My heart is screaming in panic as I see Velasara throw him aside just as Enrique is forced to shut the portal, seconds before Calindra almost reaches us.
“NO!” Dante’s roar echoes all around us as we are plunged into darkness.
Kataleya cries out, lunging forward, “Open it!”
Enrique grabs her, pulling her close. “I can’t. I’m sorry, Mi Amor.”
I can’t move. I’m frozen, eyes locked as Heaven gasps, hugging me, and Allie stands there stunned, before I reach out and take her hand, squeezing it gently. My own trembling from the shock and adrenaline.
“Fuck,” Artemis whispers before breaking into tears.
I hear footsteps, but I’m too numb to turn. I sense Jayce’s gaze on me, and then his arm has snaked around my waist, kissing the right side of my neck from behind as Heaven leans on my left shoulder. His heart is pounding against my back, and I sink into him.
“Theo,” I whisper, turning my head to look at him.
“Is everyone here?” It takes me a second to process Uncle Liam’s voice as he enters the room from an adjoining one. Jayce steps back, turning.
“Theo isn’t,” Heaven whispers, pointing to where the portal was moments ago. Uncle Liam pales as he looks at Dante andEnrique.
“Open it,” Jayce commands as he steps away from me. “I SAID OPEN IT!”
“I can’t, it’s not safe. And that witch, Calindra, said she’s Hecate’s favoured. She may not be at my level, but she has extreme power. ” Enrique punches the wall in frustration, and I realise we’re in some kind of sitting room and another two doors lead off it.
“I don’t think her being Hecate’s favoured could make them defy your power. I’m certain they were simply blocking everything out. If they can’t hear the command… then it won’t work,” Dante says quietly.
“Ahren.” Jayce turns to Ahren, who stands beside a pale-looking Carter.
Ahren nods. “He’s alive?” he asks Uncle Liam, who nods. If he died, he’d have felt the link snap.
“He is, but I’ll go, no one else, the mission-”
“The mission is a fucking success. Now we have a rescue mission,” Jayce snarls. “I amnotleaving my brother out there.”
“He’s right,” Dante says. “We go back. He fucking saved me when he shouldn’t have.”
“I vote we go back,” Allie says, raising her hand.
I nod, and so do Heaven and Artemis.
“I’m ready,” Brock says as the guardsmen materialise beside us. They’re all in pretty bad shape, too.
“No, I’ll go with Jayce. It’ll be fast. Snatch and grab. I’ll teleport us somewhere else in case someone manages to hold on, and then we’ll come here,” Ahren says.
“I’ll cast a masking spell. It should hold for a short whilebefore they notice you.” Enrique reaches out as the magic rolls over both Ahren and Jayce.
“Take care, both of you,” I say softly. Both the men I love look at me, nodding before they turn to each other. Ahren places a hand on Jayce’s shoulder, and Jayce glances at me for a fleeting second before they both disappear with a small puff.
“I’m fucking useless,” Dante mutters, his fists clenched. “Fucking useless!”
I’ve never seen him lose his shit like this. He’s hurt. There are wounds along his torso, but it’s the anguish in his voice that makes my heart hurt for him.
Kataleya drops to her knees, head bowed, shoulders shaking. “He’s got to be ok.”
No one speaks.
I stare at the place where Theo should be – but isn’t. All I can see is his moment of bravery as he made sure Dante got through the portal instead of him.
“We left him…” I whisper guiltily.
