A Curse of Shadows - Page 94

No, I need blood.

First, from Elyn for telling my sister what to do without warning of what would happen, then from the asshole who started all this, whoever they are.

Pushing to my feet, I step away from the bodies and jerk my hand back when Asher tries to grab me. “Isla, stop,” he half-demands and half-pleads.

“No. I’m going to find the elder wolf and then I’m going to kill her.” My gaze narrows on my mate. “And if you try to stop me, you’re not going to like the consequences of your actions.”

“So dramatic,” Estee says with a cough from the floor. “I appreciate the willingness to avenge my death, but it’s not necessary. At least not this one.”

All the air leaves my lungs and I drop to my knees next to my sister. Once again, I’m weeping, except this time, it’s with relief. “Don’t you ever fucking do that again.”

She tries to shake a finger at me. “Language, little sister. That’s no way for a queen to speak.”

Dad helps her sit up, tears still falling down his face as well. “You’re lucky that’s all she said for what you just put us through. Consider yourself grounded for the next decade.”

She leans her head against his chest. “I think I can be cool with that, but we should probably finish the task at hand first.” She nods toward her old self, moving farther back. “I’m turning to ash and that dagger is putting off a lot of heat.”

“What happened when you pulled the blade out of yourself?” Asher asks, joining us.

She shrugs. “I don’t remember, really. It was like someone shocked me and I was shrouded in darkness for a bit until I heard Isla talking about murder.”

He looks at me, pulling me up. “I really fucking hate this, but seeing as how her body is disintegrating right now, I don’t think we have a choice.”

I glance back to find Estee’s old self beginning to crumble as if she’s been turned to stone. Cracks form on her skin, growing deeper until pieces of her turn to dust. I shudder and turn away, not needing to see that, regardless of the fact that I know the current her is fine now.

“Don’t let me go,” I tell him, then I look around at my sister. “Care to do the honors?”

She grins wickedly, a sight I hope to have around for many more centuries. “You know it.”

Asher picks me up, cradling me in his arms. “I love you, Issie.”

“I love?—”

The last thing I hear is Estee saying “oops” and then…fire.

She fucking lied, and I can’t blame her.

My entire being feels as though it’s being turned inside out, then held over coals. I can’t breathe, nor can I move or scream. I’m trapped in a cacophony of suffering that pounds within my mind, branding me with the shadow of a life I never got to live.

Bones begin to break, snapping over and over again, like I’m trying to shift, but my body’s confused, unable to find the form that matches the spirit within me.

My wolf’s howls sound in the distance, but they’re too far away.

Panic claws at my insides. I can’t feel her within my chest or my mind. There’s a hollowness that overtakes the torment, proving that things can always get worse.

I open my mouth to scream for help, but no sounds escape me.

I’m trapped and alone and…Asher.

Leaving him again isn’t right. I can’t hurt him like that. I promised him that everything would be fine. I promised myself that I wasn’t going down without a fight this time.

I won’t give up so easily. Not again.

Picturing Asher, I search for our bond, for the tether that I know exists within me. He’s here somewhere and no amount of stabbing pains are going to stop me from getting back to him.

“I’m coming, Asher.”

There’s a flicker of light and I reach for it, kicking and screaming as I attempt to swim through the depths of this hell that are relentless in their attempts to break me.