hand down her face in panic.

“Evangeline.” Raven’s mother responds immediately while my brain stutters over the fact that it’s Raven’s father’s voice I heard call her name. Turning to my left, I find him and Sebastian still with us.

If it was left to me, saving them wouldn’t have been high up the priority list, but right now, that doesn’t matter. All that matters is Raven and vengeance.

“What happened?” Rhys asks, approaching with my parents a step behind him. “We worked as fast as we could, I swear. I didn’t… I’m so sorry,” he rambles, coming to a stop behind Zane, planting a hand on his shoulder in comfort.

My parents approach me, but I refuse to let them touch me. Touching me will only confirm the pain consuming me, and I can’t accept that this is real. Not yet.

Slipping away from my mother’s hand, I crouch by Raven’s head, stroking my fingers through her new jet-black hair, and my chest clenches unbearably tight.

“Save her. Save her now. Someone here must be able to,” I order, first looking to my parents before turning my glare on Rhys and her parents. Sebastian hovers a step back, his brows pinched together as he looks at his sister, and anger burns up my spine. “Get him the fuck out of here before I do. She saved you. Risked everything to save Lyra, and you can’t offer her the same,” I snarl, and I feel like I can’t breathe because I know it applies to me too.

She saved me, brought me back from the dead, and I can’t offer the same in return.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“I-I’ll take him,” Raven’s mother says with a sob, hand pressed to her mouth before she places her hand on Sebastian’s arm, guiding him farther away. “Abel, take care of her,” she adds, looking deep into his soul, and he nods in agreement.

“Excuse me,” he mutters, and it takes a second for us to realize he’s talking to the four of us crowding around our love. Our central point. Our universe.

“If you think I’m going to let you touch her after everything you’ve done, you’re fucking insane,” I bite, eyes burning with challenge.

He swipes a hand down his face, nodding in understanding before he meets my gaze. “I can heal her.”

My jaw clenches, my nostrils flaring, and the desire to tell him to go fuck himself is strong.

“Let him in, Brax,” Zane murmurs before rising to his feet, and the others follow after him.

I still can’t bring myself to move. Her father must sense it, too, because after a few moments, he drops to his knees on her other side and presses his hands to her chest. His eyes fall closed and his fingers twitch as the red stains covering her body grow smaller, but something doesn’t seem right.

“It’s not happening fast enough,” I grunt, and he shivers, the cords in his neck tensing as his breaths grow heavy.

“It’s draining me. I’m trying, but it’s taking everything,” he rasps, making my heart thunder in my chest.

“Then fucking give it to her,” I snap, desperation taking over. I don’t truly understand what it is I’m demanding, the consequences of my order, but when his eyes meet mine, it all makes sense.

“Abel,” Evangeline hollers. Hurried footsteps approach, but I don’t look away from the solemn look in this man’s eyes.

“Tell her I love her. Tell her I’m sorry. Tell her to stay strong. Please.”

A lump lodges in my throat at the rawness in his words, but despite the pain I can hear, I do what I have to. I nod.

“Abel, wait!”

He doesn’t hear her as he takes a deep breath and closes his eyes, lifting both hands to cover her open wound. He cries out, the sound is pained and tortured, before he collapses with a thud, lying side by side with his daughter.

One heartbeat.

One breath.

One life.

But whose?