But Jelisette raised a brow. “Put your magic away, or we shoot them all right now. You won’t win. You can’t.”
Nikhail stared at Jelisette for a long moment, his amber gaze assessing. Then he dropped his hands.
“Do as she says, Indira,” the fae ordered.
The witch cursed but complied.
A deadly smirk waltzed across Jelisette’s face as rebels approached cautiously, slapping prohiberis on the fae and witch before adding them to their group of captives.
But the guns didn’t lower.
Instead, one of the rebels shifted, moving the barrel of his weapon to the back of Ryker’s head.
A feral growl ripped from Brynleigh’s chest.
This would not be the end.
Ryker’s beautiful eyes rose to meet hers. Her breath caught in her throat, and time, which had been playing games with her tonight, froze. His gaze sliced through the remnants of the crimson fog in her mind like a lantern shining in the darkness.
For one long, eternal, never-ending moment, she couldn’t breathe.
Her shadows, which had been flooding from her, froze. Entire universes could have collided in the time that her gaze locked onto his.
He washers.
Her Chosen partner.
Her husband.
Hereverything.
They dared threaten his life?
Brynleigh tore her gaze away from her husband.
“You,” she snarled at her Maker. “You did this. Why?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Jelisette stepped around a table, making her way toward Brynleigh. “You broke the rules.Again. Did you thinkyou could betray and outwit me? I Made you. I own you. And I will fucking destroy you.”
“Don’t listen to her. You’re stronger than she could ever be,” Ryker yelled.
“Isn’t that sweet?” Jelisette crooned as she reached behind her and pulled something out of her back pocket. “He thinks you can beat me.”
Brynleigh’s gaze darted between Jelisette and the captives. She needed to free them, yet her Maker was the most dangerous person here.
“Allow me to let you in on a little secret.” The ancient vampire sneered. “No one can beat me because I have nothing left to lose. You think you know pain? You knownothing.”
“I know pain.” Brynleigh’s hand went to the necklace at her throat. “I lost my family.”
Those high winds and deadly waves would forever be seared in Brynleigh’s memory. She’d never forget the screams of that night, the cries of death, and the horror of learning everyone she loved was dead. She would mourn them right up until she took her final breath.
“Your pain is nothing compared to mine. You lost your family, but I lost mysoul!”
Jelisette screamed the last word, her eyes widening as she pulled her hand out from behind her back.
Somewhere outside of herself, Brynleigh heard Ryker roar, but she didn’t dare move.
Her gaze was locked on the wooden stake in Jelisette’s hand, and her heart seized.