Breathless, Nexi asked, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Kyden.”
Nexi’s muscles tensed, causing her to run stiffly. The blood heating her body from exertion suddenly became ice-cold, which only intensified as they stormed into the Council’s Foyer and Nexi spotted Finn. His cautious eyes told her something was very, very wrong. Haven, who stood next to him, had tears streaking down her face, and her soul sister’s deep-rooted concern inflamed Nexi’s panic through the bond.
Icy fingertips crawled up her spine.
Near the portal’s door, Talon glanced over his shoulder at Nexi, and his eyes blazed. “I told you to leave her.”
Squeezing Nexi’s hand tightly, Zia rushed forward. “She deserves to be there.”
Acting without thought now, Nexi followed Zia through the portal, along with the others at her back. She kept her mind blank as the bright light hit, carrying her off to an unknown place Zia imagined in her mind.
A heartbeat later, Nexi opened her eyes to a fancy living room with all the antique fixings. Although the expensive furniture was completely in shambles—everything had been broken into fine pieces, even the big sturdy couch.
Nexi watched Talon run into the foyer before she turned to Finn. “Where’s Kyden?”
“He was fighting Lazarus,” Finn said, rushing forward into the kitchen, and he called from inside the room, “I killed another vamp that lives here, but then Kyden demanded I get the Council.” He tore back into the room, and she’d never seen Finn’s eyes so wild in fear. “I left him alone for only minutes.”
A wave of intense panic made the world spin around her, and she barely managed a whisper from her tight throat, “Where’s Kyden?”
“I don’t know, Nexi.” Finn shook his head slowly. “I just don’t know.”
Unable to move away from the center of the living room, Nexi stared at Haven, who continued to sob near the stairs. Nexi’s chest constricted as a thick cold blanket of despair washed over her.
No…
Talon returned not a minute later. “The house is empty. Haven, show me what happened.”
Haven raised her hands to the ceiling, and only a split second after that the fistfight appeared. Finn hadn’t been wrong. Kyden had fought Lazarus. Most of the furniture in the living room hadn’t been smashed yet, except for the chair in the corner.
Looking back to the fight, she winced as Lazarus delivered a hard punch across Kyden’s cheek. He went soaring into the wall behind him, and the plaster from the hole his body made drifted onto him as he landed on the hardwood floor.
“You won’t win against me, guardian,” Lazarus stated.
“So you say.” Kyden charged, stabbing his sword forward and digging the tip of the blade into Lazarus’s stomach.
Lazarus chuckled. “You’ll have to do better than that.” He pulled the sword from his stomach and threw it to the ground.
Nexi’s head spun and she tried to find a solid place to land. Why was Kyden fighting Lazarus? Why was he not running out of this house? Why was he not simply defending himself to stay alive until Finn could return? Kyden didn’t look like a guardian trying to stay alive. He looked like a guardian who planned to fight to his death.
She watched in horror as the fight continued, and no seconds had ever been soon long. She immediately realized that Kyden had held back when he fought against her. Now she witnessed his remarkable strength, and he was amazing.
At the same time, she had firsthand knowledge of how Tillie’s blood enhanced Lazarus’s abilities. He fought much harder than Zade had. If Nexi battled him, she doubted she’d last long. Now she also understood why the Council had failed to destroy him. Lazarus had them all beat. Tillie’s blood made him near unstoppable.
Through the fight, Nexi witnessed the fierce and raw rage in Kyden’s expression. With that, she grasped why he didn’t run. This fight had become about her. Kyden defended her honor. She shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. She didn’t want this. She didn’t need him to kill Lazarus. She wanted him safe.
“Run,” she screamed at him, knowing he couldn’t hear her, that it was all over now.
Seconds drew on as if they were a lifetime. Although, it became increasingly obvious Kyden had gained the upper hand. Lazarus was powerful, but Kyden possessed something Lazarus didn’t: the hunger to protect his woman.
Throwing a hard punch, Kyden connected with Lazarus’s jaw, sending him airborne to crash against the coffee table. Not giving Lazarus the chance to recover from the blow, Kyden pounced, but Lazarus vanished, reappearing on the other side of the room by the big bay window.
“I’ve had enough,” Lazarus sneered. “Wolves, deal with this.”
A frigid horror seeped into Nexi’s soul and she screamed at the top of her lungs, “Run. Kyden. Run.” Her body froze in pure terror as she watched more than ten wolves enter the living room.
No.
They stalked Kyden, circled him while they closed in, as he backed up toward the wall near the fireplace. Kyden glanced toward the front door, and even Nexi knew he’d never make it outside. He closed his eyes, and she ached to reach out to him to show him he wasn’t alone.
One of the wolves took a step toward him and Kyden slowly opened his eyes again, as if he stared right at her. His face was desolate, eyes defeated, as if he accepted his fate. Tears rushed down her face and they were so cold against her fevered skin. She could barely think, move, or make sense out of any of this. All she wanted to do was stop the wolves, but she remained helpless.
The wolves lunged and attacked, with intent to kill.
“No,” she cried.
Dropping to her knees, she squeezed her eyes shut tight. Kyden would die right in front of her and she couldn’t stop it. Her breath caught in her throat and she hugged herself, praying for a miracle.
This couldn’t be real. This couldn’t be the end. This couldn’t be happening.
The sound of the wolves breaking his bones, tearing into his flesh, and hearing him scream out, engulfed her with dread. Her skin flushed hot with panic and grief, her stomach churned, and sickness overtook her.
Making it to the plotted plant, she threw up violently. She retched hard and deep with every inch of its power trying to deny the truth. Only when her stomach emptied did she roll onto her side, pulling her legs up to her chest, hugging herself, holding on tight to survive the moment.
“Stop. You fools,” Lazarus roared. “Don’t kill him. I need him.”
Nexi forced herself to open her eyes and she found the wolves had backed away, and Kyden lay beaten and moaning on the ground. Scrambling forward, she tried to reach him, to try and touch him. Even though she knew this was only vision, she didn’t care.
By the time she got there, Kyden vanished. “No,” she cried, staring at the floor where he’d been. “Lazarus didn’t want him. He wanted me.”
Firm hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her up. “Kyden’s not dead.” Finn embraced her, and the tension in his body mirrored her own. “We’re lucky they allowed him to live.”
Finn’s arms were warming her, but she still was so cold. She pressed her cheek against his chest, so consumed in her own pain she couldn’t feel Haven’s, even if she saw Haven sobbing. “Why would Lazarus take him?”
“No idea, but I’m glad he wants something.” Finn’s voice sounded tight through a constricted throat, his body trembling against hers. “It gives us time to find Kyden.” He pulled her away, gave a firm look, even if his eyes were dark with despair. “Believe me, we’ll find him.”
A low moan came from behind Nexi and she turned to find Talon was on his knees, head bowed.
Releasing Finn, she collided with Talon, and threw her arms around him. Who knew if he wanted this, but it didn’t matter, not to her. She needed to feel the closest connection to Kyden, and that was his father.
“My son.” Talon lowered his head into Nexi’s neck and trembled, only making her tears fall faster. “He shouldn’t have made this personal. He shouldn’t have fought him. He should’ve run.”
All things she’d thought herself, yet guilt burned wicked inside of her. She had caused so many deaths—so many lives taken—all to get to her. Now Kyden was gone… “I’m sorry, Talon.”
Leaning away from her, he cupped her face. “Don’t do that to yourself. You’re worth protecting, but he’s a damn fool for taking Lazarus on alone. That rests solely on Kyden.”
“No.” She could barely get her voice out. “All this rests on me.”
Compassion sped through Talon’s eyes, warming the green. “We must stay focused, not get lost in guilt.” He rose to his feet, pulling her with him. “We need to call a meeting to discuss strategy to find him. The sooner we act, the more hope we have.” Turning to Zia, he said, “Get wolves here to track them. I have no doubt Lazarus is smart enough to somehow lose the trail, but it’s a chance we can’t overlook.”
Zia nodded, staring at Nexi with warm sympathy, then she said, “Haven, with me.”