The only Keeper who knew her true identity was locked up. In my mind the new development had sealed his fate. I couldn't release him for fear of what that would mean for my mate.
"Flynn, just listen to me," she said, pushing me to the side.
I watched the two of them, feeling helpless that I had been unable to keep this from happening.
In Flynn's expression was a split second of something I had never seen, but before I could analyze it the glare returned to his features. Maybe there was a chance she could reach a part of him that none of us could.
Well, except for Bay. I pushed that thought away. I didn't want to bring Bay into this mess. I had an uneasy feeling when it came to Bay and the Keeper. Limiting the time they interacted was for the best.
"You cannot be allowed to live," he told her with more disgust than he had shown me.
"Don't even think it," I warned him, feeling the need to make him eat those words, but I knew we wouldn't be evenly matched. He would tear me to pieces.
"You," he scoffed at me. "You think you will be able to protect her but you can't."
I didn't like that what he was saying was close to the truth because we didn't have a way to even the playing field with them, and until we did, we were fighting a war we had no way of winning.
"Flynn," Crystal said, pulling his attention away from me. "Why do I have to die?"
Her voice was soft and calm, unlike any of the emotions building up inside me. I was angry, scared, and I hated that I couldn't smother that useless feeling of helplessness.
"What makes me so evil?" she added, her eyes pleading with his.
His expression remained hard. "Our kind isn't meant to mix."
"Why?" she asked.
I didn't like the ache in my chest at the sound of her voice. For the first time since discovering she was different, I had a sense of the turmoil inside of her.
It was something that hadn't occurred to me before. There had been no one to tell her what to expect or how to handle it. And for the first time, she had the chance to find out more about them and herself. I understood her need to talk to Flynn and why it was so important to her
"It goes against everything that isnatural."
I frowned. The existence of werewolves and Keepers wasn't natural but I kept my quip silent. Crystal bit her lip silently as she listened to Flynn.
"You will only bring evil and destruction to the people who care about you," the Keeper informed her with a side glance in my direction. "And when you die, they will perish with you."
That visibly upset my mate and I had reached my limit.
"That's enough," I told him, struggling to restrain my anger. I put an arm around her to embrace her, giving her my support.
Don't listen to him, I told her through the mind-link.
He is only telling us the truth. This is why I ran,she replied, sounding defeated.
Flynn watched with sharp eyes while I comforted my mate.
"If you love her, you will allow me to end her life," he told me in a calm and calculated tone.
"Are you crazy?" I asked, feeling my temper snap. "There is no way in hell I would allow you to put one finger on her. But I wouldn't need any persuading to end yours."
Our eyes clashed.
"You're a fool."
I wanted to break the bars open and attack him. I wanted to watch his life slip away as I tightened my hold around his neck.
"You have no idea the evil she will be capable of if you mate with her."
