She rocked back. “You have the traitor’s venom in you.”
“Set wanted to deny you any claim,” I hissed.
“You think that tick bite will protect you?” Amal flicked a dismissive hand as she turned away. Grayson screamed again.
Anger swam through my veins like worm poison. Blood from the broken blood bag was still sticky on my back. The ice from a million stars settled in my spine as I looked at Amal. “Cut him down.”
Amal hesitated, contemplative but acidic. Then she waved a hand.
Grayson did not break his fall.
Bedisa…
He whispered mind-to-mind through our bond. The bond Amal did not know we had. The mate bond only the two of us knew about.
But the suffering in his mental voice seized my heart, and I dropped to my knees beside him, pushed the rune stone into my pocket. Grayson…
I love you.
Gently, I cupped his bruised face, smoothed my thumbs against his cheek. I love you…
Leave…
I let my fingers comb through his hair as if I was searching for wounds. I promised that I’d always protect you.
He turned his head, his eyes glittering… so green. Without the blue, and it worried me, realizing how far the wolf had retreated. You are my stars, Bedisa. My moon. The sun on the ocean. You are the home I never had. My hands tremble when I see you. My knees weaken. I can’t find the words to tell you what I feel.
Those are pretty good words, my love.
Only… pretty good?
His ruined smile clenched my heart—that broken trace of alpha arrogance.
Leave, Bedisa.
I brushed my fingers across his mouth to quiet him, even though he spoke in my mind. You are my light, Grayson. My heart. My life. And if this is what fate asks… our destin noir… I can’t do it without you.
His exhaustion destroyed me. His staggered breathing. The faint movement of his lips as he said, “Wherever you need me… I’ll be there.”
Nerves at my nape prickled; Amal had crept closer. “What are you doing?”
“Checking to see how bad it is.”
“Not bad enough.” She leaned over my shoulder and sliced Grayson’s arm with her fingernail. Blood gushed. “Check him now.”
My palms grew slick with blood as I clutched the wound; his skin was cold. I surged a thread of energy, willed him to accept it.
Amal turned away. “Don’t worry. He keeps healing.”
I dared to ease the pressure; what she said was the truth. Of course it was. She’d been cutting at his tattoo, over and over, and still hadn’t obliterated it.
I tasted blood in my mouth; I’d bitten my cheek.
“Get up, rat,” Amal said. “I want no more lies.”
“You killed the Gemini Witches.”
“If course I did. The witch who cheated me sired their coven. Why wouldn’t I kill them?”
