Page 84 of Shadow Warrior

My mind knew it, but my heart refused to accept it.

Brady kissed my cheek, bringing the green sheen that cloaked him with him. “Be strong. What we have is unbreakable. You will find me.”

My chest lurched with his words, and as he pulled away, I scanned his face, seeing his plan there, knowing the meaning. This wasn’t goodbye. This was see you fucking soon.

“You will not be harmed,” violet eyes said.

“Fuck you.” I spat the words at him. “Fuck you and your salvation.”

He looked almost sad, but then Brady was walking toward them, each step an effort. I made to go after him, but Lloyd grabbed hold of me, wrapping his arms around my torso to prevent me from running after the man I loved.

A scream was building inside me. “Please …” I locked gazes with violet eyes. “Please, don’t do this. I need him.”

“Salvation will benefit us all,” violet eyes said, and then the green fog was churning around them.

It swirled up Brady’s legs and up his body.

“Brady …”

He looked over his shoulder, his eyes filled with stars, and then he was gone.

A wave of sorrow hit me. Brady’s sorrow, and then it began to fade until I was nothing. Until I was numb.

“Justice?” Lloyd said.

He still had his arms around me. He was holding me, but Brady was gone. He was holding me while Carlo lay dead.

“Let go.” My tone was sharp. A command.

Lloyd released me immediately.

The green fog was gone, and the mist was as clear as it was going to get. I crouched by Carlo’s body and reached out to run my fingertips down his cheek. My funny, witty friend.

Gone.

My veins were ice as I lifted him over my shoulder. My body was an automaton as I began to run toward the fortress.

They’d taken Brady.

They’d killed Carlo.

I had to warn the knights.

I had to gather supplies and go after Brady.

They’d killed Carlo. He was dead. Over my shoulder. I was carrying my dead teammate. Three points off Gryffindor.

Oh, God. I was going insane.

The mist began to thin, and then we were cutting across sector two toward the looming fortress on the rise.

Silence reigned. Just our breath. Just our boots and the fortress getting closer and closer.

We came to a standstill at the bottom of the rise to catch our breath. There it was, not too far now. And then white light engulfed the building, temporarily blinding me. An explosion rocked the world and then a sound like thunder rolled through the air. Dark dots floated in front of my eyes. I blinked my vision clear and stared at the spot where the fortress had once stood. The spot that was now home to a smoldering husk.

“They blew it up,” Aidan said flatly.

“All the knights …” Devon’s voice shook.

My pulse thundered through my veins, melting the ice and bringing my emotions back online.

All the knights … “Hyde …”

I broke into a sprint.

To be continued…