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Forneus gave a slight nod to the men behind him

One departed and entered a nearby cabin

I couldn’t keepcontrolled because I was so anxious I wanted to grab theet the al, but the moment I’d held Claire, that was the moment I’d started to feel Love came naturally It was deep, potent, and beautiful It made me afraid to die, not because of the darkness, but because I wouldn’t be there for her anymore I wanted to live—for her

Thea black duffel bag

My body couldn’t remain cal etness because my brain came to the conclusion even when my heart refused to believe it My shoulders dropped, and a flood of pure despair washed over me, a tide that pulled me deep under the surface I couldn’t react in any other way because the trau

Thein front of us and returned to his position

Forneus gave Bartholomew a nod, like the deal was done

Bartholomeas stoic like always “What is this?”

Forneus shifted his gaze to me, like he wanted to see my reaction as he crushed me “Their bones”

Even surrounded by a group of ether My entire body shook in both despair and rage, tears breaking past the ri downto buckle so I could fall to the earth

Bartholomew took another step “That wasn’t the deal”

When my horrified reaction was sufficient for his twisted aain “You said you wanted them back—but never stated the condition of their return”

The dagger was drawn from my pocket, and I rushed hi for the kill so there was no co that could stop rave

Bartholorabbedevery er steady before it swiped across Forneus’s neck The arrabbed me by the waist and yanked me back so I couldn’t burst past Bartholomew and land the strike He looked me in the face, calm and indifferent to ave me a shove and forced me back

They got the dagger free from my hands and placed their bodies in front of mine