Chapter One
Colton is gone. He’s dead.
How could I have let this happen?
I lean forward and sob into his chest. It’s completely still…totally unmoving. This can’t be real. Logan tries to heal him one last time, but nothing happens. This can’t be happening right now. I look behind me and see a room of unconscious people. They are lying on the ground, looking as lifeless as he does, but in their case, I know looks can be deceiving.
I turn back and look at those standing around me. David and Tom are silently standing in the corner. David’s lips are set in a straight line, and he is shaking his head while Tom pats his shoulder. His brother is gone. To lose both Colton and Claire in such close proximity to each other…Neither one of them are looking at Colton. Logan still has silent tears streaming down his face. Liam looks to be on the verge of tears as well. Bragden is consoling his brother while Larkin stands near the door, making sure no one comes in.
“I was supposed to change this…it wasn’t supposed to happen this way.” I lean forward and rest my head on his chest again. He’s supposed to be here for me. He’s supposed to be yelling at me for doing something stupid or laughing at my poor attempt at humor. How could you leave me like this? I pound against his chest. “You weren’t supposed to leave me! You promised to wait for me!” I bunch my fingers in his shirt and cry harder. The fabric beneath me is soaked with my tears. Someone reaches behind me and starts rubbing my back. It isn’t reassuring at all. In fact, it makes me sadder. “You’re supposed to be here.”
“Ryanne, we need to go. They’re going to wake up soon,” Logan says. “We have to get out of here.”
Without lifting my head, I whisper hoarsely, “I’m not leaving him.”
“Ryanne…”
“I’m not leaving him!” I yell and choke on another sob. I push myself up and move toward his head. Leaning down, I whisper into this ear, “I love you, Colton. Please come back to me. I need you.” I lean my forehead against his and push my thoughts toward him. “I need you here.” I keep repeating those lines in my mind. I know that my magic won’t work in here, but I want to make sure he knows that. He has to hear me.
I move back and look down at him. I need to see those green eyes looking at me in amusement again. I need to hear him speak to me. I need to hear his laugh. My lip starts quivering when nothing happens. I sit up and look around the room again. Everyone is watching me with Colton. I don’t want to leave. I love these guys, but it seems pointless to fight without Colton there beside me. We have our disagreements, but there’s always been something pulling me toward him. Without him, I don’t want to fight Dravin anymore. I want to curl up in a ball and cry myself senseless. I want it all to end.
I go over to his side and look down at the wound. I can’t believe that I couldn’t stop this. I remember what it felt like to get stabbed in the stomach. I remember the pain of the sword ripping through flesh and muscle. I vividly remember the coldness spreading through my body as my limbs gave out. I remember it all. Knowing that you’re going to die and having absolutely no way to stop it is a horrible feeling. Colton didn’t even know he got stabbed; he didn’t know he was dying. He was watching me die when Dravin stabbed him. I reach down to move his shirt, so it covers the wound. I don’t like seeing the evidence that he’s gone.
“Ryanne,” Logan tries to get my attention again, but I ignore him. If Colton doesn’t come with us, I’m not leaving this compound. I will not have another life on my conscience. I can’t handle that.
When my hand is near the still bleeding stab wound, it starts to vibrate. My magic doesn’t work in here…so what’s going on? I gasp and pull it away. My hand doesn’t look any different, so what was that? I look toward Logan; he’s the healer after all and may know what is happening. He starts nodding at me. I stare into his blue eyes for a few seconds confused as to what he’s trying to tell me. Wiping the tears off of his face, he motions for me to continue.
I reach out again and place both hands near the wound this time. Logan continues nodding, so I must be doing something right. The vibrations start again. The closer I get to the wound, the more violent they become. I almost pull away because it is starting to hurt when I notice some of the blood disappearing. I let out another cry and place my hands fully on Colton’s side. My hand is soaked in his blood in a matter of seconds, but I don’t care. Something is happening. David and Tom come over and bend down near me, but I don’t look at them. My eyes move from the wound on Colton’s side to his face. I don’t know what is happening right now, but based on everyone’s reactions, it must be a good thing.