Page 26 of Immortal Hunter
“I love ya’,” Ewan whispered as his heart slowed. “Yer mine, Kára. Not his. Mine. Remember that. Remember me.”
He couldn’t hold her, but he leaned as far forward as he could and pressed his lips to hers. His last memory, his last conscious thought would be of her. Of her kiss. As he let himself fade away, he could almost imagine she’d kissed him back.
Chapter Thirteen
Kára
Her mate.She was kissing her mate. He leaned against her, and Kára struggled to free herself from the chains around her wrists.
No.
His heartbeat was slowing. Weakening. Ewan’s body went slack with a low moan. He was dying.
The fog that had consumed her mind as Hagen had forced her to drink his blood cleared, and she let loose with a feral scream that filled the dungeon. The end of the chain lay at her feet, and she slammed her foot down on it before wrenching her wrists as hard as she could.
Bones broke in her hands. At least two dozen, but she ignored the pain as the chains fell away. Strength flooded her through the renewed bond with her mate, and she pulled the arrow from Ewan’s chest. Tucking it between her teeth, she spun and jumped, her throbbing fingers healed just enough for her to catch the rope that suspended the crossbow and start to swing.
In a move that would impress Olympic gymnasts, she twisted in midair as she let go, grabbed the arrow, and drove it directly into Hagen’s heart. Whatever dark magic he’d used to enhance his blood kept him alive, and his elbow connected with her cheek, shattering bone and sending her flying into the table.
He roared as he pushed to his feet, but Kára was ready for him. “Never again,” she spat and rushed him. Her blade sliced across his throat, and icy blood spurted from his neck.
This sent him to his knees, and Kára planted her boot on his chest and forced him onto his back. “I should make you burn. But instead, I will grant you mercy.”
His eyes clouded over as she sawed through his spine, and when she threw his head across the room, the dungeon shuddered with the death of the magic within him.
Ewan. She had to save her mate. Scrambling back to the platform, she grabbed the chains holding him up. The silver burned her fingers, but she cared little. They were so close, she did not wish to live without him.
He collapsed into her arms as the links snapped, and she sank down onto the platform, cradling him against her.
Extending her fangs, she slashed at her wrist, then pressed it to his lips. “Ewan, my love…drink. You have to drink.”
When he didn’t move, she pulled him closer and whispered in his ear. “We were destined to be. My heart beats for you, and yours…yours will beat for me. I know you love me, Ewan. You gave your life for me. Do me this one last favor. Please.”
When his lips moved and a subtle pull drew more blood from her vein, Kára’s entire world righted. “Yes,mo chridhe.More.”
She let him take as much as she could spare, then pulled her wrist away and ran her tongue over the wounds to seal them. Ewan lay still, but as she rested her head against his chest, she heard the slow, steady beat of his heart. Her own remaining wounds closed as their bond took over, easing her pain.
The walls shook, and bits of dirt rained down on them. The witches were still battling it out. Kára brought Ewan over to the long table filled with weapons, swept them aside, and laid him down. “I will not leave you for long, my love. Rest. Allow yourself to be reborn. When you wake tomorrow night, we will seal our union forever.”
With a gentle kiss to his lips, she tore herself from his side, snatched a blade from the floor, and sprinted out into the hallway. Brue was on her knees, and Kára drove the knife into the soft spot at the base of her neck. The smoke cleared, and Vesper stood over Celia’s body.
“She sacrificed herself for me,” the elder witch said quietly. “After I refused to listen to her and planned to expel her from the coven. Still, she gave her life for mine.”
Kára stepped over Brue, pausing only a moment to give the rogue witch a swift kick in the chest, caving her ribs in. Approaching Vesper, she touched her hand to the woman’s shoulder. “This is a war, Vesper. I see that now. When Hagen made me drink his blood, something happened. His memories…for a brief moment, they became mine. The dark magic is spreading across the world. That is why Hagen wanted me back. Meandmy sisters. Because only together would we be strong enough to defeat it.”
“Did you save your mate?” Vesper asked as she took Kára’s hand and snapped the links around her wrist.
“I did.”
The witch nodded, then cupped the bracelet in her hands, whispered a few words, and uncurled her fingers. The silver was gone, and all that remained was a pearlescent moonstone the size of Kára’s thumbnail. “Take this and keep it with you. It is a conduit. But unless you wish it so, it has no power. Consider it…a beacon should you ever find yourself lost in a storm.”
Kára plucked the moonstone from Vesper’s palm, and a subtle warmth infused her fingers. “Thank you.”
“Allow me to do one more thing for you.”
“What?” Kára stepped back, only willing to extend her trust so far.
Vesper smiled. “Return you and your mate to your home.”
