Bonds of the Forsaken: A Reverse Harem Romantasy (Her Forsaken Mates Book 1)

55. Jaiel

Ifollowed Kaiya as we we stumbled past Alpha Blackwood and started down the stairs. But the alpha didn”t move to follow, his attention fixed on the many bodies littering the floor.

”You did everything you could,” I said, voice rough, as I tugged at him to join, ignoring the pain in my shoulder.

”If only that were true,” he muttered, forcing his gaze to meet mine. We”d fought side-by-side while Kaiya took down the relic, and I could see why he was the alpha. He was a badass fighter.

But those eyes were full of so much grief and anger.

”Gramps!”

Finn”s voice snapped the older man out of it, though, and he looked down the stairs.

”Coming!” the older man shouted, shaking his head as he forced a grim smile. ”For now, we need to save the survivors.”

Turning his hand to a wolf paw, he reached into the gap behind the door and sliced the rope using his claws.

The stone door shook and fell closed with a heavy thud.

With one last sad look, he moved down the stairs towards his grandson.

I followed, limping down the stairs, chased by the faint sounds of Japhire”s team exploring the room we”d left.

My monster clawed at my chest, trying to break free as it surged against my low reserves of charisma.

I had barely enough to keep the creature at bay, and with these injuries, even that was questionable. And if I succumbed …

Kaiya stood ahead of me, helping a woman down the stairs. Her familiar pale hair, always tangled and messy, was now matted with blood, and her skin was covered in dozens of cuts and gashes.

But she was alive.

Thank the saints she”d survived.

I stared at her, soaking up that familiar face as she turned to a limping Tye and held out a hand. ”You okay?”

Saints. She even helped the people she hated.

Tye nodded, and she turned those hazel eyes on me, gaze tight with worry as she took in the shadows seeping from my eyes and fingertips.

My heart gave a painful thump and regret twisted through me. If only things could be different.

But we had time. If I could get the monster back under control, everything would be okay. At least for now.

It still wasn”t strong enough.

I had time.

”I”m fine,” I reassured her, ignoring both her disbelieving huff and the sharp pains across my shoulder, arms, and legs. A few of those wolves had gotten a bit too close …

But she needed to focus on herself.

The memory of her up there fighting that damn relic alone was fucking nightmare fuel. I”d known she could do it, but saints, it was hard to let her go!

And when that damn relic dove after her, I”d tried to call out, but the wolf had its jaw buried in my shoulder. And then she”d been falling forward …

I shook my head to clear the memory. It was over. She”s survived, and it didn”t help anyone to dwell on could-haves.

My toe caught on a stone, and I stumbled forward, knees shaking as a wave of exhaustion and pain rushed over me.

I caught myself just in time and heaved a deep sigh.

Why was my body suddenly soheavy, though? Were those wounds worse than I thought?

The monster must have felt me reaching my limit, too, because it surged forward.

Grunting, I gripped the stone wall to ground myself.

Saints forsaken. It felt much stronger than it was supposed to. Could the kings have been wrong in their time estimates? Or had my bond with Kaiya escalated the process?

Fear nearly made my knees buckle.

If it overwhelmed me here with all these people —

A somewhat familiar tingling heat surged through me — fresh, spicy, and distinctly feminine — calming and subduing the monster with ease, as though it had heard my need.

Before I could respond, it spread further, inflaming the charisma until it burned brightly in my chest.

I could feel Kaiya”s concern through the bond, and my breath caught.

I looked up to meet those familiar hazel eyes, framed by a pair of arched brows. ”Is your shadow creature getting … larger?”

My heart stuttered and panic twisted my guts.

”It”s fine,” I said, pulse suddenly thrumming loudly in my ears. I”d guessed that it had grown, but to have it confirmed …

Her frown deepened. ”Are you sure? If it”s growing, doesn”t that mean —”

Screams echoed around me as the smoky darkness poured out of a young man”s body. He shook violently, face contorted in pain as the shadow consumed him, burning every inch of his body.

I stood, fists clenched, at King Torsten”s side — watching in horror from behind the thick, dark glass that would supposedly keep us safe.

”He only lasted a few months,” the King intoned. ”But with your Fae essences, you may survive a while longer.”

”I said it”s fine,” I hissed, slamming the lid on those errant memories.

Gods, she was getting too close! I should have pushed her away harder the first time she strengthened our bond to calm the monster.

She was too smart.

How long would it be before she put the pieces together and asked how much time I had left?

The last thing I needed was her fucking pity. Or worse, her brittle sympathy.

I would not be abandoned again.

Disliked. Dismissed. Alone. But never abandoned.

And if it took me over like it had that boy? The last thing I wanted was to have her around when it happened …

”I”ve said I don”t want this bond,” I said, eyes burning. ”And I mean it.”

”You can barely stand,” she snapped. ”And we already have the bond. Might as well use it!”

My heart ached at her concern, but the truth stilled my tongue.

Even if I had more time, she deserved someone far, far better than a burden like me.

”Don”t you get it, Princess?” I hissed, forcing as much venom as I could into my voice. I had to hit hard before I lost the nerve. ”We had our fun, but like you said, I”m done with you now. This whole mess just reminded me why I don”t do relationships. My heart doesn”t work like yours. I can”t give and give. And even if I could, it”s not the life I want. I don”t need your help! So stop trying to bind us together!”

The lies turned to ash on my tongue as her jaw dropped and her eyes widened with hurt confusion. ”I — I”m not trying to —”

”Good,” I snapped, ignoring the feeling of something shattering inside my chest. ”Then stop touching the fucking bond and leave me ALONE!”

Her jaw tightened, and she swallowed several times before narrowing her eyes and lifting her chin. Those delicate fists clenched tightly at her sides, as though she wanted to hit me.

Good girl … Hate me. Fear me. Whatever it takes to stay far, far away.

Otherwise, I”m not sure I could hold myself back.

”Fine,” she bit out, turning on her heel. ”I don”t have time for this. Good fucking riddance.”

Her back was ramrod straight as she stalked away.

My throat tightened, and my eyes burned as I ached to call to her, to fix this.

But it was for the best — for both of us.

Forcing the emotions down, I turned to see Tye glaring at me with those swirling yellow eyes. But I was too tired for his bullshit.

Sighing, I turned in the opposite direction — and my knees immediately gave out.

Strong arms caught me right before I hit the ground.

”Hey now,” Tye grunted, pulling me to his side and slinging my arm around his shoulders. ”Stop with the act, you idiot.”

I could only shake my head, barely registering the words. What was happening? Was the monster taking over? That charisma should give me more time, though …

”Kaiya!” Tye yelled, his voice seeming to come from far away. ”He”s lost too much blood. He”s losing consciousness!”

”Fix it yourself. He doesn”t want my fucking help,” she yelled, not even looking back.

My heart twisted. I — it hurt, but it was all for the best … and exactly … what … I”d wanted …

The world faded to darkness around me. My last image — Kaiya”s beautiful hazel eyes narrowed in that feisty way I”d come to love.