My heart rate picks up, and heat builds at my palms. The rage that is boiling all the blood in my system threatens to have me losing control.
“That anger better be directed at him, not me, Kairhyse. You need to understand that this is bigger than you. Bigger than her revenge.”
“He can’t take her, you’ve said so yourself.”
“There are worse things then her just being removed from this existence.”
I swallow roughly. “Is he going to come here?” Truly, I don’t fear much. Losing Xera is top of that list, but I’d be a godsdamn idiot if I didn’t fear the ruler of the Beyond.
A laugh shoots from his mouth. “No, no… she will go to him.”
Immediately I’m shaking my head.
“Yes,” he quickly responds before I can protest. “I’ll take her, and you better hope that he only wants to talk.”
“You truly are out of your mind. As though I’d allow you to take her anywhere. I’ll take her to him.”
His hands are thrown over his head in exasperation as he shouts, “You can’t go to the Beyond! It doesn’t work that way!”
Oh, fuck…
“No mortal can enter the gates for passage without a Witch’s intervention. Seeing as we don’t have one readily available to us, you’d be immediately obliterated.” I’m not sure what he is seeing in my expression, but he continues, “You can die. You may be capable of living for eternity, but you are still susceptible to death. Hence: mortality.”
I can’t let her go with him.
I can’t let her go, period.
“Demand him come here.”
That gets a thorough laugh from Alaric as he shakes his head. “Unbelievable. Sure, let me just dial him up.”
“You obviously have a means to communicate with him,” I grit out.
Turning from me, he paces a few steps away. “He contacts me. Damn it. We don’t have time to argue over this, she’s?—”
“Coming.”
I was so consumed by our conversation, I hadn’t even heard her footsteps, let alone her steady heartbeat.
I turn quickly and spot Xera stopping just out of arm’s reach. She’s dressed in black leather pants, a matching tucked-in tank top, and heavy combat boots.
I shake my head. “No.” I’m firm in my singular word. There will be no fucking debating. This is not like the twins, for Gods sake, she isn’t just going to just willingly walk into the Beyond.
No.Absolutelynot.
Her soft eyes drift to look beyond me. “You are so fucking loud, Alaric. Talk about a tantrum.”
He lets out a loud groan as he walks away from us. “Five minutes,” he grits out through his teeth.
“Xeraphine Nora. No.”
Her eyes widen, the surprise doing nothing to steady my frantic heart. “Am I in trouble?” She shakes her head. “I’ve never heard you say my full name before… that felt strange.”
“You aren’t going, and if you insist, I’m coming with you.”
She releases a sigh, and peers over her shoulder. No one is standing there, and when she slowly looks back at me I can see the sadness in her silvern gaze.
Again, I shake my head.
